Today, GRAMMY-winning multi-instrumentalist Nate Mercereau has released Excellent Traveler, an innovative solo album on Third Man Records. As a creative artist at the forefront of modern sonic expression, Mercereau used a unique approach to make music with guitar-controlled samples of special sounds–from the hangers backstage at National Sawdust to the studio sessions with artists like André 3000, Shabaka Hutchings, Kamasi Washington, and others, plus his concerts at home with 3-year-old daughter Juniper. With Excellent Traveler, Mercereau invites listeners to dive into the immersive, multidimensional expressions, and explore infinite palaces of possibility.
The new LP is Mercereau’s version of a solo guitar album where nearly most of it was created by a guitar except for focus track “Infinite Palaces of Posibility / Horse,” which contains samples of André 3000’s flute and a Yamaha EM90 drum machine. The middle section of the piece features a live trio performance with frequent collaborator Carlos Niño and André 3000, whom Mercereau’s currently touring with. Following the New Blue Sun tour, Mercereau will be celebrating Excellent Traveler with a handful of California concerts in December with stops including Los Angeles, San Diego, Ojai, and more–see full dates below.
Listen to Excellent Traveler here
Watch mini-documentary here
In reflective mini-documentary, Mercereau sets up a version of the Excellent Traveler recording equipment in his backyard and discusses the origins and intentions of the music with director Joshua Whiteman. “Playing Life, a way to interact, anything that makes sound is available as a possible new instrument, infinite possibility, a sonic diary, an entry into the world of solo guitar albums,” shares Mercereau.
Standout songs from the album include “Sound Within Sound,” which was featured as KCRW’s Top Tune in September and also samples Carlos Niño and André 3000, plus “For The Highest Quality Listener Testing The Limits” featuring elements of Carlos Niño’s gong and Luis Pérez Ixoneztli’s pan flute juxtaposed with other sounds rearranged into a boundary-pushing track that, as the title suggests, invites the listener to the outer limits of sound ventures.
Excellent Traveler follows the release of Mercereau’s critically acclaimed records Joy Techniques and SUNDAYS. As penned in the album notes by Carlos Niño, this exquisite album of spontaneous solo composition, nuanced improvisation, and exploratory world creation features living legends Laraaji, Luis Pérez Ixoneztli, Idris Ackamoor, André 3000, and frequent collaborators Carlos Niño and Surya Botofasina. Kamasi Washington, Shabaka Hutchings, Cavana Lee, V.C.R, Anaiah Rasheed Muhammad, Dwight Trible, Andres Renteria, and Aaron Shaw all intersect in Mercereau's psychedelic quests and adventures as well.
"I feel like I, and we, contain the vastness of all infinite potential, and in that potential, my imagination and feelings about it go beyond words, and it's all in the music!" Mercereau continues, "My greatest inspirations in life and music come from feeling a sense of infinite possibility, because I do believe that’s what is available in Life on Planet Earth and Beyond. I focus on opening myself up to this freedom as much as I can, and it’s something I maintain awareness of and cultivate in all aspects of my life and creativity. Freedom is very important, I offer it to myself and to others around me. I feel very alive and tuned in when experiencing, hearing, seeing and doing things that remind me that anything can happen.”
Known for his writing and production credits on records by household names such as Jay-Z, John Legend, and Leon Bridges, Nate Mercereau is currently buzzing for his contributions to André 3000’s album, New Blue Sun. At the vanguard of electroacoustic compositions, he seized the opportunity of recording duets with the Golden Gate Bridge in 2021 after reading an article on San Francisco residents complaining about the landmark’s eerie hum–see NPR piece here.
TOUR DATES (New Blue Sun Fall Tour with André 3000)
October 1 - Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay - San Diego, CA
October 2 - The Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
October 4 - Arlington Theatre - Santa Barbara, CA
October 5 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA
October 14 - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall - Portland, OR
October 21 - The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
October 22 - Masonic Cathedral Theatre - Detroit, MI
October 25 - BAM Howard Gilman Opera House - Brooklyn, NY
October 26 - BAM Howard Gilman Opera House - Brooklyn, NY
November 12 - Durham Performing Arts Center - Durham, NC
November 14 - Fox Theatre - Atlanta, GA
