On June 5, 2026, Brian Erickson will issue Others' Songs, the follow up to 2025's dual releases Everyday Sketches and its AP Music Awards Album of the Year-nominated companion, Everyday Forever (Brian's Version). How does one follow a windfall of such critical riches? If you're Brian Erickson, the answer is simple: with a sharp, unexpected turn!
Others’ Songs is a collection of cover material, recorded mostly between 2004-2010 (though a pair of pandemic-era recordings round out the collection) with seemingly no other rhyme or reason. It’s an odd flex, considering Brian Erickson is one of the most steady-handed album-makers working today.
We caught up with him to talk about this uncharacteristic swing, as well as old collaborations made new again, and the value of a victory lap.
There’s always a suspicion around covers albums. That they’re either a placeholder or a victory lap; something artists release once they’ve said everything they’ve needed to say. At this stage in your career, why release such a collection?
You already said it. It’s a victory lap, and I’m not ashamed to admit as much. I’m proud of how well my last records did. Why not celebrate with some dessert? There’s high value in the stopgap release; in the victory lap. Not enough people do it at this level.
So, you’re admitting that this isn’t as “important” a record as past or future ones?
You’re allowed to do minor work; not everything needs to be so definitive or serious. This is me simply building a bridge from one project to the next with something other than silence. I could also just go away for a year. But I had these recordings ready to go; why not try to make something interesting and creative out of them?
Do you feel too much time between albums will make people forget about you?
I read this article about Paul Westerberg that said, ‘If you can’t dazzle them with greatness, stupefy them with productivity.’ I acknowledge that that’s what I’m doing here. I also am aware that our broader culture, when it comes to creating, fosters that same attitude. Maybe I’m giving into it a little bit, but if I’m going to feed the mill, may as well try it with something a little more transitional.
Was that the guiding principle behind the song selection?
Not at all. I had about two dozen recordings to choose from. These ten, despite their varied sources, seemed to hang together the best as a proper album. Thematically, it’s basically just one instrument/one voice, with a few small exceptions.
Is there anything you regret not including?
If there is, then get ready for Others’ Songs Volume II, Spring 2028!
There aren’t just other people’s songs on this album. There are other voices apart from yours. Talk to me about the two collaborations.
Twenty years ago, I produced and co-wrote an EP called Longer Than Expected by Michelle Cacciatore, a great friend of mine for the past 20-plus years. She’s also a wonderful vocalist and an underrated writer! During the sessions, we also put down a cover of “The Boy’s Gone,” by Jason Mraz, one of her favorite artists at the time. But we cut it from the EP, which we envisioned being all original work.
Did you two ever work together again after that?
After the EP came out, we’d play together off-and-on for another few years, and we even recorded a couple songs which never got finished. Michelle and I had a brief, fruitful partnership that presented positive challenges and resulted in a batch of songs I’m still proud of! This brings that collaboration into the present and I’m happy it’s represented here.
What about the other one? You have two songs recorded with Tim Ryan, who is he?
Tim was another one of my best friends. He died in a fatal car crash in 2011. But he was so gifted; he had such a fully formed musical and lyrical voice that I almost feel bad that the first “new” Tim music in a long time is a pair of cover songs. But we used to play together often back in the mid/late 2000s and I couldn’t make a record like this without him being part of it, somehow.
Were these songs representative of the work you two did?
We’d do these long shows called ‘Twin Songwriters.’ He would do a set, then I would do one, and then we’d perform a third set together where we’d play some of our favorite covers. We’d collaborate on one another’s originals, and we even had a few co-writes. But we’d always start our sets with “Mrs. Robinson,” and “Two of Us.” A more complete recording of “Mrs. Robinson” exists, but I thought this minute-long a cappella version better captured what our dynamic was like. It’s a little irreverent, but the voices blend together well and that’s something which isn’t always easy to find.
Does this help keep you close to someone like him?
How can it not? They say the sound of someone’s voice is the first thing that you start to forget. How fortunate am I that one of my best friends was a singer who actually got around to recording some songs? I can hear his voice anytime I’d like. That’s a beautiful gift.
What’s the song on here that you’re most excited to have out?
Aside from the two collaborations, it’s going to be “Half Right,” the opener. It was taken from my first-ever live performance. Not first recorded performance, not first performance after X number of years. First. Performance. Ever.
It’s rare that artists have recordings from such an important event. What gave you the foresight into ensuring that performance got recorded?
Some of it was just good luck. I performed on a program called Underdog Radio, so the audio came out quite clearly. And they asked me if I’d like a recording. No money changed hands, no favors were cashed in. Just a nice gesture from some good people.
Will we ever hear the rest of the performance?
I’ve got other solo recordings I’m finishing up; some of which should be ready before the end of the year. That stuff takes priority. I think if I put the whole live performance out, people might see just how unimpressive it actually was. Never say never, but I’d rather have it live through this one song. At least for now.
Last question! This record documents your first live performance, some early collaborations, and even some moments of pandemic-era isolation. In its way, Others’ Songs spans almost your entire adult life. But it does so with music written by other people. What does that say about the role these songs played in your own story?
Wow, way to land the plane! This is not a definitive collection. This is just a fraction of a much larger whole. But these songs were there for me when I needed them. And since most of them were recorded during those early years, when I wasn’t yet releasing any music, these songs represented me trying to refine my taste, find my voice, and connect both those things to an audience. It’s something I still actively work on today. I don’t do it through cover songs anymore. I do it through listening, through revising my own material, and through simply continuing to work. I take a lot of joy in that. An album like this one allows me to reflect on where it all started. What a privilege to get to create so much that you’re now allowed to look back on it! I really am very lucky.
Others’ Songs arrives on all streaming platforms June 5, 2026 via Mint 400 Records. Here’s the official track listing (and the song’s original artist):
Brian Erickson will be performing at the Starving Artist Café in Stockton, NJ on May 24th and at Crossroads in Garwood, NJ on June 17th
