After more than two decades as one of modern folk's most authentic voices, Mason Jennings returns with Magnifier, his 20th studio album, out June 20, 2025 via Loosegroove Records. The album's first single and video, "Castles," is out now offering a powerful introduction to one of Jennings’ most stripped-back and emotionally resonant works to date.
Recorded solo at his lake house in Minnesota with just vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, kick drum, and snare, Magnifier finds Jennings at his most minimal and honest. These eight songs meditate on love, change, grief, and hope, crafted with the kind of quiet intensity and lyrical precision that has become his hallmark.
"A song is like a boat on the water," says Jennings. "You're trying to make it float with as few pieces as possible. If you do it right, it can be very healing."
Jennings' long career has been defined by that philosophy. Born in Honolulu, raised in Pittsburgh, and launched into national recognition from Minneapolis in the late '90s, his debut set the stage for a string of revered releases that balanced poetic introspection with melodic simplicity. Over the years, his work has drawn comparisons to Nick Drake and Tom Waits, yet his voice—emotionally direct, deeply human—remains unmistakably his own.
Standout tracks on Magnifier include:
"Castles" – A tribute to the imaginative inner worlds children create to cope with hardship. Fingerpicked guitar and gentle piano create a hushed, hopeful space.
"Joy in the Face of It All" - A defiant celebration of hope and unity in uncertain times. It's a call to choose love, community, and resilience.
"Don’t Change" - A tender love song for his wife and also his 3-year-old son. A song about holding on to what’s important in life’s passing moments—a meditation on staying true to oneself amid life’s inevitable shifts.
"Blood Red Sun" - A dark, cinematic track blending Jennings’ love for heavy metal and Westerns— an understated story-song of a man on the run, heavy with implication and mood.
Magnifier follows Jennings' recent wave of creativity, including his collaboration with Stone Gossard in the genre-bending band Painted Shield and his 2024 release Holy Dive. With Magnifier, Jennings circles back to his acoustic roots, crafting what may be his most personal and affecting album yet.
2025 TOUR DATES
June 11 - Portsmouth, NH - Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club
June 12 - Provincetown, MA - The Hawthorne Barn
June 13 - Lowell, MA - Taffeta Music Hall
June 14 - Portland, ME - One Longfellow Square
June 15 - Providence, RI - Alchemy
July 9 - Solana Beach, CA - Belly Up
July 10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Venice West
July 11 - Felton, CA - Felton Music Hall
July 12 - Morro Bay, CA - The Siren
July 13 - Santa Barbara, CA - Soho Restaurant & Music Club
July 26 - Welch, MN - Music by the Mississippi
Pre-order on LP and Digital AVAILABLE HERE.
