Earlier this month on Dead Oceans, Kevin Morby released Sundowner, his “attempt to put the Middle American twilight — its beauty profound, though not always immediate — into sound.” The album garnered glowing praise from Pitchfork, Stereogum, Uproxx, Aquarium Drunkard, and more. Riding off of the album’s release, Morby today presents a new standalone single, “US Mail,” which he originally debuted during the encore for the Sundowner live stream last week (you can view this performance below as well). Sonically, “US Mail” feels comforting, with soft synth that envelops Morby’s voice. He explains the track below:
“US Mail” is a song I wrote about a mother communicating with her daughter via the USPS from within an inpatient rehab facility. Restricted from any forms of electronic communication, the two must rely on postcards carried by the United States Postal Service to reach one another.
My PO BOX is featured on the track artwork – please feel free to write me a letter and continue sending mail to your loved ones to support the USPS. It’s service has been integral to my career and I have been passionate about both sending and receiving physical mail since I was a child. It is simply one of my favorite things. I will do my best to write you back, but even if I don’t, please know that your letters mean the world to me and that I read and cherish them all.
Though we had originally intended to record this song in studio while mixing Sundowner, when the lockdown went into effect and the session was cancelled we decided to do it remotely instead, with Brad recording the music and me recording the vocals from our respective homes.
This release is dedicated to mothers and their children – and all postal workers everywhere.
Xoxo
KM, Kansas City 2020
