MYND READER’s Self-Titled Rock Debut Is a Reminder That Real, Soul-Driven Rock and Roll Still Matters

MYND READER is not about ego or spectacle. It’s a conduit for healing and human connection through the raw power of rock and roll. Their self-titled debut album, releasing on January 30, 2026, is built from the band’s personal and musical evolution. Rooted in spiritual reckoning, cinematic rock ambition, and the raw grit of lived experience, the Boulder, Colorado group establishes itself as one of the most defining new voices in today’s rock realm, blending classic influences with a sound entirely their own.

The trio of Shelby Kemp, Tonin, and Brian Sachs have crafted a record that moves from moments of introspection to full-throttle rock energy with effortless grace. Sachs, the band’s drummer and lyricist, wrote much of the album during a period of upheaval: the end of his marriage, the passing of his mother, the closure of his business, and his son leaving home. “These songs were born from a time when everything collapsed,” he says. “I wanted this record to feel like a hand reaching out in the dark.” His notebooks of raw, introspective lyrics became the blueprint that Tonin shaped into layered, immersive sonic frameworks. When Kemp entered the project, his Southern-tinged, smoky vocals gave the songs flesh and heartbeat, transforming sketches into fully realized tracks that feel immediate and timeless.

MYND READER’s sound cuts across genres, blending soulful rock, Americana, and classic rock lineage while staying wholly distinct. Bluesy vocals, expansive guitar textures, and pulse-driven drums form a sonic landscape that is intimate and cinematic, raw yet accessible. Compositions like “Home” serve as emotional centerpieces, capturing the pull of belonging, love, and the idea that rock and roll itself can feel like home. Kemp says, “It is where we return when everything else falls away. It’s the place where you belong, whether it is a person, a town, or a song.”

The anthemic song “Home” has already received spins across more than 20 iHeart stations after landing on Ted Stryker’s nationally syndicated Out Of Order. Mixed by seven-time Grammy Award-winning engineer Michael Brauer, whose credits include Coldplay, My Morning Jacket, and The Rolling Stones, the track and the rest of the album achieve a warmth and resonance that make every moment, whether quiet or explosive, land with real impact.

The creative spark for MYND READER ignited when Sachs reconnected with longtime friend and multi-instrumentalist Tonin in Boulder. The two quickly began shaping Sachs’ introspective lyrics into dynamic, cinematic music, and the addition of Kemp completed the trio. Formed through friendship and shared vision, the band thrives as a collective.

Sachs’ musical past informs much of the band’s DNA. In the 1990s, he played with The Authority, a Bill Graham–managed New York jam-rock outfit, performing alongside Phish, Blues Traveler, and Dave Matthews Band during Manhattan’s Wetlands-era heyday. “If The Authority was fueled by youthful chaos and raw energy, MYND READER is the grown-up version of that fire,” Sachs says. “Back then I was chasing success. Today I am searching for truth.” The lessons in stagecraft, improvisation, and musical tension underpin every track on the debut, giving it both emotional authenticity and performance-ready fire.

Across the album, key tracks illustrate the band’s emotional and sonic range. “Mourning Light”, already a Top 100 on the Mediabase chart, moves between quiet reflection and cathartic release. “Radio Warning”, written partly from Sachs’ experiences trekking through remote parts of Alaska, pairs isolation and resilience in equal measure. “Simply Avanti”delivers a tighter, more urgent punch. “Oslo” and “Leaving Our Lives” reveal a softer edge, leaning into the band’s melodic instincts, while “Birdsong” expands the group’s cinematic reach. The accompanying video, filmed in the surreal dunes of Mexico by director VINSINT, reinforces the track’s sense of scale and atmosphere.

MYND READER’s sonic palette recalls the immediacy of The Black Crowes, the atmospheric sweep of My Morning Jacket, the emotional toughness of Chris Stapleton, and the lyrical introspection of Wilco and Ray LaMontagne. Yet despite the nods to these influences, the band’s sound is fully its own, balancing cinematic expansiveness with visceral rock energy.

Live, the trio expands into a five-piece with bassist Zach Jackson and keyboardist Chris Spies, translating the studio’s layered arrangements into a high-energy performance. The result is a band that feels approachable and deeply human, proving that honesty, musicianship, and emotional truth can still thrive in today’s music landscape. At its core, MYND READER is music as medicine—a reminder that real, soul-driven rock still matters. It’s redemption, rhythm, and rebirth: the church of rock and roll, reborn in Colorado.

Tracklist for MYND READER:

1. Radio Warning
2. Simply Avanti
3. Falling Down
4. Oslo
5. Leaving Our Lives
6. Mourning Light
7. Mynd Reader
8. Home
9. Birdsong
10. Think About It

Connect with MYND READER:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

Photographer for Cover Art: David Fulton – XPRMNT Consulting
Photographer for Band Photos: Dog Daze Photo
Photographer for Brian Sachs Portrait: David Fulton – XPRMNT Consulting