Singer-songwriter Conor Oberst has revealed the cover art—The Creation of the Bulls by his friend Ian Felice—for his new solo album Upside Down Mountain, which is out on May 19 via Nonesuch Records, and unveiled a new track from the album, "Governor’s Ball," which you can hear below. The album is now available to pre-order in the Nonesuch Store with an exclusive print featuring the album art, or via iTunes, both with an instant download of the tracks "Hundreds of Ways" and "Governor’s Ball."

Upside Down Mountain features many other friends of Oberst’s, including producer Jonathan Wilson, engineer Andy LeMaster, bassist Macey Taylor, multi-instrumentalist Blake Mills, and the Swedish sibling folk-rock vocal duo First Aid Kit. What started as exploratory demos with producer-musician Jonathan Wilson at his Fivestar Studios in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, in a home Wilson rents from Oberst, became the first de facto album sessions. Returning to his native Omaha, Nebraska, Oberst kept rolling with the help of frequent collaborator, engineer, and friend Andy LeMaster at his own ARC Studios. Even more tracking followed in Omaha last November and December. Then Oberst and Wilson moved south to Blackbird Studio in Nashville.

“This is a return to an earlier way I wrote,” Oberst says of the songs on Upside Down Mountain. “It’s more intimate or personal, if you will. Even if all my songs come from the same place, you make different aesthetic decisions along the way. For me, language is a huge part of why I make music. I’m not the greatest guitar player or piano player—I’m not the greatest singer, either—but I feel if I can come up with melodies I like that are fused with poetry I’m proud of, then that’s what I bring to the table. That’s why I’m able to do this.”

Oberst kicks off the first leg of a world tour in support of the new album on May 8 in North Carolina. His friends and colleagues Dawes appear on the bill as "Special Guests"—both opening the shows and acting as Oberst’s band for the tour. See the dates below and visit nonesuch.com/on-tour for all the details.

Prior to the album release, a limited-edition seven-inch single will be released exclusively for Record Store Day (Saturday, April 19). This special single will feature album track "Hundreds of Ways" along with album outtake "Fast Friends" on the B-side. You can hear "Hundreds of Ways" here.

CONOR OBERST ON TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAWES