Paul Spring is known for his work as assistant studio engineer, co-writer, and session guitarist. Among the artists he’s worked with, include Mary Lattimore, Blackthought, Sasami, and Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes are some of the more recognizable names he’s written with. He was also lead singer of Holy Hive.

His upcoming album Thunderhead is Medieval, Electronic, and Celtic with a hint of goth, and is set for a December 16th release. Today he shares the new single “Beetle On A Blade,” a track that captures both the personality of his production techniques as well as the subtle harmony of his disparate instrumentation. Interpolating the melody of the traditional Irish tune “Stone in a Field”, Spring sings of instability and its allure. A guitar drunkenly weaves between steady marching 808s and snare, celebrating fleeting moments of joy in a world fallen apart.

Spring produced, engineered, and played every instrument on this album, from Irish Flute to 808s and 1970s Arp Synthesizers. The vocals on top vacillate between falsetto choral arrangements and pitch shifted interjections. All the characters come together to dramatic effect, on an album which explores personal, communal, and generational anger. Spring grew up the 9th child of two English teachers, so it is only fitting that the album begins with a choral arrangement of the opening lines of Homer’s Illiad – “Menin aide thea” or “Sing goddess of anger”.

In addition to all of the original material, Thunderhead includes Spring’s take on “Fairy Fountain,” originally written by Koji Kondo for The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time.

After working a local Brooklyn political campaign, Spring spent 2022 traveling the country and recording this album in various guest bedrooms and rentals. Spring pulled from all he learned as a studio engineer. The mix of lofi and hifi recording reflects the meeting of traditional and modern music.