Brant Hajek wrote, recorded, mixed, and mastered the entire EP alone in a Portland basement

Portland-based Wooden Overcoat released the single “Finally Arrived” on April 28, 2026, the second track to be shared ahead of the debut EP Hello Sunbeam, due May 29.

Title: Hello Sunbeam
Artist: Wooden Overcoat
Release Date: 2026-04-28
Genres: Dream Pop, Indie Rock, Lo-fi, Psychedelic Rock, Shoegaze
Description: Portland's Wooden Overcoat release "Finally Arrived," the second single from debut EP Hello Sunbeam, out May 29. Video by Francesca Bonci.

The project is the work of multi-instrumentalist Brant Hajek, who recorded the EP in a rented basement in Portland, Oregon, writing, recording, mixing, and mastering all material himself and performing every instrument. The name Wooden Overcoat derives from an old Americana term for a coffin. The songs were written during Hajek’s late teens; after a hiatus from music, he returned to them, and what began as an exercise in self-production became a more sustained engagement with sound design and recording equipment.

The four-track EP (Hello Sunbeam) lists the following tracks: “Home,” “Finally Arrived,” “Heaven Right Now,” and “I Knew You Would.” All material is credited exclusively to Hajek; cover art and photography are also his own. Band photographs are by Brett Chauncey.

“Finally Arrived” is built around slow-tempo drums and what the press release describes as “viscous Gooey guitars,” producing what it calls a “rhythmic trance-like pulse.” The accompanying video was made by Italian visual artist Francesca Bonci, whose previous work includes videos for The Dandy Warhols (read our interview with The Dandy Warhols), Pete International Airport, Tombstones In Their Eyes, Federale (featuring The Brian Jonestown Massacre‘s Collin Hegna), post-rock group The Quality of Mercury, and British artist Philip Parfitt, as well as Rachel Goswell of Slowdive.

Hajek has described the song as being concerned with several overlapping subjects simultaneously: his own experience of grief and relationship difficulties during a period of withdrawal from social media, and what he sees as widespread delusions around fame and public status. He frames both through what he identifies as a broader theme of people treating others as expendable rather than as lasting connections.

Wooden Overcoat now performs as a full live band. Alongside Hajek on guitar and lead vocals, the lineup includes Dillon Glusker on bass, Mac on guitar, and Brian Levin on drums and backing vocals. The band is scheduled to play a benefit show on May 16 at Portland’s Midnight PDX & The Six Venue, in support of the Portland Immigration Rights Coalition, on the same bill as Kerosel and Gondos. On May 30, they play Swan Dive with Jewelry Exchange and Only Only.

An earlier single, “Home,” was released prior to “Finally Arrived.” “Finally Arrived” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp. The Hello Sunbeam EP is due May 29.

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