Charlie Martin, one half of the Austin duo Hovvdy, announces a deluxe edition of his 2021 debut solo album, Imaginary People, featuring 4 alternate piano versions of songs from the record. Imaginary People Deluxe Edition is out October 7th via Grand Jury. 

Today, Martin shares “Swirl (Piano Version),” in which he says “Piano was the first instrument I ever learned, but it still kinda scares me. Certain pianos sound so beautiful it’s hard to even approach them with a voice, and the one I recorded for Imaginary People is like that — this pristine Steinway from the 1930s — probably the most amazing instrument I’ve ever touched. When I found myself in Mississippi for the summer, where the piano lives, I immediately started on these new versions. So many of the songs on Imaginary People (like ‘Daisy’ and ‘June’) I wrote on piano, so it was exciting to focus on the heart of it, just piano and melody. And for other songs (like ‘Swirl’ and ‘Madison’) it was a joy to reimagine them entirely.”

Returning to rootsy influences, Charlie Martin’s gentle Southern tone paints in the timeless tradition of an Arthur Russell or Jon Brion. “I’ve always found it therapeutic to weave fictional characters into songs, folding them into my own real or imaginary experiences. Usually, the character is someone I can help, or maybe they can help me — someone I empathize with and can learn from,” said Martin. “I want people to hear the songs and feel comforted or lifted up. That’s always my goal.”

Martin has also announced a fall tour with Ichiko Aoba and is currently on tour with Teethe. All dates below.

TOUR DATES

8/29 – Washington, DC – Songbyrd ^

8/30 – Richmond, VA – The Camel ^

9/1 – Asheville, NC – Static Age Records ^

9/2 – Chattanooga, TN – The Woodshop ^

9/3 – Nashville, TN – The Basement ^

9/22 – Austin, TX – Mohawk (Inside)

10/13 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery *

10/14 – Los Angeles, CA – Masonic Lodge @ Hollywood Forever Cemetery *

10/15 – San Francisco, CA – Swedish American Hall *

10/17 – Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre *

10/18 – Portland, OR – Polaris Hall *

10/20 – Chicago, IL – Constellation *

10/21 – Chicago, IL – Constellation *

10/23 – Toronto, ON – Longboat Hall *

10/25 – Boston, MA – Crystal Ballroom *

10/26 – Brooklyn, NY – National Sawdust (Two Shows) *

10/28 – Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live *

^ w/ Teethe

* w/ Ichiko Aoba