Kevin Morby has returned with a new standalone single, arriving four months after the release of his latest studio album. Listen to “PBJ” with its accompanying music video below.
Produced by Aaron Dessner, the song also features Andrew Barr on drums and Justin Vernon on electric guitar, while Morby contributes vocals, piano, synths, and Mellotron.
Despite its sandwich-inspired title, the song takes its name from a phrase Morby once heard a friend use to describe driving with the windows down while blasting the air conditioning.
“I always loved the phrase and have used it ever since,” he explained in a statement. “I also love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (and all its variations) and so this is a very fun song for me. An end of summer song. Listen to it with the windows down … and the air conditioning up.”
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That sticky late-summer feeling runs through “PBJ,” as Morby pairs the imagery of heat, romance, and driving with a more wistful refrain about people gathering before inevitably dispersing.
Morby is celebrating the release with a series of food collaborations around the country inspired by the song, including a PBJ ice cream from Van Leeuwen, a cookie from New York’s Culture Espresso, and a donut via Mr D’s Donut Shop in Kansas.
He also has a handful of shows on the horizon, beginning with Richmond’s Iron Blossom festival later this month. He’ll head to Australia for a run of dates in November before playing at My Morning Jacket’s One Big Holiday in Mexico this January and Knoxville’s Big Ears Festival in April.
“PBJ” follows his eighth studio album, Little Wide Open, which arrived in May via Dead Oceans. The album was also produced by Aaron Dessner, while Morby wrote all 13 songs.
Watch the music video for “PBJ” below.