Truman Sinclair Releases Rivers of Sugar and Blood, a Stark and Soulful New EP

Indie-rock and folk storyteller Truman Sinclair is back with Rivers of Sugar and Blood, his first EP for Capitol Records and the follow-up to his acclaimed 2025 debut album, American Recordings. Released today, the six-song project finds the 23-year-old artist digging deeper into the emotional terrain that has quickly become his signature.

Written, produced, and recorded entirely by Sinclair—who also performs many of the instruments—the EP is an intimate portrait of mental health, fractured friendships, and the consequences of emotional survival mode. “Rivers of Sugar and Blood is about depression and ups and downs and how the actions taken in those moments affect friendships and life,” Sinclair explains. “I think it is so hard to simply keep your head these days.”

A Cinematic and Unflinching Sound

Sinclair’s slack-jawed vocals and cinematic songwriting are on full display throughout the EP, particularly on the aching standout “dust to dust.” Blending warmth with blunt honesty, he sings of tension and vulnerability with striking clarity, capturing the uneasy balance between tenderness and emotional distance that comes with growing up.

“‘dust to dust’ is a song about growing up and watching friends around you win and lose,” Sinclair says. “And the tenderness and coldness that comes with that.”

Elsewhere, the searing “river of blood” reflects on the years heartbreak can quietly steal when anger is left unresolved, while “chemical smile” offers a compassionate look at a friend’s experience with mental illness—those fleeting moments of clarity before medication takes hold. Closing track “sam & marylou,” punctuated by a mournful harmonica, zooms out to contemplate humanity’s place in the universe.

Critical Praise and Rising Momentum

The EP also features Sinclair’s recent singles “sugar” and “dustland,” both of which have helped elevate his profile. CLASH praised “sugar” for its melodic pull and Laurel Canyon-tinged atmosphere, while NME added the track to its “New Bangers” playlist. BBC Radio 1’s Sian Eleri has championed the song on her Future Artists show, giving Sinclair his first plays on the station.

“dustland” earned similarly strong acclaim, with THE FADER calling it “a rousing coming-of-age tale… with immersive storytelling,” and Wonderland describing it as “a lo-fi, slow-burning track full of grit and gut-punch emotion.” The Line of Best Fit summed up his appeal succinctly, naming Sinclair a “raw new voice amid the noise.”

From Chicago to Laurel Canyon—and Beyond

Sinclair’s path to this moment has been anything but typical. Raised in Chicago’s emo and metal scenes, he later relocated to Laurel Canyon at 14, where he developed a deep connection to folk, heartland rock, and lyric-driven songwriting. He previously played in alternative act Fat, Evil Children and founded the emo band Frat Mouse, recording and producing four LPs from his bedroom studio while logging more than 300 live shows.

His dedication to craft also led to work as an assistant engineer for GRAMMY®-winning producer Dave Sardy, further sharpening his technical and creative instincts.

On the Road with Courtney Barnett

In the lead-up to the EP’s release, Sinclair completed a buzzed-about residency at Los Angeles’ Silverlake Lounge. This spring, he’ll bring Rivers of Sugar and Blood on the road as a special guest on Courtney Barnett’s North American tour, kicking off May 1 in Austin.

Rivers of Sugar and Blood — Track List

1. river of blood

2. chemical smile

3. dust to dust

4. dustland

5. sugar

6. sam & marylou

Tour Dates (Opening for Courtney Barnett)

• 5/1 – Austin, TX – RADIO/EAST

• 5/2 – Houston, TX – White Oak

• 5/3 – Dallas, TX – Studio

• 5/5 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

• 5/6 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle

• 5/8 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre

• 5/9 – Brooklyn, NY – Kings Theatre

• 5/10 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

• 5/12 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore

• 5/13 – Boston, MA – Roadrunner

• 5/15 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

• 5/16 – Minneapolis, MN – Palace Theater

• 5/19 – St. Louis, MO – Hawthorn Theater

• 5/20 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall

• 5/21 – Detroit, MI – The Majestic

• 5/22 – Toronto, ON – History

With Rivers of Sugar and Blood, Truman Sinclair continues to prove himself as a singular voice—one capable of turning life’s heaviest moments into songs that linger long after the final note.