Dis Fig, the project of Berlin-based, New Jersey-raised producer and vocalist Felicia Chen, has announced What To Make Of These Mortal Hands, arriving October 23rd, 2026 through Thrill Jockey. The first solo full-length in seven years follows the acclaimed 2019 debut PURGE and a formidable run of collaborations with The Bug, The Body and Asian Dope Boys.
Lead single The Account embraces the breadth of Chen’s practice while presenting some of her most immediate songwriting so far. Rather than beginning with her own voice, the track opens with the wind between, the project of poet and wordsmith Eldon Somers.
"I liked teasing it by opening with a voice that wasn't mine," Chen explains. "I felt like I really needed someone to set the stage for what was about to unfold, like a Greek chorus or narrator, and it was clear to me that Eldon was the right person to do it."
Chen envisioned the appearance as a kind of Greek chorus or narration, establishing the scene before guiding the listener deeper into the record’s unfolding world.
That sense of guidance is central to the album. Chen describes her aim as creating a “womb-like space through sound,” imagining the record as a portal entered with control.
"I wanted this record to feel like stepping into its own distinct world. It’s meant to be a portal with a guide, taking your hand and inviting you in with care."
Although the album was written and performed almost entirely by Chen, several close collaborators contribute to its physical weight. Lee Buford of The Body provides recorded drums, Liam Andrews of BIG|BRAVE appears on bass, and vocal contributions arrive from the wind between and LUηG, the project of Cameron Tanaka.
Structured as a succession of interconnected scenes, What To Make Of These Mortal Hands examines humanity’s capacity for devastation and wonder in equal measure. With The Account, Dis Fig opens the door to a world where overwhelming sound, vulnerability and defiant hope exist within the same vast frame.
ZR