Jake Schaefer is creating his own path. After spending a decade honing his chops with the One Way Out band, the multi-instrumentalist has previewed his forthcoming LP, A Home In The Clouds by delivering his debut solo single, “Nobody Really Cares.”

Like the single, Schaefer’s LP was wholly composed, performed, recorded, and mixed by himself, showcasing his dexterity as a mastermind behind the actualized set of songs. Striking the notion of a one-man band, the musician lends his skills on drums, bass, and his native guitar to generate a collection seasoned with texture and authentic displays of his own development as an artist, who embraces imperfections.

“Today, you can make anything sound perfect,” he says via press release. “But a lot of my favorite albums have that raw feel, be it The Slider by T. Rex or an Osees record. They have loose vocal doubles, uneven drum hits, elements that aren’t exactly on the grid. That gives these records a human element, it reminds me that this was created by people, so I tried to go for that sound while recording. This process also kept me from obsessing over every little detail, I had to have a reason to stop and move on to the next part.”

With “Nobody Really Cares” representing the only sonic preview to date, Schaefer describes LP features like “Meatloaf Moth,” “What’ll Ya Do” and “I Don’t Know” as expressions of seclusion and self-solitude, while other tracks like “Always Afraid,” “You Won’t Know Me” and today’s release counter loneliness as responses to the unease in self-presentation. 

Meanwhile, “Patient Night” leans into a tale of leaving home in pursuit of the unknown, while “Crossing River Road” serves as the response piece, and represents a return home to the place he left behind. As a pairing with today’s single release, Schaefer shares the live video performance of “Nobody Really Cares,” featuring his touring band, the Realm of Possibility. Watch below.