Largely inspired by three months spent in the NICU after her daughter was born with a rare congenital anomaly, which left her unable to eat, drink, or breathe safely, Rachel Baiman’s How to Prepare for a Feeling is a rumination on the human addiction to hope, love, and creation, despite all the experiences that might push us to despair. 98 days, 4 surgeries, and one medically induced paralysis later, Baiman’s 4th studio album marks the realization that joy is the unavoidable flipside to pain and fear.

Since her 2023 album, Common Nation of Sorrow, Baiman has opened for Leif Vollebekk, Andrew Marlin, Molly Tuttle, and Pony Bradshaw, produced albums for Nicholas Jamerson, Philip Bowen, and Omar Ruiz-Lopez, gotten her MFA in creative writing, had her music featured on Apple TV’s Margo’s Got Money Troubles, and CBS’ Tracker, and recorded on albums by Shaboozey and Kevin Morby.

All of this, and more, is buried in the sparse poetry of this 9 track album, produced by long time friend and collaborator Lollies, and recorded live to tape by GRAMMY award winning Mat Andrews (Gillian Welch/Dawes/OCMS) at Burns Sound an hour outside of Nashville.

Click the photo below to listen.