American Aquarium is an alternative country and Americana band from Raleigh, North Carolina, founded in 2006 by singer-guitarist BJ Barham. Without major-label backing or mainstream radio play, the band built a devoted international following through relentless touring and unflinching songwriting about loss, Southern identity and everyday life. Albums like Burn.Flicker.Die (2012) and Things Change (2018) cemented their reputation as one of the most consistent acts in independent Americana.
American Aquarium released the new album New Ways to Lose on June 26, 2026 via Losing Side Records/Thirty Tigers, again produced by Shooter Jennings.
The band announced a European tour for November 2026, with a performance at the Take Root Festival in Groningen on November 7.
New Ways to Lose was largely recorded live in Los Angeles in a ten-day session, with three-part harmonies and horn arrangements as additions.
The album The Fear of Standing Still was released on July 26, 2024 and marked the second collaboration with producer Shooter Jennings after Lamentations (2020).
The Fear of Standing Still was recorded live at Sunset Sound in Los Angeles and deliberately chose a harder, more rock-oriented sound than the acoustic Chicamacomico (2022).
