Seattle-based Ghosts I’ve Met‘s front man Sam Watts is never without his grandfather’s felt fedora. Over the years the contents of the brim have changed based on where Watts is in the country: feathers from birds of prey, dry grass from the desert, autumn leaves from the West coast, and occasionally a guitar pick or two. This hat has become a symbol for how I understand Watts’ writing process. His songs are incredibly well crafted — with knowledge similar to that of a lifelong hat maker. The songs are tried and true, laden with his many life experiences and holding remnants of the landscapes he has traveled through.
The Leveling Storm follows on the heels of the 2011 full-length album on Yer Bird Records, From a Spark. From a Spark features artwork from Watts’ grandfather, Sam Richardson, a well known contemporary artist with work in some of the most highly regarded art collections in the country. In the 1960s, he and Watts’ grandmother built a house nestled high in the Oakland Hills. It’s a beautiful home bathed in tree-filtered light complete with studio space surrounded by nature. Watts grew up visiting his grandparents and couldn’t help but be inspired.
“My grandpa’s art and the influence of the California landscape is a huge part of my life/writing. Seeing him have new paintings every single time I have gone to visit my entire life has had a huge impact on me and my ‘always keep working’ theory.” Besides spending time with his grandfather and his work Watts also likes to frequent the plethora of Bay Area cultural institutions. “I have always loved going to the Bay Area museums with my grandparents. From the old de Young to the new one, I have had amazing days in the area’s museums.”

His last trip to Oakland included a visit to Yosemite, where the album artwork for The Leveling Storm was captured. An image of Half Dome dusted with snow at the end of summer serves as a regenerative symbol for Watts. This record embarks on an emotional journey that deals with the various grievances of past relationships. In choosing the project’s title Watts was attracted to the duality of a leveling storm. “I like the multiple ways in which something can be ‘leveling.’ It can be both bad, as in a hurricane and good as in the rebuilding after.”