Indiana’s Kevin Krauter has announced his debut solo LP, Toss Up, which will be released on June 15th via Bayonet Records. He today also debuted an early album preview via the dreamy, richly melodic first single “Rollerskate”. Listen below:
“Useful solitude” is the phrase Krauter uses to describe Toss Up — both the conditions in which it was created and the prevailing theme of these nine iridescent indie-pop songs. In between tours, he spent long hours in his basement, guitars and vintage keyboards his only company, and tested out ideas, explored new sonic avenues, savored new sounds, and taught himself how to play a few instruments. The riffs and melodies became mantras, repeated back to himself until they became the rhythmically intricate, melodically bold, and emotionally complex songs on Toss Up. An insightful songwriter with a lyrical style that is both economical and evocative, Krauter crafts unique soundscapes that scramble a range of influences: ‘60s flower pop, ‘70s easy listening, ‘80s New Wave, ‘90s alt-radio, ’00s indie rock.
“A lot of the songs are about solitude in a very healthy sense, about trying to make it something useful and productive. It was good to center myself in that experience. I was able to get to a place where I was not afraid to be really stoked by what I was doing.” Or, as he declares on album track “Lonely Boogie”: “I’m all alone and I’m having a good time.”
Krauter – who has also recorded and performed with the band Hoops – will head out on a run of headlining tour dates in the US this June.
Toss Up Tracklist:
1. Cowboy Chloe
2. Lonely Boogie
3. Rollerskate
4. Suddenly
5. Restless
6. Keep Falling In Love
7. Who Do You Know
8. Barely On My Mind
9. Toss Up