Photo: Atiba Jefferson

Musician and producer Rusty Santos, known for his work with Animal Collective and Panda Bear, has announced the release of a new solo album. Entitled High Reality, it follows his 2006 Eternity Spans and is set for release onf July 22nd through Lo Recordings. On the album, Santos explores themes of “contemplat[ing] one’s place in the universe, mental health struggles and our relationships with others”, as the press release describes. He explains how the album came to life:

“These songs were created from a place of necessity after I had been hospitalized and involuntarily held in a facility due to a psychotic break, which was brought on by tactics I faced by others in the music industry. It took the efforts of some artist friends and label contacts I work with to intervene and get me released. The people in charge at the facility didn’t believe I was a record producer. The album title, High Reality, is the name I’ve given to the state of consciousness I was in while detached from day-to-day reality during my crisis.”

Ahead of the album’s release, Santos has shared the first single ‘Dream In Stereo’, and an accompanying video created by Brett5D. Watch it now.