Photo by Alysse Gafkjen

Guitarist Julian Lage announces a June 11 release date for his Blue Note Records debut album, Squint. Lage also shared the album’s lead single, “Saint Rose,” which is s available today to stream or download. The album features Jorge Roeder on the bass and Dave King on the drums. 

“I felt like this was an opportunity to present new music born out of the Blue Note tradition as I’ve interpreted it,” said Lage in a statement. With the pandemic affecting the trio’s ability to record, Lage decided to reflect on the music’s intent first. “It became really important to me to capture a certain sense of emotional complexity to the music, a little fuzziness. This record sits comfortably in the unknown,” he said. 

With the help of friends and co-producers: guitarist and longtime collaborator Armand Hirsch and singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy, Lage was able to write the album with the “clear spiritual pulse” he was hoping for. After two years of touring with Roeder and King, the trio created an album that deeply represented the chemistry of their relationship.

Squint is available for pre-ordering now; click here to do so. Listen to “Saint Rose” here.