The Wheel Announces Debut Album And Shares New Single “Coyote Mask”

Portland-based artist Avram Brown, known musically as The Wheel, is set to release his much-anticipated, self-titled, debut album on October 6th, 2023, through Lakeshore Records. In celebration of the album announcement, The Wheel also shared the music video for his lead single “Coyote Mask”.

Brown, a seasoned producer and session guitarist, joined forces with close friend Raymond Richards (Local Natives, LCD Soundsystem), who co-produced and engineered the project. The album, a rich tapestry of indie folk-rock blended with psychedelic hues, features collaborations with notable artists including violist/arranger Kyleen King (Brandi Carlile, The Decemberists) and recording engineer Larry Crane, known for his prolific work with Elliot Smith.

A particularly poignant feature of the album is the inclusion of the late Ralph Carney, renowned for his contributions to Tom Waits and The B-52’s, whose baritone saxophone and bass clarinet performances on the album are his final recorded pieces.

The lead single, “Coyote Mask,” provides a taste of the album’s exploration of love, loss, and transformation. Brown reveals, “Coyote Mask is a song about awakening to a peaceful place of aloneness without loneliness. It’s a reflection on the vulnerability required to allow new love to blossom and heal, without hiding behind ingrained patterns of avoidance.”

Interestingly, the song harbors a subtle homage to Elliot Smith as the piano used in the recording belonged to him. The track was laid down at Jackpot! Studios in Portland, a place rich with Smith‘s musical essence and produced by Larry Crane, who has a long-standing association with Smith‘s work.

Watch The Wheel’s “Coyote Mask” music video below

The album, echoing with melodic lyricism and lush, kaleidoscopic production, is a culmination of Brown’s extensive musical journey, encompassing a blend of his deep-rooted folk heritage, his fascination with improvised music, and inspirations drawn from his parents’ ‘60s and ‘70s-heavy record collection. Brown, elucidating the album’s genesis, stated, “I have a significant backlog of songs that I’ve written over the years, but I also had some fresh ones born from the transformational pain of splitting up with my life partner of 14 years.”

The Wheel’s debut is not just a collection of songs but a cohesive body of work that desires to be experienced in its entirety. Brown, grateful and reflective, adds, “This is definitely a record that wants to be listened to as a complete piece of work and I’m grateful to anyone who takes the time to experience it as such.”

The Wheel Tracklist

Wintered Wanderlust
Clearing Ground
Crashing Down
Coyote Mask
Love & Truth
River Is Up
Speak Like Droning
Can’t Find You
Almuerzo Con Carney
Northern Lights

The Wheel will be hosting an album release party on October 7th, 2023, at Alberta Street Pub, Portland, OR.

For more information on The Wheel, to pre-order your copy of The Wheel, or to get ticket to any upcoming tour dates, visit his website here.