Ben Kweller announces new album ft MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee & Flaming Lips, shares “Optimystic”

Ben Kweller has announced a new album ,Cover the Mirrors, which will be out May 30 via The Noise Company. It’s his first since his 16-year-old son, Dorian Zev, died in a freak car accident in 2023. The release date would’ve been Dorian’s 19th birthday.

“This is the most personal, emotionally raw project I’ve ever worked on,” says Ben. “When Dorian died in 2023 I was overcome with the need to make music. I didn’t care what came out of me because it was the only way I could find peace in my earth-shattering grief. It’s hard not to focus on everything I’ve lost and in the depths of my sorrow I realized that something was gained. I can only describe it as an additional layer in the spectrum of understanding. My highs are higher and my lows are lower. My love is deeper and my calling is stronger. Cover The Mirrors is helping me cope with my new reality and these songs are part of that journey.”

The album was produced by Ben and features his band (Chris Mintz-Plasse [yes, McLovin] on bass and Ryan Dean on drums) and includes contributions from MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee, The Flaming Lips and Coconut Records. The first single from the album is “Optimystic,” which is a fuzzy bit of power-pop indie rock. You can listen below.

Ben will also be on tour this spring, including a NYC show at Bowery Ballroom on April 19. Tickets are on sale.

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COVER THE MIRRORS
01. Going Insane
02. Dollar Store (Feat. Waxahatchee)
03. Trapped
04. Park Harvey Fire Drill
05. Depression (Feat. Coconut Records)
06. Don’t Cave
07. Optimystic
08. Brakes
09. Killer Bee (Feat. The Flaming Lips)
10. Letter To Agony
11. Save Yourself
12. Oh Dorian (Feat. MJ Lenderman)

BEN KWELLER – 2025 TOUR DATES

APRIL

15 – Atlanta, GA – Purgatory at The Masquerade
16 – Nashville, TN – The Basement East
18 – Washington, DC – Union Stage
19 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
21 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
22 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
24 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
25 – Ferndale, MI – Loving Touch
26 – Chicago, IL – Lincoln Hall
28 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
29 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
30 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway

MAY
2 – Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall
3 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn

JULY
9 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up
11 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
12 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie
14 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
17 – Seattle, WA – Neumos
18 – Vancouver, BC – Biltmore Cabaret
19 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
21 – San Francisco, CA – Independent
23 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
25 – San Diego, CA – Casbah
26 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom