When Sam Beam stopped by The SoCal Sound to chat with Julie Slater; it wasn’t just about playing songs, it was about story telling, songwriting process, and the quiet details that makes his music so uniquely Iron & Wine.
Right before his release of the new record, Hen’s Teeth, Beam gave us a first look at the songs that feel both intimate and expansive before going on to perform at Bob Baker’s Marionette Theatre in Highland Park later that evening, delivering another unique performance.
A Record Steeped in Family, Art, and Evolution
Hen’s Teeth isn’t just another chapter, it feels more like a reflection of everything that has come before it.
The album cover features artwork that was created alongside his daughters. Even his daughter Arden sings on the record – there’s a true sense of life bleeding into the music.
“Yeah, Arden sings on a couple songs… That was fun, because she was born around the time where I first started, literally like maybe a month or two after the first record came out. So it's a fun benchmark…it's amazing.”
Songs That Drift, Sink, and Stay With You
Iron & Wine performed intimate solo-acoustic versions of:
Collaboration, Community, and Iron & Wine Balance
Beyond the new record, Beam talked about collaborating with artists like I'm With Her and long time friend Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) – projects that came togher less from strategy but more from musical instinct… sometimes its just a good fit.
The same mindset shows up on how he builds him band, surrounding himself with musicians that bring not just a good harmony, but different energy and perspective.
What’s Next
Iron & Wine is out on tour right now with dates that include St Louis, Milwaukee, and Washington, and will be returning to Los Angeles later this year.
Hen’s Teeth is available now anywhere you get music, and available on transparent white vinyl lp here from Sub Pop: https://merch.ambientinks.com/collections/ironandwine/products/hens-teeth-lp-transparent-white
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- · Filmed & Edited & Photographed by Matt Blake
- · Audio by Tristan Dolce
- · Host: Julie Slater
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