Ben Kweller Announces New Album, His First Since Son’s Death: Most ‘Emotionally Raw’ Project Yet
Ben Kweller has a seventh album and a North American tour in the works, a year following the death of his 16-year-son. His latest album, Cover the Mirrors, a 12-track record, will arrive May 30, the singer-songwriter announced Friday.
The album’s release date marks what would have been his late son Dorian Zev Kweller’s 19th birthday. The Austin-based musician called it the “most personal, emotionally raw project” he’s worked on.
More from Rolling Stone
“When Dorian died in 2023 I was overcome with the need to make music,” Kweller said in a statement. “I didn’t care what came out of me because it was the only way I could find peace in my earth-shattering grief.”
His son died in a car accident in February 2023 as Dorian attempted to avoid a truck in his lane, his mother Liz Kweller shared in a 2023 social media post. Dorian was killed on impact when a tree limb hit his windshield. He recorded music using the name Zev, and died just weeks before his first gig at SXSW.
“It’s hard not to focus on everything I’ve lost and in the depths of my sorrow I realized that something was gained,” Ben continued. “I can only describe it as an additional layer in the spectrum of understanding. My highs are higher and my lows are lower. My love is deeper and my calling is stronger. Cover the Mirrors is helping me cope with my new reality and these songs are part of that journey.”
Kweller recorded the album, set to release by his record label Noise Company, with Chris Mintz-Plasse on bass and Ryan Dean on drums. On Friday, Kweller released “Optimystic,” the first single off his forthcoming album. Cover the Mirrors also features artists like Waxahatchee, MJ Lenderman, the Flaming Lips, and Jason Schwartzman’s musical project Coconut Records.
Kweller, who has toured with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Ben Folds and Death Cab for Cutie, will also kickstart the first leg of his Cover the Mirrors tour in April, with early stops in Atlanta, Nashville, and Boston. The second leg of his tour begns on July 10, making stops in cities like Aspen, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles, before concluding in Phoenix on July 26. General sale tickets are available.
Cover the Mirrors tour dates
April 15 – Atlanta, GA @ Purgatory at The Masquerade
April 16 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement East
April 18 – Washington, DC @ Union Stage
April 19 – New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
April 21 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
April 22 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
April 24 – Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
April 25 – Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch
April 26 – Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
April 28 – Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
April 29 – Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
April 30 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway
May 2 – Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
May 3 – Austin, TX @ Scoot Inn
July 9 – Aspen, CO @ Belly Up
July 11 – Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
July 12 – Fort Collins, CO @ Aggie
July 14 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
July 17 – Seattle, WA @ Neumos
July 18 – Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret
July 19 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios
July 21 – San Francisco, CA @ Independent
July 23 – West Hollywood, CA @ Troubadour
July 25 – San Diego, CA @ Casbah
July 26 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
Best of Rolling Stone
Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.