Benmont Tench’s new album, The Melancholy Season, is his second solo record after four decades at the keyboards in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Released on Dark Horse Records, The Melancholy Season is Tench’s true arrival as a singer-songwriter, without compromise or doubt. It was produced by Jonathan Wilson — an acclaimed singer-songwriter and touring guitarist for Roger Waters who has worked on career-defining albums for Dawes, Father John Misty and Margo Price.

The album’s core studio band included Dawes’ Taylor Goldsmith on guitar, Sebastian Steinberg of Soul Coughing on bass and Wilson on drums, among other instruments, with contributions from Jenny O. and Sara Watkins. Tench “couldn’t be happier” about finding a home for The Melancholy Season at Dark Horse Records, saying its “An emotionally resonant label for me. And they have George’s music, Cat Stevens, Joe Strummer — these are writers. To be in that company, it’s perfect.”