NEW GEOGRAPHY
streaming now
Waves feat. Brian Beken · Robert Earl Keen ·
〰️
Waves feat. Brian Beken · Robert Earl Keen · 〰️
“A fresh take on the golden era of alternative music... it crosses over into other genres as well with a glue holding it all together.”
-americana highways
“a sound called New Geography, and I can just about guarantee you’ll dig it.”
-TWANGVILLE
“New Geography offers up something different from Beken though, leaning into his more rocking inclinations. ”
-AUSTIN CHRONICLE
“With a touch of Tom Petty, a bit of Texas troubadour, and a quiet folk-rock sensibility, the song [STRANGERS’ NAMES] is a quiet yet uptempo rumination on anxiety. Warm harmonies weave around an airy electric guitar and a quickly shuffling beat to give the song a feeling of pensiveness.”
-GLIDE MAGAZINE
after 20 years on the road, brian beken makes his debut solo album. totally self produced and performed, it’s a genre defying leap into what is called
New Geography
the interview
New Geography
New Geography was born from 2020’s pandemic lockdown. What started as an exercise became a debut album.“After a few weeks of isolation I decided to set up a makeshift recording studio. At the time, we were living on Lake Travis and I set up shop in an empty game room. I started recording ideas that I had over the years… some old, some new. I had a computer, 2 mics, a truckload of instruments, and plenty of time.”
30° 24' 55.908'' N
97° 56' 20.76'' W
After two months 20 songs were recorded, nearly 20 instruments played, and an old feeling returned.
“The exercise totally rekindled my love affair with music. Even though I was alone, it was one of, if not the most, fun times I’ve ever had making music. I felt like I was 17 again.”
Mixed at Mountain Studios in Austin with friend and engineer Joey Humel, the mix was whittled down to 14 songs, 11 making the final cut.
“Stylistically, it’s all over the map. But it’s a reflection of everything that’s influenced me up to this point. I hope the listener gets just a fraction of the amount of joy that I had making it.”