Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff will release his debut solo album, Nothing Special, through ATO Records on October 7. Will previewed the LP by unveiling its lead single, “Estrangement Zone.”
Sheff will support Nothing Special with a fall tour. Will celebrates the album’s release in Los Angeles on October 7 before officially launching the trek in Iowa City on November 3. Additional dates follow in Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Bloomington (Indiana), Grand Rapids (Michigan), Toronto, Ferndale (Michigan), Atlanta, Asheville, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, Woodstock (New York), Somerville (Massachusetts) and Portland (Maine). Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 5 at 10 a.m. local time. Buy Will Sheff tickets via Ticketmaster.
Will Sheff’s first solo foray comes after nine albums leading beloved folk-rock outfit Okkervil River. Sheff recruited a bevy of guests to accompany him on Nothing Special including bandmates Will Graefe on guitar and Benjamin Lazar Davis on bass. The eight-track LP also features contributions from singer/songwriter Christian Lee Hutson, Dawes drummer Griffin Goldsmith,and Death Cab For Cutie pianist Zac Rae with guest vocals provided by Cassandra Jenkins and Eric D. Johnson.
Nothing Special was recorded over the course of three different sessions. Sheff was inspired on the LP by such diverse influences as King Crimson, Joni Mitchell and Bill Fay along with the landscape of Southern California’s mountains, deserts and lakes. The writing process began after Will moved to Los Angeles, starting a string of life changes in which he became sober, adopted a dog and dove into creating new material.
A big loss played a major role in Nothing Special. Will Sheff explained in a statement:
“When I was just a kid, I got caught up in the dream of being a rock and roll star. Like so many other young people, I fell in love with the idea of being called to this glorious path outside of ordinary life. And I ended up in a band with people who felt this same call – especially our brilliant drummer Travis Nelsen, who was like a brother to me. We would trade tales of hilarious antics and outrageous excess and tragic death like they were almost scripture. Travis and I fell out painfully, and he died in the early weeks of lockdown. I think a big part of Nothing Special centers around grieving for him, grieving for everything my friends have lost, grieving for the rock and rock and roll myth, and trying to open my eyes to a more transcendent reality.”
Watch the “Estrangement Zone” video written and directed by Sheff here:
Check out the full list of Will Sheff tour dates below:
Nothing Special Tracklist
- The Spiral Season
- In The Thick Of It
- Estrangement Zone
- Nothing Special
- Holy Man
- Like The Last Time
- Marathon Girl
- Evidence
