Barsuk releases new Benjamin Gibbard single "Proxima B"

We're excited to be releasing the latest single by Benjamin Gibbard, "Proxima B", available digitally everywhere.

This is the first time the fully fleshed-out studio version of "Proxima B" has been released. It's paired with b-side "Filler," a revelatory piano-vocal cover that brings Gibbard's trademark melancholy to the straight-edge DC hardcore classic by Minor Threat.

The Death Cab for Cutie frontman recently debuted live stripped-down acoustic versions of "Proxima B" during the Smithsonian's National Air & Space Museum virtual concert Space Songs: Through the Distance and during his weekly livestream performances from his home in Seattle. The studio recording of "Promixa B" was mixed by fellow Seattleite Michael Lerner (of Telekinesis), who also played drums and sang backing vocals on the track. Limited-edition 7" vinyl and cassette versions of the single will also be released via Gibbard's long-dormant label imprint Bedside Recordings (which last released two long-out-of-print split-singles in 2003 from The Mountain Goats/John Vanderslice and David Bazan/Casey Foubert). 28 May 2020

Benjamin Gibbard on NPR's Tiny Desk!

Benjamin Gibbard performed from his home studio for NPR's Tiny Desk this past weekend – archived here. 06 Apr 2020

Benjamin Gibbard releases new single, "Life in Quarantine"

"The airports and train stations are full of desperate people / But no one is going anywhere soon," proclaims Benjamin Gibbard in the melancholy chorus of his new single, "Life in Quarantine," available digitally and streaming everywhere today.

The Seattle-based Death Cab for Cutie front man unveiled the new song in a video late last week as part of local alt-weekly The Stranger's A Message to the City series, noting "I know this is a really f---ed up and scary time for everybody, including myself, and I know that we're all trying to figure out what to do to make it better or alleviate the suffering of someone else."

The track released today is a new home-studio recording of "Life in Quarantine." Net proceeds from the digital release will be donated to Seattle-area relief organizations, including homelessness-support services non-profit Aurora Commons, a welcoming space for unhoused Seattle residents to rest, prepare a meal, connect to resources, and collectively create a healthy and vibrant community. Gibbard has also been live streaming daily concerts from his home since the beginning of the Seattle area's voluntary social-distancing efforts on March 17th. The livestreams, which have included songs from throughout his career with Death Cab, The Postal Service and his solo material along with covers and other surprises, has been featured by outlets such as Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Variety, NPR, and more and prompted Stereogum to ask, "Is Ben Gibbard going to single-handedly get us all through quarantine? I mean, a lot of other people are doing livestream performances, but Gibbard is really going all in: He is playing daily, and every day he brings something new to the table."

The concerts are archived on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitch and begin at 4pm PST daily. Donations to a variety of non-profit organizations helping to deal with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic are encouraged with every streamed set. 26 Mar 2020

Temporary Shop Closure

In doing our part to help slow the spread of COVID-19 here in Seattle, all Barsuk staff are working remotely and our online shop is temporarily closed. We remain available via email, but won't be able to ship orders for what could be a few weeks.

If you have any questions or encounter problems with our site, please write to us and we'll do what we can to set things right.

If you'd like us to notify you when we re-open the shop, please enter your email address here.

Due to event cancellations and public health concerns, many artists are looking ahead to an unexpectedly difficult year. Now more than ever, please consider supporting musicians by purchasing merch from their online shops and by buying their music from local record retailers who are also hurting, many of whom are filling mailorders or offering delivery, even if they've closed their doors to shoppers.

Be safe out there, and please do what you can to help support hospitals and medical staff by working to prevent rapid spread of the virus. 19 Mar 2020

Phantogram's "Ceremony" out today

We're excited to announce the release of Phantogram's "Ceremony", out now via Republic Records. To celebrate the occasion, all of Phantogram's music is 15% off in the Barsuk shop. 06 Mar 2020

Nada Surf "So Much Love" video and contest

Today, Nada Surf has released a new video for "So Much Love" from their new LP, Never Not Together. The video was directed by Michael Arthur, and it's available here. "Since we had only a few days to make the video for 'So Much Love,' we tried to keep it simple, focussing on the band, alone in the dark and gradually expanding the vision to a cosmic sense of love and hope," Arthur said. "We went in not really knowing what we were doing, but staying open to the idea of this expansive love and the collaborative spirit of all involved."

The band is also excited to announce the "So Much Love" fan video contest in partnership with Fender Guitars, open to anyone who wants to make their own "So Much Love" music video, expressing what the song means to them. Interested directors can download hi-resolution audio here.

"I've described this song so many different ways," recalls Matthew Caws. "It's about good will between people, it's about our ability to find positivity even while in difficult circumstances, about seeing beauty everywhere by working to reframe our judgement. We're good at feeling good and we're good at feeling bad and we can spend a lifetime navigating that. All this is why it would be so exciting for us to see your interpretation of the song!"

The band will select one entry as the winning video and promote that video via their socials and web site. In addition, the winner will receive a Fender Player Telecaster from Fender Guitars and a selection of merchandise and vinyl from Nada Surf. Fans and video makers interested in submitting their work must post their work on YouTube on or before April 30th with the hashtag #SoMuchLove.

"I've always believed that how someone hears a song is just as valid as what the writer was feeling when they wrote it," says Caws. "If it makes you want to make something, please do, we'd be thrilled!" 25 Feb 2020