About
Acclaimed songwriter, musician and producer Lawrence Rothman returns with their highly-anticipated new album, The Plow That Broke the Plains, April 26 on KRO Records (pre-order). Ahead of the release, two new songs from the album—“Poster Child” (written with and guitars by Jason Isbell) and the title track—are out today. Watch both official music videos here: “Poster Child” and “The Plow That Broke The Plains.”
Born in St. Louis, MO and now based between Los Angeles and Nashville. Lawrence is known for their genre-bending work, which includes their most recent album, 2021’s acclaimed Good Morning, America (feat. Lucinda Williams, Amanda Shires, Marissa Nader, Girlpool, etc) as well as their work as a producer and songwriter for artists including Angel Olsen, Margo Price, Amanda Shires, Kali Uchis, Bartees Strange, Courtney Love, Kim Gordon, SASAMI, Soccer Mommy and more.
For this next chapter in their ever-evolving artistic career, Lawrence arrived at Nashville’s Sound Emporium Studios to make an album that stands as a testament to resilience—capturing the strength and lessons salvaged from their decade-long struggle with body dysmorphia and a two-year battle with anorexia, while addressing themes of addiction, gender identity and societal pressures. Recorded primarily live, with an emphasis on first takes, the 13-track album was produced and mixed by Lawrence Rothman and Yves Rothman (Yves Tumor, Blondshell), with contributions from Isbell, Amanda Shires and S.G. Goodman. Rooted in Lawrence’s upbringing surrounded by folk and country music in Missouri, The Plow That Broke the Plains is a snapshot of their most unfiltered self.
Describing the recording process, Lawrence shares, “The Plow That Broke the Plains is me not hiding behind any persona or mask and just being myself and putting that uncensored self into the words and recordings no matter how painful the confrontation was.”
The album began taking form when Lawrence reconnected with their first instrument, the guitar, which led to a profound writing session with friend, Jason Isbell. The session resulted in the emotionally charged anthem, “Poster Child,” which addresses the urgent issue of gun violence and sparked an unyielding period of creative catharsis, with Lawrence writing dozens of songs. Of the song, Lawrence shares, “‘Poster Child’ is about a 2005 attack that happened to me outside a Dallas club. I was dressed in makeup and style of clothes that I guess some random audience members did not like. I was jumped and shot at after the gig. It had a profound effect on my identity and who and what I would take a bullet for. From that point forward, I found myself wanting to lift up others who struggle with gender identity.”
Composing and Writing
In 2010, Lawrence scored the feature film The Runaways a biopic on the Joan Jett fronted rock band The Runaways starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning. In 2017, Rothman scored the News Emmy nominated New York Times “Great Performers” short film series starring Nicole Kidman, , Sarosie Ronan, Jake Gyllanhall, and Daniel Kaluuya. In 2018, Lawrence scored a short film on the life of occult filmmaker Kenneth Anger for Systems Magazine. Additionally, Lawrence has scored various short films for Mercedes, GUCCI, Bulgari Alexander McQueen , TATE Modern, Barbican Centre, and BMW . Currently Lawrence is composing for the film Silence of Mercy starring Annabelle Wallis out in winter 2025.
An avid writer Lawrence’s first novel Postmortem Bliss was released in 2007 and turned into a short film for Turner Classics and directed by Floria Sigismondi. The book was based on their life growing up in the 90’s in the suburban midwest struggling with gender identity and addiction in a small conservative town. The music video for “Poster Child” features contents from Postmortem Bliss short film.
Along with the new album Lawrence is writing and directing a film titled West Texas Eyes out in November 2024 feat a soundtrack of the same name artist include
Vince Gill, Margo Price, Madi Diaz, Daniel Tashian and more.
Production Career
As a producer and songwriter, Lawrence has worked across Pop, Americana and Indie. Some of these artist include Angel Olsen, Bartees Strange, Kali Uchis, Girl In Red, Jason Isbell, Amanda Shires, Margo Price, Lucinda Williams, Cherry Glazzer, The Kills, Soccer Mommy, SASAMI, Brittney Spencer, Kim Gordon, Marissa Nadler, Courtney Love, Charli XCX, The Highwomen, Logan Halstead, MUNA , Bobbie Nelson and more.
History
After a series of 4 EP’s Rothman’s debut album The Book of Law was released on October 13, 2017 via Interscope records. Rothman put together a cast of genre shifting of contributors for the album. The Book of Law featured Angel Olsen, Kim Gordon, Marissa Nadler, Duff Mckagan of Guns N Roses, Nick Zinner, Charli XCX and Billie Elish. The Book of Law 2017 had one of the first feature story’s of an artist coming out as gender fluid via Pitchfork. Lawrence Rothman’s sophomore album Good Morning, America andspoken word album “Not A Son” was released July 21, 2021 Guest on the album included Lucinda Williams, Amanda Shires, Katie Pruitt, Girlpool, Caroline Rose, Marissa Nadler, Mary Lattimore, Pino Palladino members of Thundercats band, and more. The album’s lyrical themes dealt with the chaotic state of the covid years in America and the isolated feeling of living inside these unfathomable times as a person who is gender fluid.