January 9, 2026—Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Jay Buchanan, frontman of the Grammy-nominated rock group Rival Sons, debuts his new gospel-infused song, “True Black,” today. Listen HERE and watch the visualizer HERE.
Of the song, Buchanan shares, “‘True Black’ is such a contrast to ‘Caroline,’ it’s a burner for sure. Time to get up!”
The track is the latest unveiled from Buchanan’s anticipated debut solo album, Weapons of Beauty, out February 6 on Sacred Tongue Records via Thirty Tigers. The album will be available in a variety of formats, including limited-edition autographed color vinyl and CD, exclusively through Sacred Tongue / Second Sun. Pre-save/pre-order HERE.
Produced by longtime collaborator and Grammy Award-winner Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell) and written in the solitude of an underground bunker deep in the Mojave Desert, Weapons of Beauty is the result of months of reflection and experimentation—an unfiltered 10-song collection that captures Buchanan’s raw vocals and lived-in storytelling. Ahead of the release, Buchanan recently shared album track, “Caroline.” Watch the official music video HERE.
“As music continues to be choked out by technology, I wanted to draw pictures in the dirt,” Buchanan reflects. “This approach is right with me and I’ve just come to a point where there is no longer a choice. Weapons Of Beauty is the sound of these plates shifting within me, too loud to ignore. Surprisingly, I’ve never known a vulnerability to feel so empowering.”
Additionally, Cobb shares, “I think this record is like seeing into the heart of Jay, no filter, no noise, just pure raw emotion.”
Ahead of the release, Buchanan recently made his acting debut in the new Bruce Springsteen biopic, Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, where he appeared as frontman of the Stone Pony house band, and was introduced to director Scott Cooper, who sequenced Weapons of Beauty.
In addition to Buchanan and Cobb, Weapons of Beauty includes contributions from Brian Allen (bass), Chris Powell (drums), Leroy Powell (guitar), J.D. Simo (guitar) and Philip Towns (keys). The album also features cover artwork by Buchanan’s longtime friend and acclaimed American realist painter Jeremy Lipking.
Born in San Bernardino, CA, Buchanan began writing songs as soon as he could hold a guitar, honing his craft through busking, home recordings and constant artistic reinvention. Widely respected by his peers, Buchanan has collaborated with artists such as Jason Isbell, The Bee Gees, Miranda Lambert, Massive Attack, The Bloody Beetroots and Brandi Carlile, in addition to his work as frontman of the 2x Grammy-nominated rock band Rival Sons.
ABOUT RIVAL SONS
California-based, double Grammy-nominated rock band Rival Sons tap into something timeless—a sense of mystery, swagger, and uncompromising devotion to rock ’n’ roll. Their catalogue includes the landmark albums Pressure & Time (2011), Great Western Valkyrie (2014) and Feral Roots (2019), which earned nominations for Best Rock Album and Best Rock Performance. Hand-picked by Black Sabbath for their final tour and chosen this year by Guns N’ Roses for their 2025 European stadium run, Rival Sons have shared stages with The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Metallica and Lenny Kravitz, and appeared on major television shows from Letterman to Jools Holland. As Ozzy Osbourne put it, “It’s so refreshing to see a band coming up with such a great vibe…you see 500 bands and you see one and you go ‘fck, they’re good.”
WEAPONS OF BEAUTY TRACKLIST
1. Caroline
2. High And Lonesome
3. True Black
4. Tumbleweeds
5. Shower of Roses
6. Deep Swimming
7. Sway
8. The Great Divide
9. Dance Me to the End of Love
10. Weapons of Beauty
