Photo by Shaun Regan

Girls frontman Christopher Owens has left the band, according to a statement posted on his Twitter account.

Dear all, This may come as a surprise to many & has been an issue of much thought for me. My decision was not easy to make. I am leaving Girls. My reasons at this time are personal. I need to do this in order to progress. I will continue to write & record music. More will be announced soon. I thank you all for everything. Sincerely–Christopher

The news comes just 10 months after the release of the band’s critically acclaimed sophomore album, Father, Son, Holy Ghost, which we named as one of the year’s best. There’s no word on what the future holds for Girls co-founder/bassist/producer J.R. White, but we’ll keep you updated.