Ben Nichols, frontman and songwriter for the long-running Memphis rock band Lucero, released the new single “In the Heart of the Mountain,” the title track of his sophomore solo album In the Heart of the Mountain out on July 25 via Lucero’s label Liberty & Lament. The album is one of his most personal pieces of work to date and marks his first solo release in 16 years since 2009’s acclaimed The Last Pale Light in the West.

“I’ve never before set out to write a song about mental health,” explains Nichols. “Although one could say all songwriting is about mental health in one way or another. The title track to the album, ‘In the Heart of the Mountain’ is a wife-appreciation song. My wife and I have been together for over ten years now and I realize how much she keeps me sane. We can often be our own worst enemies and having someone who keeps us from getting too wrapped up in the devils and demons of our own making is a truly wonderful thing.”

“In the Heart of the Mountain” follows previous singles “The Darkness Sings” and “Fading Back Into the Night”, both of which were released with accompanying music videos shot by photographer Chad Cochran and edited by Nichols.

Although not a concept album like his debut solo record, The Last Pale Light in the West, the song titles of In the Heart of the Mountain read as a poem in sequence.

In the heart of the mountain
The darkness sings
A bleak overture
From a western or a war movie
While the stars disappear
Fading back into the night
I’m in over my head
She’s starlight in the river
The prayer
The swamper’s lament
The devil takes his leave

Ben Nichols Solo Tour Dates:

July 24 – Little Rock, AR – Whitewater Tavern [SOLD OUT]
July 25 – Little Rock, AR – Whitewater Tavern [SOLD OUT]
July 26 – Tulsa, OK – Mercury Lounge
July 27 – St. Louis, MO – Golden Record
July 29 – Indianapolis, IN – Hi-Fi Indy
July 30 – Lexington, KY – The Burl
July 31 – Columbus, OH – Rumba Café
August 2 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop
August 3 – Huntington, WV – The Loud
August 5 – Morgantown, WV – 123 Pleasant Street
August 6 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord Music
August 7 – Greenville, SC – Radio Room
August 8 – Chattanooga, TN – Cherry Street Tavern
August 23 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater