Ben Kweller Announces His First Album Since Son's Death; Shares First Song and Tour Dates

BEN KWELLER ANNOUNCES FIRST ALBUM SINCE THE PASSING OF HIS 16-YEAR OLD SON DORIAN ZEV   COVER THE MIRRORS ARRIVES VIA THE NOISE COMPANY ON DORIAN’S 19TH BIRTHDAY, FRIDAY, MAY 30   12-SONG COLLECTION FEATURES SPECIAL GUESTS INCLUDING WAXAHATCHEE, MJ LENDERMAN, COCONUT RECORDS, AND THE FLAMING LIPS   FIRST SINGLE, “OPTIMYSTIC,” PREMIERES TODAY – STREAM   COVER THE MIRRORS TOUR ON SALE TODAY – TICKETS

Photo Credit: Lizzy Kweller

Ben Kweller has announced the release of Cover The Mirrors, his first new music since the sudden passing of his 16-year old son Dorian Zev in 2023. The much-beloved Texas-based singer-songwriter’s seventh studio album arrives via The Noise Company on Friday, May 30, 2025, honoring Dorian’s 19th birthday. Vinyl pre-orders are available now. Cover The Mirrors is heralded by the premiere of the first single, “Optimystic,” available today at all DSPs and streaming services.   LISTEN TO “OPTIMYSTIC” PRE-SAVE COVER THE MIRRORS Digital PRE-ORDER COVER THE MIRRORS Vinyl + CD  PURCHASE TICKETS TO THE COVER THE MIRRORS TOUR   “This is the most personal, emotionally raw project I’ve ever worked on,” says Ben Kweller. “When Dorian died in 2023 I was overcome with the need to make music. I didn’t care what came out of me because it was the only way I could find peace in my earth-shattering grief. It’s hard not to focus on everything I’ve lost and in the depths of my sorrow I realized that something was gained. I can only describe it as an additional layer in the spectrum of understanding. My highs are higher and my lows are lower. My love is deeper and my calling is stronger. Cover The Mirrors is helping me cope with my new reality and these songs are part of that journey.” Ben Kweller has been an open book throughout his illustrious career. His songs hold a nostalgic quality that takes you to a time and a place, happy or sad.  Cover The Mirrors now sees Kweller walking through the fire of heartbreaking grief with intention and purpose. Recorded October 2024 at NoiseCo Studio in Dripping Springs, TX with tour mates Chris Mintz-Plasse (bass) and Ryan Dean (drums), the 12-song collection features guest performances by an array of friends and fellow musicians, including  Waxahatchee (“Dollar Store”), MJ Lenderman (“Oh Dorian”), The Flaming Lips (“Killer Bee”), and  Jason Schwartzman’s highly acclaimed mid-aughts musical project Coconut Records (“Depression”). Despite the profound heartache and sadness that has filled the years since Dorian’s passing, Kweller’s open-eyed honesty about grief and loss has been an inspiration to people around the world. Now, with Cover The Mirrors, Ben Kweller devotes that deep well of emotions to his music, offering a chance to witness one of the great singer/songwriters at their creative peak.   Kweller will mark the arrival of Cover The Mirrors with a North American headline run. The first leg of the Cover The Mirrors Tour gets underway April 15 at Atlanta, GA’s Purgatory at The Masquerade and then travels through a May 3 homecoming at Austin, TX’s historic Scoot Inn. The tour’s second leg begins July 10 at Aspen, CO’s Belly Up and then culminates at Phoenix, AZ’s Crescent Ballroom on July 26. Highlights along the way include stops at such vaunted venues as Nashville, TN’s The Basement East (April 16), New York City’s Bowery Ballroom (April 19), Chicago, IL’s Lincoln Hall (April 26), Denver, CO’s Bluebird Theater (July 11), and West Hollywood, CA’s iconic Troubadour (July 23). Tickets for all announced dates are on sale now. For complete details, please visit benkweller.com/pages/shows.

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APRIL 15 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory at The Masquerade 16 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East 18 – Washington, DC – Union Stage 19 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom 21 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts 22 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall 24 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop 25 – Ferndale, MI – Loving Touch 26 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall 28 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line 29 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon 30 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway   MAY 2 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 3 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn   JULY 9 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up 11 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater 12 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie 14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge 17 – Seattle, WA – Neumos 18 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret 19 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios 21 – San Francisco, CA – Independent 23 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour 25 – San Diego, CA – Casbah 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom # # #