Earlier this month, Blind Pilot unveiled In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain, their first full-length album since 2016. “The time away allowed [lead Israel] Nebeker to travel to Scandinavia to reconnect with his Sámi heritage, as well as visit places like Mexico City as part of a humanitarian group helping migrants,” we wrote in our preview, helping regain a sense of identity and intention within his creative practice and revitalise a flagging relationship with music. Thus the new record is charged with a newfound purpose, with first single ‘Just a Bird’ “possessing all the heart which won fans over to Blind Pilot in the first place, but an extra sense of focus for those energies.”
Ahead of the album’s release next month on ATO Records, the Oregon outfit have now returned with new single, ‘Jacaranda’. It’s the opening track from the new record, and introduces its sincere and soaring folk pop perfectly. Written during the aforementioned trip to Mexico with Blind Pilot co-founder and longtime friend Ryan Dombowski, the song serves as a direct celebration of teamwork and trust, with Nebeker moved to reference the collaborative spirit which underpins all of his efforts as well as the people who make it possible. “We were in a park hanging out under these giant jacaranda trees in full violet bloom,” Nebeker explains, “and it turned to a song of thanks to him for being so patient with me.”
The band have also release a video of a full-band live session filmed at Flora Recording in Portland, OR. Directed by Andrew Ching, the film not only displays the live energy of the Blind Pilot sound, but captures the very spirit of togetherness which is so central to the new album.
In The Shadow Of The Holy Mountain is out on the 16th August from ATO Records and available to pre-order from the Blind Pilot Bandcamp page.
