Photo by Jason Rodgers

It’s truly poetic that indie music industry survivalist Shamir is setting an epitaph in advance on his own career given that he spent a good chunk of the years since his accidental pop breakthrough debut on 2015’s Ratchet reclaiming the narrative of his own career. It’s even more poetic he’ll be doing so by singing the songs of somebody else — specifically, those who’ve been a part of his creative community over this past decade (though, I don’t imagine he’ll have invited anyone from his XL Recordings team here LOL) — on what’s purported to be his tenth and final solo effort, Ten. “Neverwannago”, its lead single, makes sense as its logical point introducing this last album cycle. Penned by Drew Harmon, b.n.a. the country-afflected power-pop songwriter St. Joan whom Shamir introduced us to as part of his own Accidental Popstar label, it’s a wistfully strummed reflection which hears him reminiscing about hating going back to his hometown, feeling sad about what he sees there, and wanting to die if he ever got stuck there. He’s been a long way from that place since the gospel house sounds bounced off North Vegas, but if there’s anything we’ve learned about Shamir in the past 10, it’s that all he ever wanted was to sing the hell out of some deep feelings, even when they’re coming from somebody’s pen. It’s always been enough.

Directed by: Matthew Ober

Shamir’s Ten will be released this spring on Kill Rock Stars.