Billy Strings Announces New Album “So Much For Goodbyes”

At the stroke of midnight Eastern time U.S. Monday evening, Billy Strings revealed to the world that his newest album called So Much For Goodbyes would be arriving on August 28th, and then laid us all to rest with guaranteed nightmares from the music video of the album’s lead single “Burn The Other End” (see below). Rest assured though, no Billy Strings fan is complaining. Any new release from the bluegrass maestro will be met with great anticipation, and an almost guaranteed Grammy nomination.

“This album came at a time in my life when I had a lot to write about,” Billy Strings explains. “I had just lost my mother last June and still felt the talons of grief piercing my back. Before she passed, she and I had planned on trying to use some of her poetry to make songs from, but that just hasn’t panned out yet. A lot of her poetry is very stream-of-conscious, and I just couldn’t figure out how to put it to a tune. Maybe someday I will.”

Instead we get 16 new tracks from Strings that you can expect once again will explore the boundaries of bluegrass, but also adhere and deeply respect the genre’s roots. It’s been this combination of reverence for tradition, while also breaking its bounds that has earned Strings a massive audience full of bluegrass purists right beside jamgrass party kids and old stoner hippies. Even though Billy’s mom did not contribute any lyrics to the new album, the artwork and inspiration for the album is hers.

“Another dream we had was having her make art for the next record cover,” Strings explains. “She was an amazing artist and was constantly working on many different things. She would call me all the time and tell me about how she was painting this or gluing this thing to that to make some UFO alien battle with cowboys and fairies. All her pieces had a story. The piece we ended up using for the cover was the one she was working on the night she died. I believe her intention was to show it to me when it was finished to see if I would use it for the cover. Although I don’t believe she had the chance to complete it, I am so happy we were able to fulfill that dream.”

Strings goes on to explain about the inspiration for the title of the new album, “I never got to say goodbye to her. That’s why I wanted to call the album ‘So Much For Goodbyes.’ When I mentioned it to my manager, his interpretation of it was different from mine. I was sad that I didn’t get to say goodbye, but when I told him the name of the album, he heard it from a different perspective. It’s not goodbye. She’s not gone. She’s very much still with me. So much for goodbyes.”

On the album’s lead single “Burn the Other End,” Billy Strings shows off the darker side of his artistry, while also proving he doesn’t have to rely on blazing speed to show off his guitar prowess. He can compose thoughtful and novel guitar melodies in the mid tempo that are just as impressive, and that compliment his lyricism. The song was co-written by Paul Hoffman.

The new album was produced by Billy Strings, with T Bone Burnett acting as co-producer. Along with some guest spots, the album was recorded with Billy’s backing band of Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, Billy Failing on banjo, Jarrod Walker on mandolin, and Royal Masat on bass.

As Billy Strings announces the new album, he’s getting ready to head to Austin, TX where he will film his latest appearance on Austin City Limits on July 2nd, and then hang around for a couple of days to help headline Willie Nelson’s 4th of July Picnic at the Circuit of the Americas.

So Much For Goodbyes is now available for pre-save and pre-order.

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