Photo Credit: Jon Chu

Dawes are entering a new era, guided by the creative direction of brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith. After the release of their previous LP, Misadventures of Doomscroller, and the departure of two bandmates in the year that followed the 2022 drop, the Goldsmith brothers are leading the band’s evolution with their upcoming record, Oh Brother, scheduled for release on Oct. 11. The duo previewed the project today by sharing its initial single “House Parties” and a fan-incorporated music video. Watch below. 

“House Parties” glow with a familiarity of experiences past, relatable and satirical lines that hone in on cultural phenomena and descriptors that reflect not only the last 15 years of band history but also provide a throughline adjacent to early adulthood and crave-able moments that accompany late night shenanigans. Musically, it’s a vibrant moment for Dawes and a sonic departure from droned confessionals and referred slow burns for which they are known–all the while maintaining their distinctive ability to conjure a scene and emulate a feeling. 

“A nostalgic song,” starts Taylor Goldsmith via press release. “A song about how true cultural experiences aren’t in the tourist traps but within human connections among specific communities. It’s a goofy lyric but the sentiment is not. We can all relate to feeling truly alive at a dive bar or a stranger’s home, getting access into a universe we didn’t even know existed…Whether across the planet or just one town over.”

Oh Brother aims to honor the brother’s 15-year history and creative partnership under the Dawes umbrella. Each track was first recorded live with just Taylor on guitar and Griffin manning the drums, and later, studio instrumentation and collaborative layers from touring guitarist Trever Mener were applied. The LP boasts nine tracks, melding rock with folk tendencies, piano ballads, and sprawling jams akin to musical freedom. 

“All you can really do is find out what are the most essential, truest, and idiosyncratic parts of yourself,” Taylor continued. “And I like the fact that Griffin and I are kind of clinging to each other and holding on to each other more than we ever have. We’re grateful for each other in a new way. But we’ve also been through a lot.

“It feels like we’re reborn in a way, and I mean that with so, so much love and gratitude to everyone we’ve ever played with before! This is what it means to be a lifer, to have iterations. It means having phases and chapters, and this is a very clear delineation as to the beginning of a new one. So Oh Brother feels like a ninth record, but it also feels like a first record.”

Dawes will welcome their impending arrival of renewed self with a tour to accompany the forthcoming LP release. For more information, visit dawestheband.com/tour.

Pre-order Oh Brother. Scroll down to stream the official, fan-participated music video below.