Eric Jerardi has announced the release of his new studio album, The Game, which arrives October 30 via Alternator Records/Niche Records with distribution through Sony/The Orchard.
The album’s lead single, “Setting Sun,” is now released with additional singles scheduled every five weeks leading up to the album’s release.
The Game reunites Jerardi with producer Michael James, who previously mixed Jerardi’s 2019 album Occupied. James’ production credits include Robben Ford, Edwin McCain, New Radicals and Sammy Hagar. The album also features the return of Muscle Shoals backing vocalists Cindy and Marie, along with contributions from James and film composer Eric Colvin.
The songs on The Game were born from an unusual songwriting challenge. A close musical friend challenged Jerardi to write 12 songs in 12 weeks, sending him a new phrase every Wednesday that had to be used verbatim in that week’s song. Missing a deadline resulted in a fine, while repeated misses meant elimination from the challenge.
The process led to some of the album’s most personal material. “One More Setting Sun” was inspired by the death of Jerardi’s best friend from pancreatic cancer, while “Hard Being Here” reflects on the loss of his brother in 1988. “A Man Ain’t a Man” was written following the death of his father. Other tracks pushed Jerardi into new creative territory, including writing from fictional perspectives and exploring more introspective themes.
“I’ve always written pretty autobiographically,” Jerardi says. “This process forced me out of my habits. Some songs came from grief. Some came from mistakes I’ve made. Some came from characters I never expected to write. The point wasn’t to make everything perfect. The point was to tell the truth before I could talk myself out of it.”
Jerardi has released 10 nationally distributed albums since 1997. His previous release, Occupied, was produced by David Z and recorded with the Muscle Shoals rhythm section.
Outside of music, Jerardi owns Jerardi’s Little Store in Dayton, Ohio, where fans visit to purchase merchandise and wines from his curated collection. He also hosts the YouTube series Backroom Blues & Bottles, featuring stripped-down performances recorded in the store.
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