Raleigh singer-songwriter and self-described “studio tinkerer” Matt Southern joins forces with Chris Bennett (Ghostt Bllonde, Less Western) and Steven Tietgen (Space Rabbit) as Matt Southern & Lost Gold. The result is a sound that’s a little bit syncopated, a little bit Vampire Weekend, edged with bluesy rhythms and unvarnished vocals—especially on “Hands,” the album’s second single, which threads koan-like lyrics (“Safest memories are those I lost”) through sunny acoustics. Meredith Mitchell lends guest vocals.

Listen to “Hands” below before the self-titled debut album comes out via Potluck Foundation on March 29, the same day the trio has a 9:00 p.m. album-release show with Jphono1 and the Chevrons at Slim’s.

Sarah Edwards is culture editor of the INDY, covering cultural institutions and the arts in the Triangle. She joined the staff in 2019 and assumed her current role in 2020.