You Must Change Your Life is out now!
This is the record I dreamed about when I first fell in love with music and imagined a future where I could one day get to make an album like this – a whole sonic world that is sensual and textured, deeply grooved and fully fleshed out, encompassing the emotional gamut of a life.
We love the Basic Folk podcast, and it was so rewarding to go deep on the new album with them. A track-by-track deep dive into the new record You Must Change Your Life.
A very special podcast out today! I got to reconnect with Will Oldham / Bonnie “Prince” Billy (one of my absolute favs) for a Talkhouse conversation. It’s always inspiring to hear Will’s take on life and creativity.
“Another genius album from David Wax Museum” - The Boston Herald
The first review of the new album is in from The Boston Herald, long-time champion of the band. Read the interview/article here.
Thanks to Jed Gottlieb for the deep and thoughtful listening.
Catch us on tour next week!
New song alert! “Best Lover” is out everywhere. You can pre-order the record today at our store.
Thanks to Under the Radar Magazine for premiering the 3rd single from our forthcoming album. And for the kind words:
“Best Lover” finds Wax and Slezak reaching for the heights of pop euphoria, recalling the lush studio production of the classic pop fare of the ‘60s. There are shades of the sweeping orchestration of Pet Sounds and the wall-of-sound production of a Motown classic, all rendered with a joyous vibrancy that feels fresh and vital. Ringing bells, alluring bass grooves, and timpani rolls, all give the track the feel of a dramatic romance. However, the lyrics contrast that wistful element with a harsher reality, revealing the fantasy beneath the romance: “Best lover I never had/The sweetest lips I never tasted/I don’t consider it any of it wasted/The parts of me she awakened/There’s a little part that will never stop waiting for.”
Today we share the title track from our upcoming new album You Must Change Your Life to be released May 5 on Nine Mile Records. Watch the new official music video here & pre-order the record.
April 2, we return to our beloved Mountain Stage in Charleston, WV, alongside Calexico (one of our faves!) and the great Steve Forbert.
Our experiences at Mountain Stage have always been so inspiration and collaborative — Bela Flec sat in with us once (!) and we got to sing with Dar Williams. We’ve had our minds blown by Raul Malo, Dan Wilson, and Chuck Prophet. So grateful for the amazing folks of Mountain Stage who pull off this feat. Can’t wait to be back!
We are beyond excited to announce that our new record is coming out May 5 on Nine Mile Records. The first single is out now (LISTEN HERE). And you can pre-order your copy of the album, along with a whole slew of snazzy new merch. It’s hard to convey how deeply meaningful this record is to us, and so David wrote up a longer piece about the making of the record and the magical experience of recording it.
It’s a big week here at the Wax HQ. We're thrilled to be going back on tour in May -- East Coat + Midwest --with the full band in support of new music! And on Tuesday we head out on our first tour since David’s accident opening for Los Lobos. Get those tickets today, and let's make it happen!
For all the expecting parents, babies and toddlers in your life, Suz's lullaby record is back in stock! This is a gorgeous collection produced by Josh Kaufman (Bonny Light Horseman, Fruit Bats, Hiss Golden Messenger). Pick up the Suz Two-Pack with her new solo record plus her lullaby album at our official store.
If you follow us online, you know that Suz has figured out a way to meaningfully engage with our community by posting authentic, poignant glimpses of life on social media. In addition to her brilliant songs, she has a treasure trove of writing about tour life, mental health and creativity, but hasn’t found the right vessel for it all until now.
Join Tour Mama Suz on Substack if you want something uplifting and meaningful delivered straight to your inbox. You can subscribe for free, but if you are able to contribute financially, you'll be adding to the joyful jump that Suz's heart has been experiencing upon seeing each new member.
The big fall duo tour kicks off in a month! We’ll be bringing the family rodeo to points across the Midwest and Northeast and singing our hearts out in clubs, listening rooms, barns, and outdoor spaces. New songs, middle-aged songs, old songs, and heck, we’ll be celebrating the 10-year-anniversary of Knock Knock Get Up. Get those tickets ahead of time, and tag a friend who might live nearby!
Much love,
David + Suz
Tickets to a Bird's Eye View of a Recording Session in the Studio Barn!
Join us as a live audience on Saturday, Aug 20 as we embark upon our first voyage into full-band record production in the new barn. We are inviting a limited number of guests to watch the recording from the balcony of the barn and stay afterwards for a meet & greet to debrief about the experience! Purchase a ticket here (a very limited number of seats available) to join us in Charlottesville and be the first to hear these brand new songs!
We’ve got two local Virginia shows coming up: we’re back at @summerstageva in Staunton on July 1 and then headlining at Fredfest in Singer’s Glen, VA on July 8.
And then a big duo tour throughout the Midwest and New England in September. Woot woot! All Sept dates on sale Friday, June 24.
A HUGE thank you to the @thewoodbros and @guster for having us along on this 10-day tour through heat domes, van homes, epic poems, and vibrant microphones.
NEW SONG ALERT! 🌱 “Spring Is Here” comes out today! It’s bright and buoyant and will ebulliently whisk you away to the early days of spring.
STUDIO UPDATE: We’re finally ready to move into the new space! The carpentry crew (@meiers_cellars @phillycol + Noah Harrell) came back last week for finishing touches, and oh my goodness, the final building is beyond our wildest imaginings.
See more photos here.
We just got word that we're supporting two of our favorite bands this summer throughout the Midwest and East Coast! Both The Wood Brothers and Guster are phenomenal artists who inspire us with their indelible songs, boundless creativity, sincere kindness and deep grooves. It’s a dream and an honor to share the stage with them, and we can’t wait to play out in the open at these huge venues. Be sure to get there early!
June 9 - Richmond, VA - Tix
June 10 - Selbyville, DE - Tix
June 11 - Essex Junction, VT - Tix
June 12 - Lafayette, NY - Tix
June 14 - Huber Heights, OH - Tix
June 16 - Indianapolis, IN - Tix
June 17 - Cincinnati, OH - Tix
So thrilled to announce Suz’s Album Release Show right here in our studio barn!! Seating is very limited for this show so please don’t wait to buy your tickets.
April 16 • 8pm
Charlottesville, VA
Suz will be performing songs off her sensational new solo album, Our Wings May Be Featherless. And to make the evening even sweeter, our producer and friend Anthony da Costa will be driving in from Nashville to perform the set with us!
If you haven’t heard Suz’s new album, give yourself a gift and take a listen today.
Suz is not much for small talk. She loves to go deep, and she doesn't hold back, especially when it comes to mental health. This makes her a perfect podcast guest for Basic Folk with its thoughtful and insightful host Cindy Howes. We love this podcast and are thrilled to share this hour-long conversation between Suz and Cindy.
Just watch out for the lightning round at the end where Suz finally gets stumped by the questions.
Listen to the interview here.
This is a big deal! Suz’s new record is featured today on NPR’s All Songs Considered alongside David Byrne, Mitski, Sharon Van Etten, Regina Spektor, and Kevin Morby. Thanks to Bob Boilen for shining a light and including Suz in such great company.
Please join me in wishing Suz a Happy Release Day! Her debut solo record drops today. Our Wings May Be Featherless is a work of profound beauty, a sonic quilt of depth and heart, a star chart for navigating the soul.
Listen here: https://linktr.ee/suzslezak
Thank you to our beloved WBUR for the thoughtful interview with Suz about her new album Our Wings May Be Featherless. Album drops this Friday, March 4!
Read the interview & order your copy today.
Interview by Lauren Daley
So thankful to be back on tour and engaged in the strange and magical enterprise that is making music with friends, traveling as a family, setting up our little merch store, reconnecting with old friends, and doing it night in and night out. So appreciative of the venues that figured out a way to survive and keep the flame burning.
Tour rolls on for two more weeks! Low ticket alert for Boston and Dallastown, PA.
Suz’s New Song “Take Me” Out Today! — a gorgeous piano ballad about childbirth at the emotional heart of the record. Listen on Spotify, Apple Music, etc.
Suz shares, “When my 40-hour labor ended in an emergency c-section, my tears lasted for years, as I processed the disappointment and anger at myself for somehow believing in a birth that might be “easy” and "natural" just because I’d wished it so. The healing process was quite long for me, as I underwent the physical recovery from surgery, combined with feelings that I hadn’t tried hard enough or prepared well enough. Today I can see that the fact I toured throughout both my pregnancies was actually quite heroic. But it has taken nearly a decade. “Take Me” is a statement of deep acceptance of myself, scars and all, and a recognition of the intense fear that can be involved in giving birth, despite our intentions to welcome the pain as we become a vessel for new life.”
Oh my gosh, we’re blushing from the kind words after our last-minute gig with The Wood Brothers at the 9:30 Club! We felt a little rusty but boy are we pumped to get back on tour this month.
“The aww-inspiring husband/wife duo David and Suz are operating at a level reminiscent of June Carter and Johnny Cash, especially the way their love for each other pours through the music and radiates on stage. The band certainly won over the crowd early and often.” — Stu Kelly, Melomaniacs
“Eclectic, exuberant, and captivating indie-folk band…this performance would leave a lasting impression that revealed a true hidden gem.” - Jason Herman, DC Music Review
News Flash! 💥We’ve just been added to The Wood Brothers show at the esteemed 9:30 Club tomorrow in Washington, DC! We’ve been such big fans for so long—such an honor to share the stage with these guys!!!
Sending love to our pal Steve Poltz who’ll pick back up on the tour as soon as he can. We 💛 you Steeeeve!!
Today is a big day! Suz's first single "Beautiful Mess" from her forthcoming solo record is out in the wild world. I couldn't be more proud of her for making this gorgeous, fierce work of art. It was an honor to witness the alchemy of her art-making, these nine indelible songs conjured out of the darkness and pain of depression and mania, a friend's suicide, a traumatic birth experience.
Huzzah! We've got a brand new album for you today to help ring in 2022. Think of it as Euphoric Ouroboric Part 2, if you will. But with a simpler and sexier name -- REMEMBER MY FUTURE. Purchase it here.