Tim Kile releases debut album ‘These Things Are Being Gathered For The Fire’
Out April 28: The Wild Light and Arcade Fire co-founder delivers on his grand indie rock ambition
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Credits: Artwork by Casey Galfas; photo by Sam Stambaugh
AUSTIN, TEXAS [APRIL 28, 2021] -- Tim Kile’s debut solo album has been a long time coming. The Austin singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist is set to release These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire on Wednesday, April 28, and the path that got him to this moment has been as typically long and winding as one would expect from an independent musician. From his early days two decades ago as a co-founding member of Arcade Fire, to leading New England’s late-aughts indie rock hopefuls Wild Light, to the past several years honing his craft as a solo artist, Kile has witnessed his own creative spirit evolve alongside his own sense of self.
That proof is woven throughout the 10 tracks on These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire, a compelling record from an artist with a lot to say but not a lot of time to say it. The tracks are bold declarations of guitar-rock, where melodies dance in a sprawling fit of creativity around a seasoned perspective of life and what lies ahead.
Across six monthly singles so far, Kile has rolled out a consistent line of stirring compositions -- the grand indie rock ambition of “Wasteland,” the infectious jangle-pop bounce of “My Medicine,” the expansive sonic exploration of “Buddy Holly/Seazons.” Each single has its own voice, its own rhythm and pulse, all connected through Kile’s sensibilities as a songwriter and storyteller, weaving tales around innocence, corruption, doubt, faith, love, hate, the basic human need to seek transcendence, to understand the big picture, and to find the clarity that surpasses day-to-day awareness.
“Thematically, there is sort of a consistent language that runs through the album, often using religious metaphor and language to describe phenomena that aren’t necessarily religious,” Kile says. “But I still think that language, even in our post-religion modern world, has great power in describing and understanding human situations. Most of the greatest lyricists employ this kind of thematic curiosity -- people like Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave; they all live in the milieu of religious language and themes, and seem to find it to be the most penetrating and effective means of expressing certain truths. There’s a depth and richness of expression, a sense of existential mystery, and a historicity that goes back millenia; it’s impossible to replicate these things. I also studied Classics in college, and have always wanted to employ a classicist’s view of things. In my musical self-education I always wanted to understand the ‘canonical’ works; the greatest works, the enduring works, the Dylans, The Beatles, The Clash, The Smiths, the music that stands the test of time. Those works shaped my ambitions and my taste.
The collection of songs on the album come from all different periods and eras of my life, to the point that making it all cohesive was a bit of a concern throughout recording,” he admits. “I think we got it there - my vocal and writing styles ultimately have a unifying effect - but the album includes everything from songs I finished in the vocal booth, to songs I’ve had ready to go for years, even back to the Arcade Fire days. Going into recording I knew about 5 of the 10 songs were sure things, then for the others I had a list of probably 50 songs that were options, and I just trusted the process to reveal to me which ones were right for this record. Recording started with a solid month in Harlem with two of my producers, Brady Watt and DECAP, and as we got in the flow, recording 12 hours every day, it just became clear to me which songs wanted to be born at that moment. Which is a great feeling.”
And for Kile to truly appreciate those wonderful feelings, he recalls a time when he was at his worst. Coincidentally, it was right around the time of the album’s completion, when his health deteriorated and he found himself at a low-point.
“People might be surprised at the level of duress under which the album was made,” Kile reveals. “I have autoimmune illness, and as the project progressed, my health was in a state of severe deterioration. It got to where I just couldn’t eat anything without excruciating pain. Having a sip of a smoothie would cause me pain for days. I kept losing weight, and I eventually had to be hospitalized for 11 days with malnourishment and dehydration. I had just finished the record, and it was sort of like I passed the finish line just in time for this complete personal collapse. The title itself, “These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire” came to me in a dream from this period.”
The dream, much like Kile’s own songwriting, plays out in vivid scenes - the type of dream that leaves a lingering imprint. For Kile, that jolt -- and the messaging in the dream -- helped unify the project.
“In a restless, semi-conscious sleep I dreamt that I walked through blank space, heavy, weighed down and consumed with the attachments of day-to-day life: receipts, to-do lists, sets of keys, empty contact lens boxes, all the bullshit and kitsch that clutters our view every day,” he says. “They filled my pockets and my clothing in that infinite sort of way that can only happen in dreams, making it difficult to walk, move or think. Unable to bear it any longer, I cried out, ‘Why is this happening to me!!’ And as clear as day, a voice answered, ‘These things are being gathered for the fire’. I immediately fell into a deep, peaceful sleep.”
That voice led the way.
“In the subsequent time and through the health challenges I faced, that dream functioned as something of a North Star,” Kile concludes. “It served as a beacon of hard hope, helped me believe that what I was going through had an end, that I would ultimately conquer these obstacles, that they would be consolidated and ‘consumed by the fire.’ In a way, that circle is now closing. It took a long time to get back to myself, but I’m there now. It’s time to fuel the fire.”
Hit the private link up top to preview “These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire .” Direct all press inquiries to Tim Kile at timkile@gmail.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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Tim Kile 2021 press photo:
Photo Credit: Justin Chadbourne
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‘These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire’ tracklist:
Click the link to listen to each track
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Media praise for Tim Kile
“Tim Kile's song writing capabilities are undeniable; a unique ability to combine intelligent lyricism relating to important societal issues is paired with addictive feel-good indie pop.” -- Middle Eight
“I love when artists can cull from all of their inspirations over the past 60 or so years of music and turn it into contemporary material.” -- Blood Makes Noise
“With all its stilted piano, brushes of synth and wisps of backing harmonies, ['My Medicine'] manages to hit a spot where it’s instantly lovable and uplifting and yet, has just a little hint of the melancholy contained within... you need ‘My Medicine’ in your lives. -- Backseat Mafia
“'My Medicine' delivers dazzling indie-pop with a deeply honest and personal message at the roots... 'Witness' offers a melancholic approach and 'Nightbird' delivers a stunningly beautiful and atmospheric slow burner.” -- Middle Eight
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Tim Kile short bio:
Tim Kile is a recording artist based in Austin, Texas. A co-founding member of Grammy Award winners Arcade Fire and Columbia Records' Wild Light, Kile has released music and toured worldwide in support of bands such as The Killers, LCD Soundsystem, Arcade Fire, MGMT, The Wallflowers, and Doves.
With the release of his debut solo album These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire later in the year, Kile is prepared to greet both new and long-standing fans with his richest work yet. Evoking the sweeping romanticism of The Cure and early U2, the incandescent musical sophistication of Elliott Smith, and the lyrical sensitivity of a young Nick Cave or Conor Oberst, Kile’s compositions entrance and intrigue, bringing the listener back for listen after listen.
Classically trained on piano and voice, self-taught on guitar and bass, Kile performs most of the instruments on his recordings. These Things Are Being Gathered for the Fire is slated for release in Spring 2021, preceded by a run of singles.
Press contact: Tim Kile at timkile@gmail.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
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