Much like that of his namesake in Nabokov’s Pale Fire, John Shade’s backstory is a bit difficult to unravel. Sharing a name with even an obscure literary figure lends one a certain amount of Google anonymity, and his Twitter only contains links to a T.S. Eliot poem (The Hollow Men) and a picture of some leaves that look like birds. His website boasts a list of “Good Friends / Bitter Rivals” that reads like a who’s who of alt-folk super powers. Also, one finds his latest album, All You Love Is Need at the undeniably fair price of pay-what-you-want.

With a jaunty touch of xylophone, opening track “Lullaby” sets the tone for the whole record from the first line: “There is nothing worse than stealing someone’s purse and finding out without a doubt it’s not what you thought.” Compound that with the deadpan “I Hate The World (And Everyone In It)” and, well, you can probably guess where this is going—though the track is not so much an open letter to the general public, but a thinly veiled jab at audiences eager to heap praise on, well, everyone. “The audience could not stop clapping,” Shade trills, “And the deaf man saw the blind man laughing. Though they cheered and they roared, the audience was bored, but the deaf man’s faith was finally restored.” At least the deaf man seems to be enjoying himself.

Flanking the all-piano “Interlude” and the driving “Kingdom Come,” it’s the straightforward and confessional “I Fall In Love Too Easily” and the downright heart-wrenching “So Long, Theresa” that more directly illustrate the source of Shade’s apparent anguish—the conclusion of the album finds him kneeling at the grave of love lost.

We’re not really sure how T.S. Eliot would have felt about Twitter, but Shade’s link now seems more than appropriate. “This is the way the world ends,” The Hollow Men concludes, “Not with a bang but a whimper.”

We chatted with Mr. Shade himself about the new album, and his upcoming residency at the Armory in Somerville.

–Jessie Rogers

You just released your debut album, All You Love Is Need, tell us about your experience recording at Bon Iver’s studio in Wisconsin.

It was a week or two with close friends in a confined space. When we weren’t recording we were drinking and playing an ongoing frisbee golf tournament in the yard. I lost three frisbees in the cornfield. The drink of choice was one that Justin and I invented a while back called a “yahtzee.” It’s Bushmills and Redbull on ice. You can actually order it now at Bowery Ballroom and Music Hall of Williamburg. Worst/best drink ever.

The album was released as a “pay what you like” model. What made you decide to do that?

I believe that exposure brings revenue, not the other way around.

You are currently based out of Boston, but you are all over Brooklyn and New York City. Do you identify as a Boston-based artist?

I don’t identify with either city, really – I’ve lived in both and currently spend a lot of time in both. They have their ups and downs. The city lines lend themselves better to sports franchises.

Boston is bursting with great music right now, are you following any local artists?

There are a lot of great bands here. I recently saw this band David Wax Museum and they were awesome. I have a lot of friends who play here and live here who constantly blow my mind. Sometimes a bunch of us get together under the direction of the great songwriter Rose Polenzani and perform all together at the Lizard Lounge. It’s called Sub Rosa. If you go, you can kill 10-15 birds with one stone.

How did the Haiti benefit shape up at the Music Hall of Williamsburg!? You shared the stage with with indie rock and comedy heavyweights such as Britt Daniel of Spoon, St. Vincent, Zach Galifianakis, and Janeane Garofalo.

The whole thing was thrown together in 2 days. We all happened to be in the city at the same time. It was the first ever John Shade appearance. The benefit was put on by Bowery Presents and Brooklyn Vegan, who are both big supporters of my music. It was great to spend time with all these great artists and raise money for Haiti.

Every Thursday in February you will be playing at the Armory in Somerville. Can you fill us in on all the juicy details? We hear there might be a string quartet!

Yes, I am super excited for this. Zack Hickman arranged all the songs for string quartet, and The Neave Quartet will be on hand to perform them. Also, Mark Erelli will be playing guitar. Dream band.

What is up next for John Shade? Is there a big tour on the horizon?

Good question. That’s for me to know and you to find out.