Hometown Vampire, the sixth studio release from Athens-based pop powerhouse Elijah Johnston is due October 6, 2023 via the New West Records imprint Strolling Bones Records. The 11-track set was produced, engineered, and mixed by Tommy Trautwein at Tweed Recording Audio Production School in Athens, GA and features an ensemble of local staples including Gideon Johnston – Elijah’s brother and longtime collaborator, Cannon Rogers, Gracie Huffman, Drew Beskin, and others. Today, Johnston commemorates his major label debut with the release of “Hometown Vampire,” the album’s explosive title track and second single, preceded by “Downtown Living,” which premiered in July.

Drawing inspiration from a diverse repertoire of musical influences including The Beatles, Billy Joel, and Death Cab for Cutie, Johnston describes Hometown Vampire as “a heady and humorous rumination on the dangers of small town celebrity and the ego destruction needed to survive in love, music, or life as a whole.” set to soaring guitar riffs, hummable melodies, and painfully earnest lyrics.