A couple years ago, when Jason Boesel was in Mexico recording tracks with Conor Oberst for what would become the album 'Conor Oberst,' he wore a necklace that bore a hand-shaped pendant. "I started calling it the 'Hand of God' and assigning it magical powers in my mind" Boesel tells Spinner. "I would get nervous if I couldn't find it, [that] sort of thing."

Back then, Boesel was in his familiar role of drummer, banging out rhythms for Oberst (both in Bright Eyes and the Mystic Valley Band), Rilo Kiley, the Elected and others. But, encouraged by Oberst and friends, Boesel began to write his own songs on guitar, including one called 'Hand of God,' which he penned during a trip to Asheville, N.C. earlier this year. "It's about a false sense of protection," he says. "Blaming outside forces, or other people, for the things or situations one gets into."

Perhaps thematic to the track, after 15 years of being somebody else's drummer, Boesel has finally taken the bull by the horns -- 'Hand of God' is the first single from Boesel's first solo album, 'Hustler's Son.' But if you think the album was made by the hand of God, think again: apart from his own two hands, Boesel got help from members of Bright Eyes, the Mystic Valley Band, Rilo Kiley, Band of Horses and Orenda Fink, among others. So he's got the hands down -- now it's just the shoes that he needs to fill.

'Hustler's Son' is due out Jan. 12.