She & Him’s seventh studio album is a loving, LP-length tribute to one of the greatest living American songwriters and singers, Brian Wilson. Melt Away: A Tribute to Brian Wilson finds Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward diving deep into the legendary artist’s extensive songbook, offering fascinating and delectable new spins on time-honored classics and overlooked gems alike. These fourteen covers are infused with the familiar magic that She & Him fans know and love, opening a new window into Wilson’s iconic catalog. Wilson even features on a song with Zooey and M. Ward for the album, “Do It Again.” The band have enjoyed a friendship, and mutual appreciation, with Wilson over the years and She & Him was previously a guest vocalist on his 2015 album, No Pier Pressure.
“In the spring of 2020, we started a list of our favorite Brian songs — a very long list,” the duo explains. “We chose songs without any regard to their chart performance. The obscure ones hit us just as hard as the more popular songs — and all are ripe for re-imagining, re-interpreting, and re-inventing. Brian writes songs of beauty and loneliness and vulnerability better than anyone — and by sequencing them next to popular songs of confidence and love and fun, it creates a more complete picture of life on earth.”
Brian Wilson comments on ‘Melt Away’: “Zooey and Matt did such mind-blowing versions of our songs. The harmonies are beautiful and right on. I love this record!”
The album’s first single, “Darlin’,” comes replete with a QVC-inspired video directed by Lara Jean Gallagher. A perfect intro to the album, the “Darlin’” clip finds the pair trading lead vocals while doing their best to sell nail polish to the masses.
‘MELT AWAY’ TRACK LIST:
- Darlin’
- Wouldn’t It Be Nice
- Til I Die
- Deirdre
- Melt Away
- Good To My Baby
- Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
- Don’t Worry Baby
- This Whole World
- Kiss Me, Baby
- Do It Again ft. Brian Wilson
- Heads You Win, Tails I Lose
- Please Let Me Wonder
- Meant For You
Melt Away is Deschanel and Ward’s follow-up to 2016’s holiday album Christmas Party, and it marks their second record of non-holiday covers since 2014’s Classics, which topped Billboard’s U.S. Folk Albums chart on release. It’s the latest display of remarkable talent from She & Him, who have wowed listeners for over 15 years with their gorgeous and warm indie-pop. As Deschanel’s maintained a successful acting career and Ward’s continued his own singular solo career as a producer and singer-songwriter, the duo continues to sound like the perfect match in the studio—with Zooey’s dramatic vocals excellently pairing with Matt’s textured, tuneful arrangements and production.
Tickets for She & Him’s upcoming tour are available at sheandhim.com.
SHE & HIM TOUR DATES:
6/13 Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
6/14 Salt Lake City, UT @ Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre
6/16 Forest Grove, OR @ Grand Lodge Hotel and Property
6/17 Woodinville, WA @ Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery
6/18 Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
6/20 Jacksonville, OR @ Britt Festival Pavilion
6/22 Paso Robles, CA @ Vina Robles Amphitheatre
6/23 Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery
6/24 San Diego, CA @ Humphrey’s
6/25 Los Angeles, CA @ The Ford
9/9 Vienna, VA @ Wolf Trap
9/16 Grand Rapids, MI @ Frederik Meijer Gardens
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