Dancing with Pete

Heading east on a plane, Pete Muller calls within moments in response to my text to talk about his new album and special concert at SOhO. It’s a trip that combines his two passionate pursuits (apart from his family); spending some time at PDT Partners – the Wall Street hedge fund Muller founded and whose model helped revolutionize the field of quantitative trading) – and working on his music; a grand creative outlet he’s enjoyed his entire life. 

The latter has been particularly fertile ground lately. The forthcoming album, One Last Dance, due November 14, is Muller’s fourth studio release in the last five years. One Last Dance features the singer-songwriter-pianist and the latest incarnation of his aptly named band The Kindred Souls. The album was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios in England, Muller serving as sole producer for the first time in a process that saw the core tracks laid down in less than a week. 

Guests on Dance include Grammy-winning Canadian singer-songwriter Allison Russell and guitarist-vocalist Larry Campbell, as well as genre-bending duo SistaStrings, while Real World’s Katie May, who won a Grammy earlier this year engineered the album. 

Muller said the new record is another step in his growth as a songwriter, one that reaches deeper inside to explore human emotions while crafting a song with universal appeal. 

“It’s definitely touching places I haven’t before,” he said. “But it’s also that I’ve become really comfortable in being even more of myself. Writing the songs is how I process things I’m struggling with. Almost all of my songs come from a very deeply personal place, but I don’t always show where that is so they connect with everyone.” 

Far from shoegazers, though, the songs generally all share a desire to find the hope, beauty, authenticity, and gratitude that can come from an attitude of openness and willingness to shift perspectives. One even directly addresses the concept of vulnerability and courageous action: “No Fear No More.” 

Meanwhile, the first single, “New York in the Rain,” is already receiving radio airplay as well as organic plays on Spotify, which is “really cool,” Muller said.

Muller wrote “New York” as something of a breakup song with the previous version of his band who, he said, split up after many years together. 

“I was processing the emotions of it, which were bittersweet, even though it was the right thing for all of us,” he said. “I pictured myself walking the streets of New York City on a summer rainy day and not caring if I got wet just to be diving into the emotions. I think it’s the best thing I’ve ever done.”

One of the forthcoming singles is called “Fire Child” and it’s about his “fiercely independent” daughter. 

“I think it’s a really amazing song,” he said. “She even likes it, and she’s a teenager.”

Locals will likely get a chance to hear several songs from One Last Dance, albeit in a very different format from the full band-recording on Monday, October 6, when Muller will perform solo at SOhO, sharing the stage with Americana singer-songwriter Stephen Kellogg, who is marking 25 years in the music business and his new album To you, old friend, by touring with more than a dozen of his favorite artists. Muller is his chosen friend for the Santa Barbara stop as they swap stories and songs with an improv-leaning format of choosing song categories out of a hat. The set list consists of Kellogg pulling out a song category – these range from hits to deep cuts, rockers to ballads, love songs and sad songs, personal favorites … or possibly a daunting tune that is scary to play. 

“I’m going to respond in the moment,” Muller said. “I really enjoy being in that vulnerable place, up there solo, really naked and raw on the piano. I’m relaxed and in the zone, just connecting with people.”.