It is with great pride that we introduce the newest addition to our Polyvinyl family, Squirrel Flower. The moniker of Ella O’Connor Williams — Squirrel Flower’s music is ethereal and warm, gushing with emotional depth. I Was Born Swimming, her debut album, will arrive January 31st. The title was inspired by Williams’ birth on August 11th 1996 - the hottest day of the year - born still inside a translucent caul sac membrane, surrounded by amniotic fluid.

Ella comes from a deep-rooted musical family tree and growing up amidst hard working musicians fostered a love of music and started her down her own musical path. As a child, she adopted the alter ego of Squirrel Flower. A couple years later, she began singing with the Boston Children’s Chorus while studying music theory and teaching herself to play the guitar. As a teen, she discovered the Boston DIY and folk music scenes and began writing, recording, and performing her own songs, now returning to the name Squirrel Flower as her chosen moniker.
Today we get our first glimpse into I Was Born Swimming via the heavy riff-laden lead single "Red Shoulder." Ella explains –
“‘Red Shoulder’ is a song about destabilization and dissociation. Something soft and tender becomes warped and sinister, turning into sensory overload and confusion. How can something so lovely turn painful and claustrophobic? The song ends with a heavy and visceral guitar solo, attempting to reground what went awry.”
Directed by Laura-Lynn Petrick, the video takes place in modern day Boston and is intended to "highlight the similarities between dreams and reality with Ella as she experiences a sequence of strange deja vus.” Watch below —

Pre-order a limited edition first pressing Early Bird on Clear Teal w/ White Smoke and get a bonus 7” Flexi, featuring a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher Than the Rest.” Add some glorious merch to your basket (you know you want those majestic sunnies).

The band on I Was Born Swimming plays with delicate intention, keeping the arrangements natural and light. The album was tracked live, with few overdubs, at The Rare Book Room Studio in New York City with producer Gabe Wax (Adrienne Lenker, Palehound, Cass McCombs). The musicians were selected by Wax and folded themselves into the songs effortlessly. At the heart of the album lives Williams’ massive, haunted vibrating voice and melancholic, soulful guitar. Throughout the 12 songs, landscapes change and relationships shift. The album’s lyrics feel like effortless expressions of exactly the way it feels to change — abstract, sad, and hopeful.

Catch Squirrel Flower live on their newly announced North American tour dates with Cedric Noel and Why Bonnie supporting. Tickets onsale Friday @ 10am local:

  • 10/24 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle %
  • 10/25 - Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar %
  • 10/26 - Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s %
  • 10/27 - Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s %
  • 10/28 - Brooklyn, NY @ Baby's All Right %
  • 10/29 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place %
  • 01/28 - London, UK @ The Islington
  • 03/06 - Middletown, CT @ Mac 650 Art Gallery #
  • 03/07 - Boston, MA @ Great Scott #
  • 03/11 - Brooklyn, NY @ Rough Trade #
  • 03/12 - Philadelphia, PA @ Everybody Hits #
  • 03/13 - Washington, DC @ Songbyrd #
  • 03/23 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge $
  • 03/25 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo $
  • 03/26 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill $
  • 03/28 - Seattle, WA @ Barboza $
  • 03/29 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge $
  • 03/31 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court $
  • 04/02 - Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge $
  • 04/06 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry $
  • 04/07 - Chicago, IL @ Schubas $
  • 04/08 - Lakewood, OH @ Mahall’s $
  • 04/10 - Toronto, ON @ Drake Hotel #
  • 04/11 - Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo #
% w/ Loving, # w/ Cedric Noel, $ w/ Why Bonnie