[Cover photo credit to Travis Gillett]
Bassist and vocalist Melanie Radford (Built to Spill, Blood Lemon) will release her debut solo album For the Sake of Stillness on June 26, 2026, via Jealous Butcher Records. The new collection is an “inventive reimagining” of ambient Folk. It was recorded during and in-between tours, coming together “over a stretch of two years as a centering practice and statement of self.”
Constantly in motion from touring with Built to Spill, Radford felt a need to “make music that felt quiet, warm, grounded.” She began collecting field recordings during her travels, going for long walks alone through cities, natural spaces, and neighborhoods. With these audio recordings as the foundation, she built the songs.
Radford has recently released the album opener “Philadelphia”. It was performed in one take against a field recording retrieved behind Union Transfer in Philadelphia while on tour with Built to Spill. The song is “a meditation on a person, bringing them into focus even when they’re long gone.”
The music video was filmed in a remote location around Angra dos Reis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is a slow, scenic walk in black & white that explores “the notion that we can witness more beauty around us if we could simply stop and allow ourselves to be present in our surroundings.” It was filmed by Radford’s partner and collaborator, Lê Almeida (of Oruã) and edited by friend and collaborator, Adam Harding (of Dumb Numbers and Kidbug).
The tracks on For the Sake of Stillness are filled with contributions from friends: Lê Almeida (Oruã, Built to Spill) on drums and guitar, Jim Roth (Built to Spill) on synth, pedal steel and added vocals, Lori Goldston (Earth, Nirvana) with cello arrangements, and Cacá Amaral (QMAR, Firefriend) with additional drums.
Album Release Show + Additional Dates
6/26: Seattle, WA @ Good Shepherd Chapel *Album Release Show*
7/18: Seattle, WA @ Substation *supporting Califone*
8/12-8/18: Orcas Island, WA @ Doe Bay Resort & Retreat *Artist in Residence*
