This new record, Venus Smile, began recording in Reseda, California in 2007 at Bright Orange Studios, and the final touches were added from March to May of this year with everyone working remotely from home. Dedicated to my late, dearest friend and genius collaborater Brett Thorngren, without whom it simply would never have existed at all. I miss

This new record, Venus Smile, began recording in Reseda, California in 2007 at Bright Orange Studios, and the final touches were added from March to May of this year with everyone working remotely from home. Dedicated to my late, dearest friend and genius collaborater Brett Thorngren, without whom it simply would never have existed at all. I miss you so much!

This record was written and produced by McCullough, with Jason Harrison Smith on drums, Doug Pettibone (Lucinda Williams, John Mayer) on every guitar but acoustic (exception: “Wichita”) Reggie McBride on bass (Stevie Wonder, Parliament Funkadelic, and Elton John, for a start) and Jane Scarpantoni on cello (REM.) All but this year's mixing and mastering was done by the late Brett (Cosmo) Thorngren. The sound of the songs vary, ranging from pop to rock to Americana, with shades between.

McCullough says of Venus Smile, “My take on the overall theme of this record is one of redemption and exhaustion: exhaustion with the all the anger and the fighting, exhaustion from the division that has so greatly impacted our world. A planet on which every single one of us has more in common than not. So while not every song is about this specifically, each one of them is in some way about separation. Some address my sense of reticent optimism that they can and will be healed, others aren’t quite there.

But I have myself survived a total separation from myself; with a well documented depressive episode that took me out for over a decade. And I have not only recovered to continue this lifetime of healing, but thrived. I believe we are all meant for and capable of the same. But now I have made the choice to move beyond being defined by past trauma. So yes, this does give me hope in a time when hope, and healing, are in such short supply. Of course I myself am not fully “redeemed” but I have certainly moved further on the path than I would have ever dreamt. It is my belief that this is possible for all who live on this world, whether I personally agree with their beliefs or not. Our promise, whatever that may be, and for as long as we are alive, need not be wasted.” This record is lovingly dedicated to the late great Brett Thorngren.