Sneak Peek into “Family Trees”

"Family Trees" Sampler Mix


HUSH Records has announced that the former ‘for Stars’ front man Carlos Forster releases his first solo album “Family Trees,” recorded with M Ward as producer / collaborator, the album will be released on July 19th. Pre-order is available, here.

Forster made five trips up to Portland between 2003 and 2009 in which he and Ward recorded Family Trees at Mike Coykendall’s Blue Rooms studio. The songs on the record are a mix of old and new: a few Ward adored (and was likely influenced by) from their days as students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (“Campfire Songs” in particular), and a few written during the recording process. Friend Rachel Blumberg (who played with M Ward, Bright Eyes, The Decemberists, Mirah and Jolie Holland) stopped by to add drums. Jonathan Richman, who refused to speak after 6 p.m. — he wrote everything down on a piece of paper and handed it to you to read—added a noodly guitar track to “If I Could Be”. When he showed up he was holding a nylon string guitar and said, “I just want to play second rhythm guitar..... Tim Mooney (American Music Club) and Forster put the finishing touches on the record, mixing it in San Francisco at Mooney’s Closer Studio.”

LISTEN :: 'Campfire Songs' off the "Family Trees" album on NPR's "All Songs Considered"