Kevin Morby presents a new single/video, ‘A Random Act Of Kindness,’ from his forthcoming album, This Is A Photograph, out May 13th on Dead Oceans. The signature hopefulness that has characterized all of Morby’s sonic journeys over his previous six albums remains throughout This Is A Photograph. On ‘A Random Act of Kindness’ he ruminates that for all of the tricks that time may play on us, the sun will rise: “Sun came up, through my hands, Sun came up, with no plan, Sun came up, strike up the band.”
“In ‘A Random Act Of Kindness’ I set out to write a song where each line could be interpreted in two completely different ways,” explains Morby. “For example; when I sing the words ‘out of trust…’ it could be heard as either I have lost my sense of trust in something or that I am committing an act with trust as my motive. It’s a song about the menacing nature of the sun rising during a dark time in one’s life only to further illuminate their pain and suffering – and how during these periods it is often the selfless acts of strangers that keeps a person going. Sonically I am so proud and surprised by where we ended up with this one. Producer Sam Cohen and I had set out to make a sort of windows-down-mid-tempo-cruiser and somehow, with weeks of exploration, made a sonic rocket ship that shoots you out into outer space over the course of 4 minutes. Enjoy!”
This Is A Photograph finds Morby making an Americana paean, a visceral life and death, blood on the canvas outpouring. The creatively invigorated songwriter has managed to align his finest songs, his best vocal performances, his most incisive lyrics, and his most lush arrangements and put them all on This Is A Photograph. This is unquestionably his magnum opus to date.
Additionally, Morby presents This Is A Photograph Of Memphis at The Gallery at Ace Hotel Brooklyn from May 1-10. While temporarily living in Memphis, Morby took breaks to wander the city. The once vibrant epicenter of the downtown had taken on a haunted quality, and Morby sought to capture these surroundings on his Pentax PC35. This Is A Photograph Of Memphis captures the scenery surrounding Morby during this contemplative and prolific time while simultaneously introducing him as a talent behind the lens.
Next month, Morby will embark on a world tour in support of This Is A Photograph. After a stint in Europe, he’ll return stateside.
PRAISE FOR “THIS IS A PHOTOGRAPH” & “ROCK BOTTOM”
“‘Seems to say this is what I’ll miss after I die / And this is what I’ll miss about being alive.’ As [‘This Is A Photograph’] grows from a twangy acoustic guitar to incorporate a full band, choir, and horn section… that line becomes a rallying cry.” – Vulture, Best Songs of 2022 (So Far)
“[‘Rock Bottom’ is] driven by a fuzz-laden guitar riff and endearingly scrappy sing-song vocals reminiscent of Morby’s lo-fi punk outfit the Babies.” – Rolling Stone
“’Rock Bottom’ is a song written from the perspective of those misunderstood souls, who created a lasting body of work even though they were chided for being different.” – Uproxx
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