Nate Kinsella of (American Football, LIES, Joan of Arc, Make Believe, and more) has announced a new album by his solo project, Birthmark. It’s called Birth of Omni, and it comes out January 19 via Polyvinyl (pre-order). According to a press release, the album was made “in a series of residencies in isolated cabins and the New York City art space Pioneer Works,” and it features ASMR readings, sampled voicemails, and contributions from Arone Dyer (Buke and Gass) Greg Fox (ex-Liturgy, Uniform, etc), Jeff Tobias (Sunwatchers, Modern Nature), the Spacebomb crew, and more. Shudder To Think’s Craig Wedren provides backing vocals on lead single “Rodney,” an orchestral pop song inspired by Nate–as a married man and newly a father–exploring the nature of his sexuality. The description reads:
As he worked on Birth of Omni, Kinsella reckoned with his own sexuality, coming to grips with the acceptance that he’d never really fit into the social straitjacket of masculinity he’d tried to don neatly for 40 years. Now with a family and approaching middle age, could he admit that he was more than someone’s straight husband? Could he deal with it? The gorgeous and compulsive “Rodney” is a lustful song for the would-be paramour that gives the track its name, countered by Kinsella’s awareness that maybe the escapades of his youth are behind him, that he’s got other commitments in his life. Shudder to Think’s Craig Wedren backs Kinsella on vocals, playing the real role of the supportive voice who has been here before. We make choices for those we love, Kinsella affirms during “Rodney,” but the adventures of our imaginations can and should remain endless.
“I developed a pretty-deep crush on a male co-worker, which was a new thing for me.” shares Kinsella about the song. “And this fun little song popped into my head. I’ve always felt straight-leaning but I’ve also noticed that the context and people matter a lot in how I feel, so I’ve come to accept my sexuality as dynamic in nature.”
It comes with a video directed by Ben Wietmarschen (Funny Or Die, The Tonight Show), which directly plays off the song’s themes. Check it out below.
[embedded content]
Tracklist
1. Snowflake in My Palm (Not For Long)
2. Butterfly
3. Birthday (Product of Our Lust)
4. Rodney
5. Baby Woncha Come on Home
6. Boyfriend
7. Green Skies
8. Red Meadow
9. I’m Awake
10. Pretty Flowers
Album Credits
Written and performed by Nate Kinsella
“Baby Woncha Come on Home”
Written by Joan Armatrading, lead vocal by Arone Dyer
Additional Musicians and Personnel:
Melina Ausikaitis – Voice (track 3)
Joachim Badenhorst – Clarinet & Bass Clarinet (track 1)
Jamie Burns – Voice (tracks 3, 7, 10)
Starr Busby – Voice (tracks 2, 3, 9)
Pinson Chanselle – Drums (track 3)
Majel Connery – Voice (track 2)
Marilu Donovan – Harp (tracks 2, 3, 9, 10)
Kristina Dutton – Violin (tracks 2, 3, 4)
Arone Dyer – Voice (tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Greg Fox – Drums (track 1)
Amy Garapic – Marimba (track 9)
María Grand – Tenor Saxophone (tracks 1, 3, 10)
Devonne Harris – Clavinet (track 3)
Gina Izzo – Flute (tracks 2, 3, 9, 10)
Leeila Burns Kinsella – Heartbeat & Voice (tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 10)
Dagny Burns Kinsella – Voice (tracks 2, 10)
Sam Kulik – Trombone (track 10)
Ann Malinowsky – Voice (track 3)
Chris McQueen – Guitar (tracks 3, 4)
Alan Parker – Guitar (track 3)
Mary Prescott – Piano (track 1)
Cameron Ralston – Bass (track 3)
Ben Russell – Violin (track 8)
Slight Sounds ASMR – Voice (track 1)
Jeff Tobias – Bass Clarinet (track 9)
Alicia Walter – Voice (track 6)
Craig Wedren – Voice (track 4)
Paul Wiancko – Cello & Viola (track 8)
—
Earlier this year, Nate and Mike Kinsella released their debut album as LIES, which you can pick up on dark blue vinyl exclusively in the BV shop, and you can listen to our podcast episode with Nate and Mike for more:
–