Watchhouse (formerly known as Mandolin Orange) has announced the band’s first album under its new monicker, Watchhouse. The self-titled release is set to arrive on August 13th via Tiptoe Tiger Music / Thirty Tigers.
Along with the change in name, Watchhouse marks a stylistic shift for the duo of Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz as they seek a musical rebirth after over a decade of music. Though the two artists still hold true to their Appalachian roots, the change in dynamic will see Watchhouse explore new soundscapes not heard as often in more stringent folk music.
Produced by Marlin and Josh Kaufman—whose production credits include The National and Bonny Light Horseman—Watchhouse is both a physical and stylistic departure. To record the album, the band decamped to Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, tapping into the Appalachain roots that run deep through Watchhouse’s existing catalog while simultaneously breaking in new trails in the group’s established creative process.
“We’re different people than when we started this band,” Marlin said in a press release. “We’re setting new intentions, taking control of this thing again.”
Those new intentions are evident on Watchhouse‘s lead single, “New Star”. The tinges of the band’s former self still permeate through a fragrant cloud of fresh production techniques. Alongside the music video directed by Amelia Meath (Sylvan Esso), Watchhouse sings of new starts in a tone that’s both bittersweet of the past while remaining hopeful for the future.
Watch the music video for “New Star” below and click here to pre-order the forthcoming Watchhouse self-titled album, out on August 13th. Scroll down to see a full tracklist.
Watchhouse – “New Star” (Official Video)
[Video: Watchhouse]