Mikal Cronin releases a new single, “Shelter,” from his forthcoming album, Seeker, out October 25th via Merge. Following the lead single/video, “Show Me,” “Shelter” features buzzy guitar and blooming string arrangements. “This is a song about searching for answers in an uncertain world,” says Cronin. “It’s about the observer reluctantly stepping out of their comfort zone and looking around, while trying to keep their head straight. Musically, it’s dense and polyrhythmic. The string line weaves it all together for me. When writing a song with a lot of additive looping rhythmic parts, I think of Brian Eno.”
Following a period of heartbreak and writer’s block, Cronin packed up and retreated to Idyllwild, a small town in the mountains of southern California, where he spent a month in the cabin, alone. The bulk of Seeker was written during this time period. After a series of fires sparked by an arsonist forced Cronin to evacuate, he returned a few days early to LA and began the recording process at Palmetto Studios. There, engineer Jason Quever and a crew of close friends helped bring the album together. The record was backed by Ty Segall’s Freedom Band. Nature fresh on his mind, he was driven to use organic sounds. “I wanted to bring you into the room. Jason and I talked about the Beatles’ White Album a lot when placing mics,” says Cronin. “I brought a charred pine cone from the woods to the studio, just in case it would help. Fire—specifically its cycle of purging and reseeding the landscape—is a central theme to the record. Death and rebirth.”
This fall, Cronin will bring his live show across North America in support of Seeker. Then, he will tour Europe. All tour dates are on sale and can be found below. Additionally, Mikal has launched the Mikal Cronin Fan Club. Fans who sign up will receive tour updates and access to exclusive tracks for fan club members only. Mikal has recently shared some amazing covers, including Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” and Sharon Van Etten’s “All I Can.” Only fans signed up for the fan club receive these, so sign up here.
Listen to “Shelter” – https://youtu.be/IEk9UL19GS4
Watch the video for “Show Me” – https://youtu.be/GAC9bZjGv-U
Pre-order Seeker – https://smarturl.it/MC-Seeker
Seeker tracklist: 1. Shelter 2. Show Me 3. Feel It All 4. Fire 5. Sold 6. I’ve Got Reason 7. Caravan 8. Guardian Well 9. Lost a Year 10. On the Shelf
MIKAL CRONIN TOUR DATES Fri. Oct. 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom Wed. Nov. 6 – San Francisco, CA @ The Independent Fri. Nov. 8 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios Sat. Nov. 9 – Vancouver, BC @ Fox Cabaret Sun. Nov. 10 – Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern Mon. Nov. 11 – Missoula, MT @ The Badlander Thu. Nov. 14 – Saint Paul, MN @ Turf Club Fri. Nov. 15 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall Sat. Nov. 16 – Detroit, MI @ Deluxx Fluxx Sun. Nov. 17 – Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern Mon. Nov. 18 – Montreal, QC @ Bar Le Ritz Tue. Nov. 19 – Boston, MA @ Great Scott Wed. Nov. 20 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom Fri. Nov. 22 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts Sat. Nov. 23 – Washington, DC @ U Street Music Hall Sun. Nov. 24 – Durham, NC @ Motorco Music Hall Mon. Nov. 25 – Atlanta, GA @ The Earl Tue. Nov. 26 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks Wed. Nov. 27 – Austin, TX @ Barracuda Sat. Nov. 30 – Tucson, AZ @ 191 Toole Sun. Dec. 1 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah Mon. Feb. 10 – Munich, DE @ Milla Tue. Feb. 11 – Cologne, DE @ Bumann & SOHN Wed. Feb. 12 – Berlin, DE @ Kantine am Berghain Thu. Feb. 13 – Aarhus, DK @ TAPE Fri. Feb. 14 – Copenhagen, DK @ Loppen Sat. Feb. 15 – Stockholm, SE @ Nalen Mon. Feb. 17 – Oslo, NO @ Ingensteds Tue. Feb. 18 – Gothenburg, SE @ Oceanen Wed. Feb. 19 – Hamburg, DE @ Molotow (SkyBar) Thu. Feb. 20 – Amsterdam, NL @ Bitterzoet Fri. Feb. 21 – Brussels, NE @ Botanique Sat. Feb. 22 – Paris, FR @ Petit Bain Mon. Feb. 24 – Bristol, UK @ The Louisiana Tue. Feb. 25 – London, UK @ Moth Club Wed. Feb. 26 – Manchester, UK @ Soup Kitchen Thu. Feb. 27 – Glasgow, UK @ The Hug & Pint Fri. Feb. 28 – Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club Sat. Feb. 29 – Brighton, UK @ The Hope & Ruin
Keep your mind open.
[Seek shelter in the subscription box.]