AWOLNATION have announced the tracklist for their upcoming covers project My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me, now available for pre-order. The album will include collaborations with Beck, Jewel, Portugal. The Man and more.
The band also released “Beds are Burning (Featuring Tim McIlrath of Rise Against),” a new track from the album. The album, which is set for a May 6, 2022 global release, is a fiercely collaborative and celebratory project, a collection of masterfully crafted and carefully curated covers, with each track featuring at least one acclaimed musical artist with whom AWOLNATION’s founder Aaron Bruno has a personal connection. After crossing paths over the years at festivals and other shows, the band joined forces with Tim McIlrath of Rise Against to give a futuristic, raw, and gritty twist to the 1987 Midnight Oil classic.
Pre-order My Echo, My Shadow, My Covers and Me HERE.
Marking today’s release, Bruno gave a statement on what this song means to him, “Ever since I was much younger, I would sing along to this song. The singer may have the coolest dance moves in music video history. I think this song speaks for itself in terms of the message and meaning of the song. I was excited that Tim from Rise Against performed on this one in particular, given the power and influence his lyrics and music have had for so many years.”
McIlrath said of the collaboration, “When I met Aaron years ago at one of our shows at the Coliseum in L.A., he disclosed his past time spent in hardcore bands, and we bonded over that. I’ve always been a fan of his, both as a person and his music, so it was an easy decision to guest on his version of Midnight Oil’s ‘Beds Are Burning.’ It didn’t hurt that I also love the song and all it stands for. I’m really impressed with the ways in which he made it his own because it’s not an easy song to reimagine.”
Originally recorded by Midnight Oil, drummer Rob Hirst gave their stamp of approval, stating, “A tough new light on our old song! The whistle near the end is a deft touch…congrats AWOLNATION and Tim on doing a brilliant job!”
Today’s release also comes with the official announcement that AWOLNATION is partnering with The Jed Foundation (JED) to continue having and amplifying these conversations about mental health that started during the pandemic. In 2020, Bruno started having organic, honest conversations about some of the mental health challenges the world was facing during quarantine. On his social media, he spoke with a myriad of artists across genres, many of whom became his collaborators on this project. These initial conversations sparked the partnership with JED, which is a leading mental health nonprofit. Both parties are excited to use the album release to continue shedding light on this important topic, and a portion of the proceeds from the album will go to JED’s mental health awareness efforts. More information about where and when fans can hear these conversations will be revealed in the coming weeks.
“Through our work, we see daily how starting conversations and sharing stories can break down the barriers and misunderstandings that leave too many people struggling in silence,” said John MacPhee, CEO of The Jed Foundation. “Music is such a powerful mental health vehicle and we are excited to partner with Bruno to amplify this impact.”