Distracted

BY: ALLIE RUSSEL AND AMY SCHWARTZ

With a career spanning over three decades, Kyle Hollingsworth has established himself as a boundary-pushing keyboardist with renowned band The String Cheese Incident. While The String Cheese Incident has made a huge name for themselves in the jam band space, Hollingsworth enjoys stepping outside of the “jam” space to create more freeing solo projects. His newest album All We Are, released today, August 1st, 2025, takes a more personal turn.

“It’s a freeing feeling to follow my vision through to the end,” Hollingsworth tells us, reflecting on the differences between solo work and the collaborative process of the band. “I’m able to approach writing outside of String Cheese Incident with a wider paint brush.” Hollingsworth’s solo efforts have always served as a playground of sorts; a space where he can explore sounds, push genre boundaries, and grow as a songwriter. “It’s an outlet,” he says. “An itch I get to scratch that helps me grow.”

Although Hollingsworth has released a handful of singles since his last full project, 2020, All We Are represents a more complete story. “Since then, I’ve been writing and compiling songs and recording with my solo band,” he tells us. “The plan was to continue to do singles, and then I started to see the whole album start to form.” 

With 10 tracks in total, All We Are showcases Hollingsworth’s wide-ranging musical palette and storytelling gift. The album weaves through themes of transformation, family, and self-discovery—from the introspective title track to the lively instrumental Tee’s Strut. Carnival captures the whirlwind of life on tour, while “Waiting On Time” and “Coming On Strong” delve into personal struggles, resilience, and the strength found in perseverance. Even at its most experimental, the project never loses its warmth and humanity. 

When asked if there’s a track on the project that carries particular emotional weight, he pointed to Lost In The Mirror. “It’s a follow-up story to my String Cheese Incident track Can’t Wait Another Day, which spoke of the many days leading up to my daughter’s birth.” This upcoming track reflects on his daughter coming of age, as she moves beyond childhood and enters her teenage years. Hollingsworth drew inspiration from the story of Alice Through the Looking Glass, using its imagery as a metaphor for witnessing your child grow and change. With the opening lyric, “into the looking glass, years they spin so fast, where did little bean go…” Hollingsworth captures the bittersweet experience of a father watching his daughter grow up.

While this album delves into deeply personal themes lyrically, Hollingsworth has kept its sonic landscape fun and full of energy. He’s bringing that same spirit to the album release celebration, which includes a special collaboration with 4 Hands Brewing Company. Together, they’ve created a custom beer designed to pair with the album—set to launch across the Midwest this fall alongside the Kyle Hollingsworth Band’s tour dates. And of course, the celebration wouldn’t be complete without Kyle’s Brew Fest, returning September 6th to Wibby Brewing Co. in Longmont, CO. The annual event will serve as the official album release party. 

All We Are is both a personal milestone and an artistic leap for Hollingsworth. It’s an album built on introspection, fatherhood, experimentation, and the continued joy of creating something new. As Hollingsworth puts it: “It’s about how we are able to live in this universe. I’m in constant amazement and wonder of humanity, life on the planet, and the beauty of nature all around me.”