Marcus Mumford Announces Debut Solo Album with Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo, Brandi Carlile

The '(self-titled)' LP from the Mumford & Sons bandleader arrives in September

Photo: Anthony Abbott

BY Calum SlingerlandPublished Jul 12, 2022

Mumford & Sons leader Marcus Mumford has announced plans to deliver his debut solo album. Named (self-titled), the effort arrives September 16.

Mumford revealed the details today on social media, sharing that the Blake Mills-produced LP will feature contributions from Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Clairo and Monica Martin.

"In January 2021, facing demons I danced with for a long time in isolation, I wrote a song called 'Cannibal,'" Mumford writes. "I took it to my friend Blake Mills, and we began the process of making the album, dear to my heart, called (self-titled)."

Mumford first teased the arrival of a solo album on June 24, appearing at the first of Carlile's pair of sold-out shows at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. During her encore, the two performed a collaborative song that Mumford shared would close his forthcoming LP.

"I was in the process of making a record — with the full blessing and permission of the band that I'm still in," Mumford told the crowd that evening [via Variety]. "She heard a couple of songs and put her arm around me and said, 'I'm gonna help you do whatever it is you need to do to finish this.' And so we went into the studio the next day and wrote and recorded this song, which is the last song on the record."

You can watch fan-shot footage of Carlile and Mumford's performance below, where you'll also find Mumford's note to listeners.

Variety also confirmed that there are no plans for Mumford & Sons to break up, reporting that Mumford began writing songs intended for the band "before determining that at least some of the new compositions were enough of a departure that they merited being recorded and released under a solo banner."

Last year, one of Mumford's sons — banjoist Winston Marshall — was rightfully slammed for his support of right-wing mouthpiece Andy Ngo, leading to his departure from the group. This year, he put down the banjo to blog with Bari Weiss. Gross!

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