Last August, Klein, who records under the moniker Ohr and was formerly the frontman of The Race, was deep into the creation of his new album, “Afterglow,” when tragedy struck with the sudden illness and passing of his father. The devastating events unfolded over a month, leaving Klein grappling with grief. “It rocked my world,” the songwriter confides. “All I could do to keep from losing it was to immerse myself in music.”
Amidst the fog of anxiety and sorrow, Klein returned to his project and found an eerie resonance between “Afterglow’s” themes and his new reality. Initially conceived as a loose song cycle exploring the concepts of dawn and dusk—pondering the presence of light in darkness and the cyclical nature of day and night—the album took on a profound new significance.
With renewed purpose, Klein channeled his grief into finishing “Afterglow,” set for release on August 30th via Headstate Records. Far from being a record of defeat, it is a stirring and hopeful testament to resilience. Klein draws on his affinity for ’90s electronica, weaving psychedelic textures, sampled rhythms, and woozy hooks into a cathartic blend that ranges from trance-infused pulses to anthemic roars.
Following the release of the lead single “Red Pill” and its stunning rework by Sonic Boom, the titular track “Afterglow” continues to captivate. The song opens with a sample of a slide guitar from Ohr’s previous LP, “Walk in the Light,” bridging past and present while charting a new course. Klein’s process involved recording numerous tracks, sampling the best moments, and transforming them into new compositions. “Thematically, my idea of the afterglow is enigmatic, an in-between state of light and dark,” he explains. “The known and the unknown, conscious and unconscious, this world and whatever comes after.”
Check out “Afterglow” here, and pre-order the album. Additionally, Ohr will be performing live at the What’s Good The Hillman City Block Party on August 10th in Seattle. More info here.