Shearwater

Shearwater began in 1999 as a quiet corner of Okkervil River, a place for the gentler songs that Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff were writing together. Now fronted by Meiburg, a multi-instrumentalist with a master's degree in geography and a focus on ornithology, the Austin, Texas band takes its name from a group of seabirds, chosen largely for the sound of the word. Their music is marked by nature imagery, cerebral but intimate melodies and Meiburg's voice.

Palo Santo (2006), their last album for Misra Records, won wide acclaim, with Red Sea, Black Sea named an NPR Song of the Day; Sheff left soon afterwards. Matador Records signed them after Meiburg emailed its owner, Gerard Cosloy, and reissued Palo Santo in 2007. Rook followed in 2008, with tour dates supporting Clinic and Coldplay, and The Golden Archipelago (2010) completed the Island Arc trilogy. At Sub Pop they made Animal Joy (2012), the covers album Fellow Travelers (2013) and Jet Plane and Oxbow (2016). On that last tour Meiburg met Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski of Cross Record, and together they formed Loma.