Negotiating power pop, folk-rock, and punk, among other influences, Ben Kweller makes highly melodic, often irreverent indie rock. His style made an impression among critics and colleagues when he emerged as a solo artist in the early 2000s following a stint with the band Radish. He entered the Billboard 200 for the first time with his second album, 2004's On My Way. After a diversion into country influences with 2009's Changing Horses, he returned to a more eclectic indie rock with 2012's Go Fly a Kite. It marked his fourth straight appearance on the Billboard 200. Kweller made his acting debut in 2014's Rudderless, also appearing on the film's soundtrack. Following an almost decade-long break from music brought about by a near-death experience, he returned with Circuit Boredom (2021) and the hook-heavy Sha Sha (2023). 2025's Cover the Mirrors was partly informed by the death of his teenage son.