White Denim

Community and connection is the backbone of White Denim’s dynamic new album titled "13" and due out April 24 via Bella Union. “I’ve always wanted to make work that’s a reflection of my life experience,” says singer-guitarist and band leader James Petralli. Imbued with the same questing spirit that’s been the band’s trademark since first starting in Austin, Texas, some 20 years ago, the album is strapped with commentary on power, generational cycles of abuse, shame, violence, and survival while urgently committing to the importance of family and creative freedom.

Petralli’s wide-ranging musical appetite has become more voracious over time, delivering 13 as a groove-heavy alchemy of rock, funk, dubby calypso, soul and down-dirty blues and shimmery sunshine-pop. This is immediately apparent on the pungent funk-blues of lead single and album opener “(God Created) Lock And Key”. It begins with a piece of waggish self-mythology – “On the thirteenth day God created White Denim…” – but soon goes somewhere darker. “This is a Beefheart / Sun Ra sort of thing,” Petralli explains. “I hope that it’s a somewhat terrifying, startling, and visceral piece for everyone that hears it.” The song is a declaration of freedom appreciation for his career and fans. A step in a less self conscious and preservation motivated direction after, he bravely admits, spending a portion of his career concerned with remaining attractive to a hypothetical consumer. A loving homage to inspirational artists like Captain Beefheart and Pere Ubu, the music explodes into existence then crawls then walks then runs then crawls again before disappearing abruptly and completely. "It is an articulation of the rage that I feel and hopefully can at least partially conceal successfully most of the time. The things that we all understand and know and see and push down to get through the day. '(God Created) Lock and Key' is another way for me to simply say "Fuck it".

The song arrived alongside an official video, about which Petralli shares, “I have spent the better part of the last five years working in a home studio on my own. The music has become the mirror. There are aspects there that I like to look at and then there are other aspects. Lock and Key for me is an exploration of some of those other aspects. My neighbor O'Connor Hartnett lives 20 feet from my studio and happens to be a talented director of photography. He is, due mostly to proximity, intimately familiar with my process as well as the daily life of my family. This work is a result of his vision and creativity and our connection as neighbors living in a community that is rebuilding after a very difficult year.”

Watch + Share: “(God Created) Lock And Key” Video

In addition to Petralli being born on the thirteenth of August, the album title holds multi-significance sprinkled throughout the album. ‘13’ in numerology can signify independence, creativity, and a solid foundation, but inversely is often considered to be unlucky and can signify chaos and misfortune. It also happens to be the thirteenth album of White Denim’s career.

The album features band member Michael Hunter (keyboards) and original drummer Josh Block. Block’s presence on 13 – alongside the likes of Matt Young (drums, percussion), Owen Pallet (strings), Jesse Chandler (clarinet, sax, flute), Kosta Galanoupolis (bass, drums), Matt Young and Dawes siblings Griffin and Taylor Goldsmith – highlights both the fluid nature of latter-day White Denim and Petralli’s determination to honour the band’s initial directive. “I wouldn’t call a project White Denim if it didn't include significant contributions from another founding member of the group,” asserts Petralli. “‘12’ and ‘13’ both feature Josh and Steve in various capacities. I recorded and arranged these last two records for the most part, but I really don’t ever want to be alone. Music has given me a place and purpose in this world. And it’s been the primary way I’ve connected with other people over the years.

13 proves that Petralli continues to do so. And in imperious style.