Tom Alter explores the passage of time on “Under the Firmament.” Photo – Jay Jylkka
The passage of time weighs heavily on Tom Alter’s mind.
The Fraser, Michigan, singer-songwriter examines lessons from the past while addressing challenges of the present and future onUnder the Firmament.
“When I write, I usually write songs about things that are staying in my mind for a while,” said Alter about his latest indie-folk-rock album.
“It can be issues or life events that are sticking with me, and I can’t let go. Time is an aspect of it, and I think it is just living and the common experiences that we all have.”
Alter chronicles those experiences through nine perceptive tracks, which feature contemplative lyrics, haunting guitars, and atmospheric instrumentation.
“At my age, I’m even writing more about time now on the songs I’ve been writing since then,” he said. “I think the theme will continue into my next album and project. I think it’s … trying to grapple with life and how it impacts us as individuals and as a community.”
The Ann Arbor singer-songwriter follows her instincts and unleashes her authentic self on Wild in Me.
“It’s been a big journey,” said Merritt, aka Jess Oberholtzer, about her new folk-rock-soul EP.
“Over the past five years or so … I went through a divorce, the pandemic, and coming out. It’s been a real transformative time. I look back, and I’m so grateful that I took those steps because I feel so much closer to my true self now. Even though things are a little bit scary as far as what the future holds, I just feel solid in myself.”
Merritt embraces that bold mindset through an honest and inspirational collection of songs about self-discovery, growth, and freedom. The four tracks on Wild in Me come to life through soulful vocals, cathartic lyrics, and soaring instrumentation.
“I tend to write about things that are closely held and deeply felt,” said Merritt, who previously performed as Jess McCumons.
“I feel happier after I feel something intensely, even if it’s challenging. To me, revisiting and sitting in those feelings, even if they’re not sunshiny all the time, actually does feel very healing, cleansing, and empowering.”
The Metro Detroit singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist embraces her holistic self—both past and present—and the wisdom she’s gained on Running Back to Me.
“It’s a coming of age [tale] where I’m growing up and growing into myself,” said DeRousse about her debut album, which includes elements of indie rock, atmospheric folk, and guitar-driven pop.
“But that’s something that I hold very close to me. I think this record is the experience of trying to find your way through the world, figuring out who you are, and then coming back to yourself after everything and through the noise.”
What emerges are 13 compelling tracks about the evolution of youth to adulthood and back again. Collectively, the songs explore working through self-doubt and heartbreak to find relief and renewal.
“I continue to tell myself those messages and hold them true to myself,” said DeRousse, who released the album via Bird Fight Records. “The oldest song, I was probably 18 when I wrote it, and there’s a line in the song, [‘Outsider’], that says, ‘18 to 27.’ I’m 29 now, it just shows you how long it’s been taking me.”
DeRousse brings those experiences to life through vulnerable lyrics, heartfelt vocals, and cathartic instrumentation.
“I use songwriting as a way to process my experiences, emotions, and thoughts, so it’s super personal,” she said. “I hope listeners can relate to it and take that [away] from it.”
The Ann Arbor, Michigan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist searches for clarity and purpose on his new country album, A Home in My Heart.
“It’s not all autobiographical, but I like to think that it’s all feelings I have had,” Edwards said. “I think the idea of hope is important, even if it’s hard to find in these times right now, but it’s something that you have to hold yourself to.”
He shares that sentiment over 10 introspective tracks, which explore taking risks, overcoming obstacles, and having a positive attitude.
“It’s been 18 months since I’ve released anything, so that seems like a decent interval,” said Edwards, who last released So Far in October 2023.
“It’s not like right on the heels of the last one. It’s only 10 songs—this record. I tried to constraint myself; I actually said, ‘I’m gonna do 10 tracks,’ and then I kept writing and recording. I switched in and out a couple, and I played it for my wife and got her input. I played it for some other people and got some input, so this is where I ended up.”
Edwards landed nicely with A Home in My Heart due to its seamless storytelling, infectious lyrics, and upbeat instrumentation. Sonically, the album includes timeless elements of country wrapped in heartland rock, blues, and folk.
“It’s a limited palette compared to some [previous albums],” said Edwards, who plays all the instruments on the album. “That was another intentional thing. I really wanted the record to have a sound rather than going off in all kinds of different directions.”
I recently spoke with Edwards about the inspiration and creative process behind the album.
Kyle Joe rediscovers himself and his sense of purpose on Take It Easy. Photo – Drew VanderVeen.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pulpblog.
After a tumultuous period, Kyle Rasche prefers to pause and reflect.
The singer-songwriter and guitarist ponders heartbreak and growth after experiencing many life changes on Take It Easy.
“These songs were born in a period,” said Rasche, who performs as Kyle Joe, about his latest indie-folk album.
“There was a lot of heartbreak, and there was a lot of really beautiful love, too. And then as the writing went on, I started leaning into more of the lessons I was learning along the way and trying to make the music represent those moments instead of just the heartbreak.”
In those vulnerable moments, Rasche rediscovers himself and his sense of purpose across seven tracks. Collectively, they demonstrate the resiliency that comes from weathering a divorce, loving yourself, and finding kindred spirits.
“I hope more than anything that people hear the hope,” said Rasche, who hails from Alto, a small town about 20 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. “It can get pretty dark … but there’s some light in there.”
On Take It Easy, Rasche explores those light and dark elements through honest lyrics, soft vocals, and emotive folk instrumentation.
“I think, that our job as songwriters, is to put something out that other people can grasp,” he said. “It’s not [just] about my story, but it might be about our [collective] experiences and set of circumstances.”
The Plymouth, Michigan singer-songwriter values the intimate Livonia music venue and its longtime support of independent artists.
“I really appreciate what they do for the music community—for listeners and performers,” said Jewett, who’s performed six times at Trinity House Theatre.
“While locals get to perform there, and a lot of regional and national artists as they’re passing through, they’re quite accommodating, and it operates entirely on a volunteer support basis.”
Given that ongoing support, Jewett wanted to give back to the nonprofit theatre and spotlight its 26 years of hosting live music.
He quickly landed on organizing a benefit show, which would donate all ticket proceeds to the theatre and highlight the music of Jackson Browne.
“Over the years, they’ve had at least one annual show to help support the theatre,” he said. “I know there are a lot of people who feel that appreciation and many of them are in the show.”
Billed as Trinity House Benefit: Celebrating the Music of Jackson Browne, the April 27 show will feature an array of Michigan singer-songwriters, including Jeff Scott, Jan Krist, Jill Jack, Annie Capps, Charlie and Sherry Springer, Steve Taylor, Phil Maq, Mike Ward, Bob Sky Young, Jewett, and others, performing songs from Browne’s extensive catalog.
The inaugural River Raisin Americana Celebration features six acts from Michigan and Kentucky.
As members of Blockhouse Valley, Ashleigh Glass-Cooper and Cody Cooper hold a deep appreciation for Americana music.
The married partners not only write, record, and perform in that genre for their Metro Detroit quartet, but now they’re hosting a new festival to celebrate their love of it.
“As Americana music draws from and mixes a broad array of other genres, one of the key concepts for the River Raisin Americana Celebration is to bring a variety of musicians with diverse approaches, instrumentations, styles, and stories,” said Glass-Cooper, who’s also the festival’s executive director.
“To accomplish our vision, we invited all bands and artists to apply to perform in our inaugural concert. We were thrilled to receive over 100 submissions! We reviewed each submission and curated a show that we believe will have something for everyone.”
“Americana is a genre that can feel grounded while also being surprising, delightful, and moving,” Glass-Cooper said. “I fully anticipate that our audience members will each discover something new to love, even if they are primarily attending as fans of one of the six acts.”
I recently spoke with Glass-Cooper about the festival and the inspiration behind it.
George Mashour explores the evolution of the self on Eulogy for My Ego Death. Photo courtesy of the artist.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pulpblog.
In 2019, George Mashour aspired to make a psychedelic rock album.
The anesthesiologist and neuroscientist had just turned 50 and wanted to step outside the medical world to pursue a musical project.
“I was reflecting on what I wanted to do in the next phase of my life … and [I’d] been writing all these songs—sometimes just in my head—some of them [were] decades old,” said Mashour, a University of Michigan researcher who studies consciousness and has been dabbling in music over the years.
“For my 50th birthday, my wife got me a gift certificate for studio time at Big Sky [Recording], which was cool, and in retrospect I’m really glad she did that.”
Later that year, he became chair of U-M’s Department of Anesthesiology, and then COVID hit in early 2020.
“I was super busy, and of course, everything was shut down,” Mashour said. “And yet I still had that physical gift certificate for eight hours of studio time … so it was just always on my mind. And then it was 2023 when I said, ‘You know what, I’m going to do this,’ so I got in touch with Geoff [Michael], who’s the owner of Big Sky.”
Michael connected Mashour with Marty Gray, an Ann Arbor producer, engineer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, to help record his debut album.
“I had never been to a studio before, never recorded music before, and had no idea of what was going to happen,” said Mashour, who worked with Gray over several studio sessions. “And I walked out of that first four-hour session with a sense of joy that I can’t even remember the last time I had experienced.”
What resulted is Eulogy for My Ego Death, a ‘60s-inspired psych-rock album filled with existential lyrics, dreamy vocals, fuzzy electric guitars, and groovy instrumentation.
“Generally speaking, in that psychedelic genre, it’s about experience, it’s about great melody, and it’s about the self,” Mashour said. “It’s not what I would call a concept album per se in terms of a narrative thread going from start to finish, but there certainly are conceptual relationships to a lot of the different songs.”
To learn more, I spoke with Mashour about the inspiration behind his album as well as his psychedelic hip-hop project VaporDaze.
Lee Vanderkolk, Tyler Mazurek, and Harry Dean perform at Butcher Block Social in 2024. Courtesy photo
Harry Dean understands the impulsive urge to hit the road.
The Grand Rapids, Michigan singer-songwriter explores the desire for wanderlust and adventure on “Feel Alive,” the title track from his debut EP with The Dusty Boys.
“There were these two open mic-ers I had gotten to know in town, and they really did that,” said Dean, the vocalist-guitarist for the country-rock trio, which includes lead guitarist Lee Vanderkolk and drummer Tyler Mazurek.
“They packed up everything and sold a bunch of their stuff, and they hit the road for four or five months. They went and did some busking, played open mics, and tried to pick up gigs. I thought, ‘If I were in that situation, I’d be so scared.’”
Dean channels that fear and courage alongside hopeful acoustic guitar and wistful electric guitar on “Feel Alive.” He sings, “The road’s callin’ and / We’re running steady / Dressed in all black / Jumpin’ in the back / Of that ’84 ole rusted Jimmy / Headed out west / Land we know the best.”
“I have never ditched everything and hit the road. I’ve been with my wife for 12 years now and I’ve lived in Michigan for my whole life,” Dean said.
“It gave me a sense when I put myself there, too, that it would be such a ‘Feel Alive’ moment. I pull things from my life and how I would feel in other people’s lives.”
“Feel Alive” also serves as the energetic opener from Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys’ EP, which features storied lyrics, fiery electric guitar, and driving country-rock instrumentation.
Claudia Hoyser features empathetic lyrics and earnest instrumentation on “Girl in Blue.” Photo – Justin Hammond
Claudia Hoyser wants people to feel seen and heard after a breakup.
The country singer-songwriter shares that sentiment while processing heartbreak on her single, “Girl in Blue.”
“There are so many people out there that are doing that every day and putting on a strong face for everyone else,” said Hoyser, who’s from Rochester, New York. “I wanted to give like a ‘Hey, hello, I see you’ to people that are feeling that way.”
Hoyser gives that sonic nod to listeners through empathetic lyrics and earnest instrumentation. Backed by atmospheric electric guitar and hopeful acoustic guitar, she sings, “Looks like a real good time / Laughing over her glass of white wine / Crazy how nobody can tell that she’s dying inside.”
“It’s saying, ‘Oh my god, I can’t even face people right now. I’m so heartbroken, I don’t want to go. I don’t want to get out there,’” Hoyser said. “But you have to put on your strong face and prove to yourself and everybody else that you can still keep going, even though what you actually feel is completely broken and alone.”
To learn more, I spoke with Hoyser about her music and background ahead of a March 14 show at Black Crystal Café in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
The Stratton Setlist 