New Albums & Releases

INFORMATION: Shortly after the release of the first Fiction Family album, the band was already talking about recording a follow-up, and the new song “Just Rob Me” was said to possibly appear on the next album.

In February of 2009, Sean Watkins stated in an interview that, “We haven’t written anything new on the road but we’ve been working on some songs we’ve already written for the next record. So there’s no new writing, but we’ve been working on stuff.” In an interivew with Christianity Today, when asked about the future of Fiction Family, Sean said that, “I would love to continue. Jon and I talked about more Fiction Family stuff; it’s kind of open-ended when we have time. I also have this band called Works Progress Administration [including Toad the Wet Sprocket's Glen Phillips, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' Benmont Tench, Nickel Creek's Sara Watkins, and members of Elvis Costello's band]. We just meet as friends in the studio with everybody having fun and just sort of experimenting with music. We have a record and are now trying to figure out what to do with it, but it will probably come out in late summer. So that’s the next thing, but we’ll definitely Fiction it up!” Jon went on to promise that, “The Family reunion is coming!”

In an article on Switchfoot in the October issue of CCM Magazine, they wrote, “And just like the clear skies after the storm, the future is bright for Switchfoot. The band’s nearly finished it’s eighth record, Vice Verses, slated to release in 2010, and Foreman’s re-entering the studio next month to make more music with Fiction Family, his collaboration with Nickel Creek guitarist, Sean Watkins.”

This was later confirmed by Twitter posts from Jon and Tyler Chester, the bass player for Fiction Family. Jon twittered that he was, “tracking fiction family tunes today and tomorrow, first up: a tune called “against the wall” so amped!” Tyler also posted, saying “Very productive rehearsal today with PW, now off to track some new Fiction Family songs. Same thing tomorrow. Good way to spend a day!”

In December of 2009, Tyler Chester posted this to his Facebook and Twitter pages:

In January Feburary 2010, Tyler Chester posted the following on his Twitter:Last minute Fiction Family recording?Yes please! How many songs can we pump out in 10-12 hours? I’m guessing 5. The other members of Fiction Family began posting Twitter updates as well, with Jon posting: Fiction family rock: a tune of mine- “my forgetful baby” and a tune of sean’s – “notch on the tally” amped! with a photo of the lyrics to the song.

Sean Watkins then tweeted about the recording process, saying: Drummer drumming on the old doghouse bass, and jon at the protools helm for fiction family. Fiction family song number 8 to be recorded. Notch on the tally.

Early September 2010 found the Family back in the studio recording. Sean Watkins posted on Twitter, saying: “Great productive day recording with fiction family. Tracked 2 new ones of mine, and finished off two of jon’s that needed touching up.” Tyler Chester later tweeted, “Time to finish up this Fiction Family recording. This record is turning out so, so good.” In response to a fan question about when the album would be released, Tyler ventured “Spring perhaps?” Jon then posted on his Twitter, saying: “got some great fiction family jams recorded this week. Now boarding… plane sweet plane“. Later, Tim Tweeted on from his account, sharing his first experience of listening to the new tunes: “@jonforeman is playing some new @fictionfamily jams on the bus on our drive to Kentucky. They sound great, dig em.”

In October 2010, Jeanna spoke with Jon about the near future of Fiction Family and previewed the album on his iPhone. Jon mentioned that they’re shooting for a Spring 2011 release and that they are presently still recording. According to Jeanna, the tracks on the new record have a “fuller sound with additional instruments, with Sean and Jon taking turns on lead vocals throughout the songs.“

January 2012 found the family back in the studio as they mixed and recorded final songs for the record. On March 30, 2012, Sean Watkins tweeted that they had finished the record:

During an April aftershow, Jon announced the title of the new record:

At a show in Spring Arbor in late April 2012, Jon reportedly confirmed that Fiction Family Reunion would be releasing in January 2013.

SOURCES:

• INTERVIEW: SEAN WATKINS OF FICTION FAMILY
• FACT OR FICTION?
• WEATHER ADVISORY
• JON FOREMAN TWITTER
• TYLER CHESTER TWITTER
• SEAN WATKINS TWITTER
• NEW FICTION FAMILY SONGS AND POTENTIAL RELEASE DATE
• FICTION FAMILY TO RELEASE IN JANUARY?

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