Co-produced with Austin Ward, WRABEL’s new album 'up above' began at his coffee table, where he considered recording himself for the first time. Pushing through the fact that he had never produced before, he discovered that his rudimentary beginnings mirrored many artists in the late 90s, who were experimenting themselves for the first time with new technology. He embraced the approach, bringing in mixer Damian Taylor (Bjork, UNKLE, Arcade Fire), who was the original force behind many of the inspirations from this period and helped thread the story. WRABEL's songs of hope and love are now wrapped up in a blanket of sounds from another era, while still having that pop touch that his prolific career is known for, including the songs he’s written for others (Louis the Child, Teddy Swims, Kesha, Celeste). On single "up above," warm piano and airy synths cradle WRABEL's tender vocal as siren-like swells lift the track from calm morning scenes to a luminous, “sky-is-falling” chorus—ultimately framing apocalypse as a moment where love and shared wonder still shine, if not more so given perspective. WRABEL says about the title-track & album themes: “up above” is the title track to my upcoming album. The song itself was inspired by Annie Jacobsen’s book entitled Nuclear War. not so much in a literal sense, but in what the synopsis she proposes in the book means for all of us here on this planet. how fast everything could change - or disappear, rather - like we were never even here. The song really contextualized the album as it was when Drew Pearson and I wrote it, and opened my mind and heart up to the endless layers of our existence. how we find meaning… what matters… *who* matters… looking the light in the dark. diving into the bittersweetness of our life and existence and all that comes with it. For me, this album explores the balance between existential meaning and beauty and existential dread and impending doom. if you knew the world was ending tomorrow, how much more would the person you love matter today?