letter 3 closer then further

Well, we've finally got some news that we've been very excited to share with you.

After months of writing, recording, changing our minds, recording again, and occasionally wondering whether we should just leave everything alone, we're ready to reveal the title of our third studio album.

The new album is called Storyteller.

It feels like the right name for this collection of songs. A lot of the record has come from looking back, thinking about where we've been, the people we've met, the places we've played, and the experiences that have brought us to this point. There are songs about leaving, coming home, friendship, uncertainty, and finding your way when you aren't entirely sure where you're going.

We spent quite a bit of time discussing the title. There were a few suggestions, some of which we're probably better off keeping between ourselves. But Storyteller kept coming back around. Eventually, we realised that it was the name that connected everything.

And there's something else we'd like to tell you.

Introducing the first single: Closer then Further

Our first single from Storyteller is "Closer thenFurther," and it's out now.

This song has been a particularly important one during the making of the album. It started with a fairly simple idea and an acoustic guitar, but it gradually grew into something much bigger. It has that reflective side of Trio that some of you might recognise from Free Fall and Midnight Hour, but there's also a different energy to it.

The song is about the strange feeling of moving forward while still carrying parts of your past with you. Sometimes you feel like you're getting closer to where you want to be, but at the same time, the distance between where you started and where you are now seems to grow.

One of the lines that helped shape the record came from another writing session:

“I don't know how far we're going to go, but we have each other.”

That idea stayed with us throughout the process. It's not necessarily a song about having all the answers. It's about knowing that even when the road ahead is uncertain, you don't have to travel it alone.

Jason: I think it's one of those songs that tells you quite a lot about where we are as a band right now. There's a lot of reflection in it, but it isn't sad. It's hopeful. It's about accepting that things change, people change, and you keep moving.

Scott: Musically, it was a really interesting one. It started out much quieter than the version you've got now. We had the acoustic guitars, and then we started adding things. Before long, Dom was making it considerably louder than Jason originally intended.

Dom: That's an unfair description. I was simply giving the song what it needed.

Jason: He says that about every song.

Dom: Because it's usually true.

Scott: The first time we heard the finished mix, I think we all knew it was the right one to introduce the album with.

We're incredibly proud of it, and we hope you enjoy hearing it as much as we enjoyed making it.

The making of Storyteller

Having James Young back in the studio was a big part of this record. Working with him again after Midnight Hour felt very natural, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves and try a few different things.

The three of us have contributed more ideas than ever before. Jason brought in several of the original songs, while Scott and Dom came forward with their own material and musical directions. Some of the best moments happened when an idea arrived in the room and nobody was quite sure what it would become.

Jason: I think we've become much more comfortable with allowing each other to take a song somewhere unexpected. In the past, I might have come in with a fairly clear idea of what I wanted a song to sound like. This time, we've been much more open to changing things.

Scott: There are definitely a few moments on this record where I think people will hear something and wonder where it came from.

Dom: We know where it came from. Usually Scott's guitar.

Scott: Thank you, Dom.

Dom: That wasn't necessarily a compliment.

The album has a mixture of acoustic storytelling, bigger guitar arrangements, quieter moments, and some heavier sections. We wanted it to feel like a record that could take you somewhere. There are songs that might remind you of the early days, but there are also things we've never really tried before.

And yes, the little hotel-room recording setup James told everyone about is still very much in use. We haven't forgiven him for revealing that just yet.

James Young: I stand by what I said. It's been a great part of the process.

Jason: We're not commenting on that.

Scott: We are considering changing the password.

Dom: I think James has already got it.

James: I do.

Apparently, we're going to have to find somewhere else to hide our recordings.

What comes next?

With the first single now released, we're moving into the next stage of the album campaign. There's still plenty we want to share with you, including more information about the record, the songs, and what we've been planning for the live shows.

We've also been talking about how to bring Storyteller to the stage. We want the next tour to feel like its own experience rather than simply being another version of the Midnight Hour tour. The acoustic moments will be important, but don't worry, we're not abandoning the louder side of Trio.

Scott: I think people should expect a few surprises.

Dom: That's usually what he says before something goes wrong.

Scott: Nothing ever goes wrong.

Jason: We've all got stories about things going wrong.

Dom: We should probably save those for another letter.

We can't give away too much just yet, but we've already started thinking about the setlist, the stage design, and how some of these new songs might sound when we're playing them every night. There's a lot we're looking forward to.

The best is yet to come

We wanted to finish this letter by saying something directly to everyone who has followed us along the way.

From the early days of Free Fall, through Midnight Hour, the tours, the late nights, the songs we've shared, and all the places we've been fortunate enough to visit, you've been there with us. Some of you have been listening since the beginning, while others have found us somewhere along the way. Either way, we're grateful.

Making a third album is a strange experience. You look back at everything you've done, and you realise just how much has changed. But you also realise how much is still ahead of you.

We don't feel like we're reaching the end of something. If anything, we feel like we're just getting started again.

Storyteller is a record we're incredibly proud of, and "Closer than Further" is only the first glimpse of what's coming.

We've got more songs to share, more places to visit, more shows to play, and plenty more stories to tell.

So, from the three of us, thank you for being here.

The best is yet to come.

We'll see you out there.

Jason, Scott & Dom Trio