The Lone Bellow are set to release their sixth album, What a Time to Be Alive, this Friday, February 13. Recorded in Muscle Shoals and written and tracked collaboratively for the first time with the band’s full touring ensemble, the album marks a bold new chapter for the Nashville-by-way-of-Brooklyn trio.
When it came time to write What a Time to Be Alive, the band began in Henderson, Kentucky, where producer Peter Barbee had transformed an abandoned firehouse into a recording studio. There, they tapped into the playful energy of their on-the-road soundchecks, improvising instrumental beds that later became the foundation for new songs. From there, they traveled to Muscle Shoals to record, tracking each song live in the same room before breaking out into focused vocal and harmony sessions.
“We wanted to shake things up and try a new approach this time around,” says Brian Elmquist, who took the lead in producing the album. “Everyone just sat down at whatever instrument they were feeling, and we’d jam until something took shape. It felt like we were teenagers again playing in a garage – which is a magical thing for a band that’s 15 years into their career.”
That loose, joyful spirit carries through the album, fueling a sweeping celebration of life anchored by the band’s signature harmonies, heartfelt songwriting, and a sound that moves effortlessly between folk, rock, and gospel.
The Lone Bellow is Zach Williams, Kanene Pipkin, and Brian Elmquist. What a Time to Be Alive also features drummer Julian Dorio and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Geertsma.
