American Aquarium have announce their new studio album Chicamacomico out June 10 via Thirty Tigers – a heart-wrenching reflection on loss that finds frontman BJ Barham scaling new expressive heights, resulting in the band’s most elemental and emotionally resonant work to date.Named after a former life-saving station built in 1874 on the Outer Banks of the band’s native North Carolina, and produced by Brad Cook (Bon Iver, Nathaniel Rateliff, Hurray for the Riff Raff) at Sonic Ranch, the ten songs on Chicamacomico are shot through with a sense of loss: of life (Barham recently lost his mother and grandmother), of a child, a spouse, or one’s way in the world. 

In the end, Chicamacomico arrives at salvation in the form of “All I Needed,” the album’s final track and galvanizing first single. Driven by an undeniable beat, warm pedal steel, soaring melody, and Barhman’s lived-in lyrics, the track revels in the power of music as the ultimate salve.

Though it is perhaps his most personal album to date, Chicamacomico is also the first to feature co-writes: with Grammy-winner Lori McKenna, Grammy-nominee Hayes Carll and others. And with backing from longtime American Aquarium bandmates Zack Brown (piano), Bill Corbin (bass), Colin DiMeo (guitar), Ryan Johson (guitar), Kevin McClain (drums) and Whit Wright (pedal steel), Barham’s stories have neve burned more brightly. 

On the making of Chicamacomico Barham says: “In my sixteen-year career, I have never been prouder of a set of songs, lyrically or stylistically. They have weight, but they aren’t weighed down. It’s a sad record, that makes you feel good. It’s a culmination of nearly two decades of work. Chicamacomico sounds like nothing we’ve ever done yet it sits comfortably amongst the rest of our catalog.”

Chicamacomico will be released on cd, vinyl, and all digital platforms. Magnolia Record Club will offer an exclusive lavender marble-colored vinyl variant which is available for pre-order now. For more information, please visit HERE.