I’m a big fan of San Fermin. I was hooked after the first song, after they opened up for the glorious Alt-J last fall. Forty percent of my love is credited to the talented group and their unforgettable stage presence. The other 60 percent is because of Allen Tate’s voice.
The handsome and supremely talented singer has just announced he will release a solo album, Sleepwalker, on October 28. If your heart seized up at the thought of him leaving San Fermin, take a breath. SF’s founding member, Ellis Ludwig-Leone, produced Tate’s upcoming release. Exhale.
In his press release, Tate share that this new project actually began in the fall of 2014, beside The Lakes in Copenhagen.
“I didn’t know a soul [in Copenhagen] and didn’t really interact with anyone,” Tate said. “All of these songs have something to do with feeling alone—physically alone, or feeling estranged, or alone like it’s all up to you.”
Tate recorded Sleepwalker with Ludwig-Leone (and bandmates Michael Hanf and Tyler McDiarmid) between breaks in the San Fermin tour schedule. Sleepwalker will be a brief 30 minutes, and contain nine gems. Matty Green (TV on the Radio, Yeasayer) is credited to putting the final sleepy spell over the album.
My thoughts on the first single? Well, being alone never sounded so appealing. This soothing release belongs on the soundtrack of a thousand movies. It should be played just above a whisper in your favorite dimly-lit lounge. Use this song to help narrate the gray slivers of the day between dusk and dawn.
Tate’s voice touches me deeper than most. His vocals slide and seep into my ears, skin, and sweat in a way that I’m never fully expecting. The warmth and electricity he can capture audibly is comforting, haunting. Deliciously appealing.
Save the date, friends. October 28 will be a memorable day.
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