Truman Sinclair – has shared the new single ‘dustland’

Following a standout performance at this summer’s End Of The Road Festival and a packed-out headline show at The Elephant’s Head in Camden, indie-rock/folk artist Truman Sinclair shares new single ‘dustland’, out now via Capitol Records/Polydor Label Group. The new tune captures the qualities that fans love about the Los Angeles-based and Chicago-born singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer — slack vocals, vivid storytelling, and a recording approach that splits the difference between intimately informal and sharply detailed.

Though he’s a buzzing solo artist, Truman is also known for founding cult-beloved farwest emo outfit Frat Mouse. From his bedroom studio, he recorded and produced all four of the band’s LPs, while honing his skills across 300+ live gigs. His attention to craft also earned him work as an assistant engineer to Grammy-winning producer Dave Sardy (Johnny Cash, Oasis, Slayer).

‘dustland’ carves a hypnotically catchy rhythm out of a shuffling drum beat and an acoustic guitar riff. With a little twang in his grainy voice, Truman spills raw poetry that goes down easy: “Now you’re sitting at the military fair and / They’re cutting off all your golden hair / You look at me with a thousand-yard stare and / You tell me, ‘Baby, take me anywhere.’”

The ‘dustland’ video was filmed in L.A. by Truman’s good friend (and fellow bandmate in their alternative band Fat, Evil Children) Nic Skrabak. The intimate clip not only brings the song to life as Truman performs it with palpable heart, it also captures off-the-cuff backstage footage of the unassuming young troubadour as he prepares to take the stage.

‘dustland’ is about coming of age and finding something to fight for in the chaos,” says Truman. He also shared a poem about the new song:

A hard concrete cancer
creeping towards the ocean
the mother
the green
The machines scream
The towers gleam
Rubble in the trees
The water is boiling
Feeling stupid holding my sign
Nonetheless begging my species
Not for my sake
Not even for theirs
But for hers!!!!!!

Earlier this year, Truman solidified his solo status with his debut indie album, American Recordings, released via R&R, also home to Dijon and Mk.gee. With smart, folk-fuelled singles like ‘Black Train’ and ‘Joel Roberts’, the 10-song set is a clear step forward, showcasing the 23-year-old’s talent for writing and performing songs that feel as achingly earnest as they do worthy of playing on repeat.