Shearwater

Born in Austin, Texas, in the late 1990s, Shearwater took shape in 1999 around Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff, who were also active in Okkervil River. Initially a side outlet for more restrained songs, it evolved into a standalone project centered on Meiburg’s songwriting and voice. Shearwater’s sound sits between indie rock, folk rock and folk psychedelia, marked by dense melodic songwriting, often expansive arrangements and a strong attention to images of the natural world. After The Dissolving Room (2001), Everybody Makes Mistakes (2002) and Winged Life (2004), the band refined its direction with Palo Santo (2006), a turning point that preceded Will Sheff’s departure. The Matador period extended this evolution with Rook (2008) and The Golden Archipelago (2010), three records forming the so-called “Island Arc.” Shearwater then steered toward a more direct, rock-oriented sound on Animal Joy (2012), recorded Fellow Travelers (2013), an album of covers tied to their touring companions, and released Jet Plane and Oxbow (2016). Around Jonathan Meiburg, Shearwater has maintained a flexible lineup over the years and continued its activity with The Great Awakening in 2022.