Quality Americana

Fog on Mirror Glass is a beautiful ambient-style folk offering from Northern California artist Donald Beaman.

Sacramento Valley

Beaman started playing in garage bands in his teenage years in the Sacramento Valley and “kind of just never stopped,” though he tried a couple of times. They played “lots of  loud guitar music,” Beaman said about influences like Sonic Youth.

“I was also into older music,” Beaman said about Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. “We had a local radio station in Davis called KDVS which was super informative. I learned a lot about jazz and indie rock through that.”

The Big Apple

Beaman followed some friends out to New York City in his twenties where he spent over a decade immersed in music and art. The move was “not with the intention of playing music at all,” Beaman said. “I had kind of decided ‘like I’m done with that’ but within a year or so I started playing again.” 

Beaman started touring the U.S. and Europe with the Double and recorded several albums with them on guitar. They even landed a live session on the BBC.

“We did a John Peel session which was kind of a really big highlight for us,” Beaman said.

Back to the Golden State

Now at 47, Beaman has returned home to the Sacramento Valley where he’s focused on writing and performing his own work. He also runs his own vintage furniture business and monthly market.

“I feel lucky,” Beaman said. “I really like my day job in a way that I never imagined I would.”

Fog on Mirror Glass

Fog on Mirror Glass is Beaman’s fifth solo album, but he said the works in his previous offerings usually included major influences from bands he was working with at the time. 

“I’d never done a record where I’ve specifically included more solo material,” Beaman said.

The album was recorded DIY style in Beaman’s living room with help from friend and producer Kirt Lind, who also plays the bass along with Michael Nalin on drums. Jen Benoit performs backing vocals and Ken Lovgren added a second guitar.

The release celebrates a decade of work for Beaman, who released the album on Royal Oakie Records. Their latest compilation Canyon Country sends relief funds to those affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. 

“Everybody knows somebody who was affected by it,” Beaman said. “It’s very much an ongoing reality in California.”

Old Universe

“Old Universe” talks about the little gestures we notice that make the world seem small. 

“I’m just kind of always working on songs,” Beaman said. “I used the verses to anchor the celestial quality of the chorus.”  

Fog on Mirror Glass is a journey from start to finish, and feels like a moving piece of art.

“I’m trying to get more and more peaceful as I get old,” Beaman said with a laugh. “Not in any kind of intentional way.”

Support the artist by streaming and purchasing Fog on Mirror Glass on Bandcamp.

More information about Donald Beaman can be found here.

Subscribe with your email below for your Song of the Day.