THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “In May of 2022, my dog got diagnosed with cancer,” shares Sean Thompson. “I found out right before I had to leave for a six-week long tour. It was a devastating realization on its own, but my back was against the wall to make a decision about what to do for my old buddy.
“I made the difficult decision to put him down before any of the effects of the doggy cancer began to take hold. My house threw a big party with people that loved him and all of his doggy buddies. I grilled hot dogs and veggies and people brought him treats. The next morning, I took him to his favorite park for a very long walk. A couple of days later, I found myself in Marfa, Texas. Something about the wide open space of the West Texas desert brought the chords and the idea for Roll On Buddy to my ears. Maybe, it was my old pup’s way of helping me through that difficult time.”
Head In The Sand was written as a direct reaction to a series of challenges Thompson faced in succession, including the loss of his dog, the death of his mother and a life-altering breakup. Over 10 rollicking and undeniable tracks, the LP is a potent wakeup call to let go when things get tough. It’s about being present and embracing life’s towering highs and brutal lows head-on.
Inspired by Herbie Hancock, Frank Zappa and The Grateful Dead, Thompson eschewed the standard singer-songwriter palette for something more cosmic, timeless and exploratory, enlisting a cast of longtime Nashville collaborators. Recorded and produced by Jake Davis, Thompson enlists bassists Alec O’Connell and Ryan Jennings; Erin Rae, Jo Schornikow (Phosphorescent) on keys; drummer Ben Parks; Michael Ruth (Rich Ruth) on synths; guitarist Jack Quiggins and steel player Spencer Cullum.
“This album signals a paradigm shift for me personally and musically,” he says. “I feel like I’m getting better at bringing out the music that is inside of me now. I’m becoming cozier with sonic freedom and exploration, especially when it comes to recording. I want humanity and organic sound to be the hallmark of my music, and I think it comes across here. This album is a diary entry. A time capsule. A sonic outline of difficult experiences paired with musical growth.”
A co-founder of Promised Land Sound, Thompson’s nimble and lyrical guitar playing has anchored the bands of Erin Rae, Teddy & The Roughriders, Emily Nenni, Spencer Cullum’s Coin Collection and more. He began releasing his own music with his 2022 debut Weird Ears, which he began working on in 2020 and had endless time to write, reflect on and tweak. Alternatively, Head In The Sand was made while life was happening to and around him, and ultimately found him translating one of the most difficult periods of his life into his most personal and cathartic piece of work yet.”
