Renowned songwriter Bill Callahan announces the release of his latest studio album ‘My Days of 58’ on February 27 via Drag City. To celebrate the news, Callahan has shared the third and final single “Stepping Out for Air” today. This new collection of twelve tunes explores uncanny depths of expression while maintaining the living energies of a live performance. The record features the core group of musicians from his recent tours including guitarist Matt Kinsey, saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi, and drummer Jim White. This lineup previously demonstrated a powerful synergy on the 2024 live release Resuscitate!.
The recording process for this project relied heavily on spontaneity and the human element of making music. Callahan recorded the basic tracks for most songs as a duo with Jim White before layering additional arrangements. “Improv/unpredictability/the unknown is the thing that keeps me motivated to keep making music,” Callahan explains regarding his studio philosophy. He describes the final result as a living room record that prioritizes a relaxed and intimate attitude. Listeners describe the new material as a breathtaking celebration of cultural resonance and rhythmic precision.
Callahan expanded the sonic palette of the album by collaborating with several guest musicians including fiddle player Richard Bowden and pianist Pat Thrasher. Photographer and pedal steel player Bill McCullough contributed both musical textures and the front and back cover photography. Callahan notes that McCullough approaches the steel guitar with the same eye for foreground and background as his photographic work. “Hobo stew is always the idea, throwing together who I have at hand instead of following a recipe,” says Callahan. This approach ensures each track captures a unique and unrepeatable moment in time.
The album arrives on multiple formats including a double LP, CD, and cassette. It serves as a sharp piece of slice-of-life portraiture that cuts deeper than his previous efforts. Every session began with a goal of finding something human within the mistakes and using them as springboards for creativity. The band practiced with a focus on listening to one another to allow for charts and spontaneity to coexist. Fans can now listen to “Stepping Out for Air” as a final preview before the full twelve-song journey becomes available next month.