Thirteen years is a long time to wait. But Love Crash makes every single one of those years feel worth it. This is not just an album. It is one of the most honest and personal things this artist has ever put his name to, and you can feel that truth in every single track.
The songs started as private reflections, almost like diary entries written during one of the hardest emotional periods of his life. Songwriting became his way through the pain, and what came out the other side is something truly special. Yes, there is heartbreak here. There is loss. But there is also hope, gratitude, and a deep belief that the hardest moments in life often lead to the greatest growth.
Working alongside producer Chris Kuffner and mixer Blake Morgan, he shaped a collection of songs that feel both intimate and expansive. Tracks like I Thought I Won The War, Over And Over, and Firefly have already found their way into the hearts of listeners around the world, and it is easy to hear why.
With a U.S. tour ahead and a growing global audience behind him, this is an artist fully alive in his moment. Love Crash is a stunning, sincere, and deeply moving return.
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“Congratulations on the release of Love Crash, your first album of new material in 13 years. What emotions are you experiencing as you finally share this deeply personal project with the world?
I have to say, I’m more proud of this record than I’ve ever been in my career. As I listen to it now, I feel like I got to some emotional honesty that I was never able to access before. For an artist, this is everything.
You’ve described the songs on Love Crash as the “rungs of a ladder” that helped you climb out of a difficult period in your life. How did the songwriting process become a source of healing and self-discovery?
In times of great emotional dislocation – when I’m “cracked open” – externalizing those difficult feelings is therapeutic. I didn’t necessarily know I was making a new record when I started writing these songs. They felt more like diary entries.
Heartbreak and loss are central themes throughout the album, but there is also a sense of hope and gratitude woven into the music. How did you balance those contrasting emotions while creating the record?
I think that contradiction is the engine of the work. Ultimately, if there is life then there is hope. And it’s been my experience in life that very difficult times are often the times when I grow the most. You’re right in pointing out that seeming contradiction. But in a way it’s not a contradiction at all.
Your comeback has introduced your music to a whole new generation of listeners across the globe. Has this renewed audience influenced the way you think about your music and your place in today’s indie landscape?
I’m very grateful that these songs seem to resonate with a wide range of people around the world. But the truth is, once the last mix is done, I have no control over people’s reaction to it. I try to not get too caught up in where I fit, and the ultimate importance of the work. That’s not for me to know.
The singles “I Thought I Won The War,” “Over And Over,” and “Firefly” have already resonated strongly with fans. What made these songs the right introduction to the world of Love Crash?
I worked closely with Blake Morgan at the record label to figure out what singles to use. I think these three songs are representative of the record, and Firefly especially, is a song that I really am so proud of. It’s certainly not a traditional “single”… But it’s one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written.
You worked closely with producer Chris Kuffner and mixer/mastering engineer Blake Morgan on this album. What did they bring to the project that helped shape its final sound?
Chris was really my musical partner. I don’t have a band so it’s very difficult for me to get objectivity during the process. If I was in a band then maybe the drummer would say that guitar part that you’re doing doesn’t work.
But in my case, I really lean on my producer to help the ship stay on course. And Chris was fantastic. Blake Morgan’s mixing of the album was genius. There were a lot more tracks I recorded and he was able to cut away the chaff and present the essence of what I was trying to say. The whole thing was a fabulous collaboration.
From helping define New York’s anti-folk movement to releasing your sixth studio album, you’ve experienced several chapters in your career. How do you view your artistic evolution when listening back to Love Crash?
I’m not sure I have enough perspective yet on that question. It’s a great question. I suppose I view it as the next chapter in the book of my career. One that I’m very, very proud of.
Critics have praised your authenticity, vulnerability, and willingness to challenge convention. How important is it for you to remain honest in your songwriting, especially when addressing difficult personal experiences?
All is honesty. I spent more time on the lyrics for this record than I have on any other. It was as if I couldn’t write a lyric that wasn’t 100% authentic. It was challenging and gratifying. And ultimately very worth it.
The success of your catalog reissues has brought renewed attention to your earlier work. Did revisiting those records influence the creative direction of Love Crash in any way?
I don’t think it influenced the recording of this album or the songs necessarily. But it was really fun to revisit these albums in their stunning remastered versions. Not to sound self-congratulatory, but I really like the albums. And I hadn’t listened to them in a long, long time. I guess there’s a deep sense of gratitude that I’ve been able to create work that I’m proud of in some cases decades after it was recorded.
With a new album, a growing global audience, and a U.S. tour ahead, what are your hopes for this next chapter, and what do you want listeners to take away from Love Crash?
I would only ask that they give it a listen. And if it resonates with them, I’m happy for that. And if it doesn’t, that’s OK too. Getting a chance to go out on the road and play again has been a trip. Weirdly, I think I’m doing better shows now than I’ve ever done even in my 20s.
