Colin Meloy: Last News

Laika, the renowned Oregon animation studio founded by Travis Knight, has acquired the internationally bestselling fantasy novel Piranesi by Susanna Clarke, enlisting Knight to direct an animated feature adaptation.

Ilana Kaplan Whenever the Decemberists have released an album, Colin Meloy has wondered if it would be their last. Perhaps fans may have felt similarly after the release of their 2018 LP “I’ll Be Your Girl,” as the Portland, Oregon-spawned indie icons found themselves in the midst of its longest gap between records. But there were several factors at play in the delay: a pandemic, fits and starts of songwriting, and Meloy’s other creative projects.

The Decemberists are back, and have shared details of a brand new album called ‘As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again’. Check out the proggy new single below.Revealed today (March 19), the new LP marks the band’s ninth studio album, and first since taking a six-year hiatus.Set to be structured as a double album, ‘As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again’ was produced by lead-singer Colin Meloy and Tucker Martine, and is set to feature a variety of star-studded collaborations with the likes of The Shins’ James Mercer and R.E.M’s Mike Mills.It is set for release on June 14 via YABB Records (Thirty Tigers), and the band have today shared the intriguing new single – a 19-minute-long prog rock epic titled ‘Joan In The Garden’.“‘Joan in the Garden’ has been kicking around as an idea since the ‘I’ll Be Your Girl’ sessions,” said Meloy of the inspiration for the track.

Colin Meloy, frontman of The Decemberists and already a popular children's author, is now writing a novel for adults. Meloy's book, which has the working title "Cascadia," is scheduled for 2025 (in the spring, not in December), G.P.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans Editor Laika, the animation studio behind “ParaNorman” and “Coraline,” has announced a six-part series exploring the costumes, props and sets from its iconic films. Titled “Laika Archives,” the series will be released on Sept. 13 via the company’s YouTube channel and features artisans like costume designer Deb Cook, head of model-making Keith McQueen and writer-director Chris Butler. Says Butler, “There’s something truly magical about walking into a room and seeing a table full of gorgeous sculpts, gorgeous artwork that’s been created by very talented people.” David Burke, Laika chief marketing officer and SVP of operations, adds: “Laika creates movies that matter. It takes a community of talented artists, artisans and technologists to make a Laika film. Because they are crafted in the stop motion animation medium, the studio has many physical assets from each film.”

Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Andi Mack‘s Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Awkwafina, Angela Bassett, Jake Johnson, Charlie Day, Amandla Stenberg, Jemaine Clement, Maya Erskine, Tantoo Cardinal, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant make up the voice cast for Wildwood, the latest movie from Laika Studios.

Laika’s CEO and President Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings) is gearing up to direct the stop-motion animated feature The Night Gardener, written by Ozark co-creator Bill Dubuque, for his storied Hillsboro, Oregon studio. (Check out a film still unveiled by Laika below.)

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorLaika studios has announced its sixth stop-motion movie, “Wildwood.”The feature is based on the novel written by Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter for The Decemberists, and illustrated by artist Carson Ellis. The announcement was made Wednesday by Travis Knight, President & CEO of the award-winning animation studio, who will direct the film.

Laika President & CEO Travis Knight is directing the studio’s next animated feature, Wildwood—an adaptation of the bestselling novel written by The Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, and illustrated by Carson Ellis.

Consequence of Sound has announced Angel from Maywood: A Livestream Tribute to John Prine. The homage to Prine, who died earlier this week, will feature performances by the Decemberists' Colin Meloy, Kevin Morby, the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle, Grace Potter, Norah Jones, the Head and the Heart, Lake Street Dive, and more. The tribute will stream on Saturday, April 11 at 2 p.m. Eastern on CoS’ Instagram account.

Featuring cover performances from friends, fans, collaborators and more

Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval paid tribute to her late bandmate David Roback on Tuesday (March 3) in an emotional post representing her first statement since the guitarist/songwriter's passing on Feb. 24 at age 61.