Portland, Oregon multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and engineer Completions is sharing his new track and video, “Transplanting,” and you can check it out right here at New Noise.
“Transplanting” is the debut single off Completions’ debut, full-length album, I Needed Help, set for release September 23.
Completions is the songwriting project of Shawn Alpay, primarily known for his work as a session and touring cellist, performing alongside Father John Misty, Whitney, Laura Stevenson, Matt Pond Pa, How to Dress Well, and many others. With his hefty repertoire of collaborative efforts, Alpay named his project Completions as an internal reminder to finish the things he starts.
Alpay experienced an influx of changes over the past couple of years, including extensive work in mindfulness therapy, getting married, and enduring major spinal surgery. All of these events compounded around a singular them: How can we let other people in, especially when we don’t want to?
Keeping that idea in mind, Alpay enlisted the help of several friends including Dave Depper (Death Cab for Cutie), Kelly Pratt (Father John Misty, Beirut), and Laura Stevenson. The entire album was self-recorded by the players in their home studios, and Alpay mixed the album himself, with mastering by Adam Gonsalves.
Alpay may be known for his cello skills, but I Needed Help shows off entire, fleshed-out rock band arrangements, with Alpay performing vocals, guitar, and bass.
“Transplanting” is “about a house show my friend Adrian threw a long time ago, right before he moved to South Africa,” Alpay says.
Completions will also embark on a September West Coast tour. Check out those dates below:
Thu 9/1 Portland, OR @ Sofar Sounds
Fri 9/2 Seattle, WA @ Sofar Sounds
Sat 9/3 Vancouver, BC @ Sofar Sounds
Sun 9/4 Eugene, OR @ House show
Tue 9/6 San Francisco, CA @ Sofar Sounds
Wed 9/7 Sacramento, CA @ Sofar Sounds
Fri 9/9 Modesto, CA @ Cafe Deva
Sat 9/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Sofar Sounds
Sun 9/11 Los Angeles, CA @ Sofar Sounds
Tue 9/13 San Diego, CA @ Sofar Sounds
Preorder/presave I Needed Help here, and watch the video for “Transplanting” below:
For more from Completions, find him on Bandcamp and Instagram.
Photo courtesy of Jason Quigley
