STRANGE PILGRIM — debut album to be released on vinyl + Embers EP release

Self-titled vinyl debut + Embers EP from Josh Barnhart's band

Strange Pilgrim is the self-titled vinyl LP debut album from Portland, Oregon-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Josh Barnhart. The vinyl release is due 31st January 2025. Plus there will be the release of an EP 'Embers' on Digital, CD, and Cassette formats on 28th March 2025, and two singles drawn from the EP are due in January and February 2025. You can hear the EP and read more details below.

Becoming known as the drummer of acclaimed band Port O’Brien during the mid aughts, Barnhart spent the better half of a decade touring North America, Europe, and Australia promoting their releases, including breakout release 2008’s All We Could Do Was Sing.

Since then, he has split his time between various locales on the West Coast and has played drums, and guitar, and has sung with bands, including Release the Sunbird, Two Sheds, Caleb Nichols, Sparrows Gate, and Zeb Zaitz.

Barnhart recorded a first album Turn Out The Light (2016) in a duo with guitarist Paul Dutton, going under Barnhart’s name. Over the next two years, a solid band lineup formed with the addition of Adam Nash (Goodnight Texas), Pat Spurgeon (Rogue Wave), Sterling Schlegel (Camp Bud), and Taylor Belmore (Arthur Watership).

Adopting the name Strange Pilgrim, the group recorded their self-titled debut album in a cabin nestled deep in the canyon’s of California’s Central Coast (the same cabin that birthed Little Wings' album Explains). Tracking was completed in a handful of overdub sessions at various home studios around the Bay Area and Central California. The album also features several special guests, most notably Kelly McFarling, who lends her backing vocals to five songs. Barnhart's father Robe, who wrote the string arrangements for closing track 'No Relief', has done arranging for The Beach Boys and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, among many others. For full album credits please see below.

Just as the album was nearing completion, Barnhart moved to Corvallis, Oregon to pursue a poetry MFA at Oregon State University. As well as working on a poetry collection, taking classes, and teaching undergrads, this time was spent completing tracking for the album and mixing the album remotely with engineer Scott McDowell (The Head and the Heart, Sean Hayes, Ty Segall) and Royal Oakie's David Glasebrook.

Drawing on themes of dislocation, and dreamlike imagery, Strange Pilgrim is an exploration of life in an increasingly unfamiliar world. Much of the lyrical content focuses on the social and political uncertainty of these times, on connecting with nature, and on yearning for some form of freedom.

The tempos vary, suitably and superlatively. This is a very special record indeed. Check out the whole album, right through to the gorgeous closer 'No Relief'.

Josh Barnhart on Strange Pilgrim:

"Strange Pilgrim is a continuation of a project that originally started with myself and guitarist Paul Dutton, who also played with me in Sparrows Gate. The band grew and eventually included Adam Nash (Goodnight Texas), Pat Spurgeon (Rogue Wave), Sterling Schlegal (Camp Bud), Taylor Belmore (Arthur Watership), and Joel Tolbert (Sparrows Gate/Zeb Zaitz). My friend, Kelly McFarling, who’s an incredible songwriter, also sings on a good portion of our album, which I’m thrilled about. I’ve always been obsessed with wandering, searching, or being out of place, and our songs often center on those concepts. The idea of the band name itself comes from ‘Doce Cuentos Peregrinosa’, a collection of short stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, which are concerned with strangeness and dislocation. The name is a reflection of that, I think. It’s strange to be a person, to exist at all, and I think that a huge part of the human experience is that search for belonging."

Preview the Strange Pilgrim album...

A preview of the 'Embers' EP...

On their forthcoming 'Embers' EP, Strange Pilgrim reimagines five songs from their self-titled debut album. Four of the five tracks, Staring at the Sky, More Than I Did, Salt and Seagulls, and Blue Light are alternate versions built around the vintage pulse of a Korg SR 120 Minipops and the shimmering tones of an OM84 Omnichord, creating a space where synths, bass, and melody take center stage. Meanwhile, the title track Embers is a remix of the original version, chiseling out the core of the song to reveal its essence.

The new alternate versions were recorded in a collaborative home studio process with Josh Barnhart at the helm, including contributions from Pat Spurgeon (drums, piano, autoharp) and Elliott Kay (bass). David Glasebrook mixed and mastered the EP at his studio. Tthe cover artwork features an original painting by Samuel Farrell. The EP was recorded by Josh, Pat, and Elliott in Portland, Oregon, except Embers which was recorded by Paul Dutton in Morro Bay, California. More details are available on request.

Following up the much-anticipated vinyl LP release of Strange Pilgrim, the 'Embers' EP invites listeners to revisit these songs with fresh ears, embracing both their simplicity and a newfound strangeness. The EP is due out March 28th March 2025, available on CD, Cassette, and digital platforms.

The video for Salt and Seagulls (Radio Edit)...

Strange Pilgrim - Album Credits

More Than I Did

Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Drums, Percussion - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Kelly McFarling
Guitar, Bass - Paul Dutton
Guitar - Adam Nash

Staring at the Sky

Vocals, Guitar, Drums - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Taylor Belmore
Vocals - Kelly McFarling
Guitar - Adam Nash
Guitar - Andrew Brennan
Bass - Paul Dutton
Synth - Scott McDowell

Brighter Horizon

Vocals, Drums - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Kelly McFarling
Guitar, Bass - Paul Dutton
Guitar - Adam Nash
DX7 - Joel Tolbert

Salt and Seagulls

Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Percussion - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Taylor Belmore
Vocals - Kelly McFarling
Guitar - Adam Nash
Bass - Sterling Schlegel
DX7 - Joel Tolbert

Embers

Vocals, Guitar, Percussion - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Kelly McFarling
Guitar - Paul Dutton
Guitar, Bass - Adam Nash
Rhodes, DX7, Moog - Joel Tolbert

Blue Light

Vocals, Guitar, Drums - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Taylor Belmore
Guitar - Paul Dutton
Guitar, Pedal Steel, Bass - Adam Nash
Rhodes - Joel Tolbert

Survive the Summer

Guitar, Drums - Josh Barnhart
Guitar - Paul Dutton
Guitar, Bass - Adam Nash
Percussion - Pat Spurgeon
Drums - Scott Padden

Dance With Me

Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Percussion - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Taylor Belmore
Vocals, Guitar, Bass - Paul Dutton
Guitar - Adam Nash
Piano - Joel Tolbert

The Mirror

Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Percussion - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Taylor Belmore
Vocals, Guitar, Bass - Paul Dutton

No Relief

Vocals, Guitar, Drums - Josh Barnhart
Vocals - Taylor Belmore
Vocals, Guitar, Bass - Paul Dutton
Cello - Robe Barnhart
Cello - Helen Newby
Violin - Terry Glenny
Violin - Philip Brezina
String Arrangements by Robe Barnhart

All songs written and produced by Josh Barnhart
Engineered by Paul Dutton with additional tracking by Josh, Adam, Joel, and Kelly
Mixed by Scott McDowell
Mastered by Timothy Stollenwerk
Executive Producer: David Glasebrook
Cover artwork by Evan apRoberts
Layout by Aaron Hubbard