Earlier this month, Janet Weiss announced that she was leaving Sleater-Kinney. In a comment on Instagram, Carrie Brownstein has made her first personal remarks about the drummer’s departure from the band. In response to an Instagram commenter who asked why there hadn’t been further statements about Weiss leaving, Brownstein posted a lengthy response that indicates that Weiss’ departure came as a surprise after she gave positive feedback on the band’s latest recordings.

“what am I supposed to say? She left. We asked her to stay. We tried. It’s hard and sad. Most people would ask me, “hey are you ok?” That’s the human response. She’s left us with a job to do, a job we also expected and wanted her to be a part of. Her playing on this record is amazing and she’s raved about this album to us and to Annie. But we have to keep looking to the future. Things change, even when those changes are hard and unexpected. Four amazing women worked on this record and we are going to honor that work. So, what’s up? The usual...Women picking up the pieces when someone quits, because we have to and we want to. We’re going to keep going because we believe in ourselves and it’s a privilege to get to play music for people. It’s a new chapter. And all artistic entities have many chapters, if they‘re lucky. Either the music will resonate or it won’t.”

In the tweet announcing her departure, Weiss wrote, “The band is heading in a new direction and it is time for me to move on.” That same day, the band released a statement on saying, “We wish Janet all the best as she starts a new chapter in her life.”

Sleater-Kinney’s new album The Center Won’t Hold is slated for an August 16 release. Two singles—“Hurry On Home” and “The Future Is Here”—were released before Weiss’ departure.