Rival Sons' Jay Buchanan Talks Solo Album, Springsteen Movie, and Sleeping With a Pistol

Buchanan went into full isolation for three months in California's Mojave Desert to write his first solo album, "Weapons of Beauty"

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Jay Buchanan, the frontman of rock band Rival Sons, talks about his experience writing his first solo album "Weapons of Beauty" in an isolated bunker in the Mojave Desert. During this time, he was also filming a role in the Bruce Springsteen biopic "Deliver Me From Nowhere". Buchanan describes the unique challenges of living in the bunker, including having to take precautions like putting water bottles in front of the door and sleeping with a pistol under his pillow.

Why it matters

This story provides insight into the creative process and personal sacrifices musicians sometimes make to produce their art. Buchanan's extreme isolation in the Mojave Desert bunker highlights the lengths artists will go to in order to focus and find inspiration, even in unconventional and potentially dangerous circumstances.

The details

Buchanan, who is the frontman for the rock band Rival Sons, decided he needed complete privacy and isolation to write his first solo album "Weapons of Beauty". He turned to his childhood friend, an exotic reptile breeder, who had an underground bunker in the Mojave Desert that fit the bill. The bunker had no cell service, running water, or electricity, and the door couldn't even be locked. Buchanan took precautions like putting water bottles in front of the door and sleeping with a pistol under his pillow. Despite the challenging living conditions, the experience yielded intense songs like "True Black" and "Deep Swimming" that Buchanan later recorded with producer Dave Cobb in Savannah, Georgia.

  • In early 2026, Buchanan went into isolation in the Mojave Desert bunker to write his solo album.
  • During this time, Buchanan was also filming his role in the Bruce Springsteen biopic "Deliver Me From Nowhere".

The players

Jay Buchanan

The frontman for the rock band Rival Sons who wrote and recorded his first solo album "Weapons of Beauty" while in isolation in the Mojave Desert.

Dave Cobb

The producer who worked with Buchanan to record the songs he wrote during his time in the Mojave Desert bunker.

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What they’re saying

“I spend so much time away from home that I find myself incapable of ignoring my family in order to create. I'm not one of those people that can disassociate to write when the kids are on the other side of the door. In order to tune in, I have to be able to tune out, completely.”

— Jay Buchanan, Frontman, Rival Sons (Rolling Stone)

“I spent those three months down in this hole in the desert unable to lock the door at night. So, I'd put water bottles in front of it, and my pistol under my pillow. It was trippy.”

— Jay Buchanan, Frontman, Rival Sons (Rolling Stone)

What’s next

Buchanan's solo album "Weapons of Beauty" is expected to be released later this year.

The takeaway

Buchanan's extreme isolation and unconventional living conditions in the Mojave Desert bunker while writing his solo album highlight the personal sacrifices and creative risks musicians sometimes take to produce their art. His story provides a unique window into the artistic process and the lengths artists will go to find inspiration and focus.