Keaton Henson is a virtual stranger whose anonymity is no accident. He has never toured, posted on social networks, and rarely leaves his hometown or his bedroom.

Keaton Henson’s debut album, Dear..., was released quietly in late 2010, in a limited edition run, hand-made by Keaton. Amidst a growing audience and critical acclaim, Keaton chose not to perform or promote his record in a conventional manner – he was simply compelled to write the next album.

Birthdays sees Keaton Henson removed from his comfort zone. Relocating to L.A., Keaton set up a temporary cave in the studio, recreating his bedroom’s isolation, but allowed others into the fray this time, including members of Band of Horses (Tyler Ramsey), The Raveonettes (Sune Rose Wagner), Alberta Cross (Sam Kearney), as well as French horns and a ten-piece string section.

His debut graphic novel, ‘Gloaming’, addresses spirits lost in a city, seeking escape, taking us from folklore and magic to a new kind of mystery. Further new mysteries await Henson: for he has taken tentative steps in returning to the live arena, firstly performing one-on-one for fans from within a dollhouse, as part of an art gallery exhibiting his work. Incredibly, Keaton recently played two debut live gigs, both located in a dusty old cinema museum in South London. Unannounced, tickets sold out in little over an hour, and were greeted with 5-star reviews. Now he is playing live in the USA for the first time, at Housing Works.