Rik Strange. Photo taken from Rik Strange’s Bandcamp page.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pulpblog.
“One Track Mind” features a Washtenaw County artist or band discussing one song from their latest release.
Standout Track: No. 3, “West Park,” from Rik Strange, aka Erika Marlisa. The Ann Arbor singer-songwriter’s debut release, Angelclown, is a five-track EP that explores relationships. On “West Park,” Strange feels hopeful about a new partner and contemplates the direction of her life. At the time, she was living in a house on Huron [Street] that borders the park. Strange often took morning walks in West Park during the fall to process her fear and self-doubt. “This song was my attempt to instead lean into abundance, and yes, to attempt to approach a new love from that same place, instead of getting caught up in what it might become or what might go wrong. Ultimately, at the time, I wasn’t very good at that, and the relationship didn’t last, but that’s another song! That’s what I love about songwriting, the archival effect. Things change, but West Park preserves the whimsical feeling, place, and time—it’s nice there!”
Jennifer Westwood will perform at the first Sounds of the Zoo Presents: Live. Local. Vibes. show of 2026 on January 24 at Kalamazoo’s Old Dog Tavern. Photo – Chuck Marshall
The founder, curator, and director of the Kalamazoo-based music festival is featuring several shows in 2026 to keep its momentum.
“Sounds of the Zoo has reached a point where it’s no longer just an idea or an annual event—it’s a living, growing ecosystem,” Hudson-Prenkert said.
“Lately, I’m motivated by the idea of sustainability: how we build something that supports artists long-term, not just for one weekend, and how we keep evolving while staying rooted in community.”
Billed as Sounds of the Zoo Presents: Live. Local. Vibes., the shows include different Michigan artists sharing the stage with each other and out-of-town guests.
“Creatively, I’ve been inspired by collaboration across scenes and genres and by watching artists support one another in really genuine ways,” Hudson-Prenkert said.
Kamp is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and a member of Shooter Jennings’ band.
“I wanted artists who are not only incredible musicians but also strong storytellers and collaborators,” Hudson-Prenkert said.
“Bringing Detroit and Kalamazoo artists together with Ted Russell Kamp from Los Angeles reflects what Sounds of the Zoo is all about—connection across regimes and scenes. Ted has deep roots in Americana and songwriting, and pairing him with Michigan artists creates a really special, shared musical conversation rather than a typical headliner format.”
Longtime friends of Kamp’s, Westwood and Dunbar are eager to perform with him in Kalamazoo.
“Ted called, and we decided it was a great chance to get our pumps primed for the road again,” said Westwood, who performs with husband Dunbar and their band, The Handsome Devils.
“I wanted to treat our friend to some good experiences here. We wanted a date on the west side of the state. I love Jennifer [Hudson-Prenkert’s] vision, we enjoy Kalamazoo, and saw it as an opportunity to work with someone with a real vision versus looking to add a date to a calendar.”
I recently spoke with Hudson-Prenkert and Westwood ahead of the January 24 show.
The show benefits Motor City Mitten Mission, a St. Clair Shores nonprofit that supports the homeless.
“After the success of our 2025 show—raising nearly $5,000—there were so many artists from Southeast Michigan who asked to be part of it if we held it again,” said Mike Ward, a folk singer-songwriter who’s organizing the show with his wife Angie Ward and singer-songwriter Nick Juno. “So it was a no-brainer.”
It will also serve as a collection site for donating winter clothing, food supplies, and other essential items for those in need.
Show attendees can donate any of the following items—hoodies, sweatshirts, shoes, boots, T-shirts, winter gloves and hats, sleeping bags, tents, backpacks, bottled water, beef jerky, crackers, soup cups, utensils, and more—and receive a discounted entry fee of $5 that night.
“Last year, we had no idea how much we could raise,” said Ward, who first hosted the event in 2022. “We honestly thought if we brought in $700 to $1,000, plus donated items, it would be a success in addition to the awareness for the Mission. We sold out and had to turn people away, and ended up bringing in $4,700, plus filled a few vans with donated items.”
People can also make monetary donations at the show or through Motor City Mitten Mission’s website. All donations and proceeds from the show will go to the nonprofit.
To learn more, I spoke with Ward ahead of the show.
The Clarkston musician and entrepreneur met through Wiltsie’s, a pop-up listening room that features live performances from Michigan musicians and doubles as a co-working space.
“I started doing shows for Brandon, both solo and then with One Ton Trolley,” said Arnold, who fronts the roots-rock band.
“Had it not been for Wiltsie’s, Brandon and I probably wouldn’t know each other. My whole network changed as a result of Wiltsie’s.”
Arnold and Still also witnessed the instant connections people started making while attending shows at Wiltsie’s.
“My career has morphed into helping small towns build co-working spaces [like Wiltsie’s],” said Still, who works in economic development and runs The Integrated Life Company.
“Our tagline that we’ve fallen into with Wiltsie’s has been transformational music experiences. It’s transforming the places, it’s transforming the people, and it’s transforming the artists in that they actually get to have a connection with people, too.”
That shared love of music, connection, and community struck a chord with Still and Arnold. By March 2024, they started laying the foundation for Echoes in the Iron, a multimedia project that supports small-town revitalization and builds community through music, storytelling, and entrepreneurship.
The project includes a series of YouTube videos spotlighting small business owners, musicians, and community advocates in Michigan.
“The music is obviously the main focal point for drawing people together and having the emotional spark to get people truly engaged,” Arnold said. “But we want to showcase their town, too, along with the businesses and the history. We want to combine everything … and foster community through all of that.”
I recently spoke with Arnold and Still to learn more about Echoes in the Iron.
Julianne Ankley understands the numbing effect of a breakup.
The Americana singer-songwriter explores that unexpected sensation and its lasting impact on her latest single, “Polar Train.”
“To me, the song is not so much about the pain of dating the wrong person,” said Ankley, who resides in Port Huron, Michigan. “It’s the aftermath ‘numb’ feeling that can follow post-breakup.”
Backed by bluesy electric guitar and driving instrumentation, she sings, “Those things you did turned me on / You cast your spell, now you’re up and gone / Leavin’ me chilled right to the bone / Didn’t realize that I’d soon be one.”
“At the time that I was writing this song, I was curious and drawn to this very attractive person who I thought might not be the best fit for me,” Ankley said. “It was about the inner struggle of knowing what might result if I let them pursue me.”
Marco Aziel, Chandler Lach, and Brandon McDole of Ness Lake. Photo – Spencer Isberg
Chandler Lach needs a change of pace.
The Ypsilanti musician spent six years working on Ness Lake’s latest album and reflecting on several life changes.
“I was facing a lot of weird inner turmoil and changes,” said Lach, the band’s frontman, about Normal Speed.
“And now, looking back on it, I wrote all those songs about needing to get better before realizing that I really needed to. I think it’s a pretty constant experience of an artist to look back on former work and think, ‘Oh, you were so cute six years ago. I can’t believe that experience was so intense for you. I can’t believe that was what was consuming me at that time.’”
Lach chronicles his evolution across nine tracks, which explore relationships, mental health, and sobriety.
“There’s a lot of hope on the album, too. It’s cool to see that hope has been realized,” he said.
“Thematically, it’s knowing that things need to improve and not knowing exactly the steps to get there, but seeing that there is some light there. It’s strange writing songs now. I have different problems and anxieties, but also different joys and pleasures.”
On Normal Speed, Lach excels alongside bassist/multi-instrumentalist/producer Marco Aziel and former drummer/percussionist Brandon McDole. Ness Lake’s contemplative lyrics and experimental instrumentation instantly resonate with fans of emo, shoegaze, and indie rock.
“I walk away from the whole experience [being] so grateful to Marco and Brandon for pushing [us]. This is the product … because of that hard work,” said Lach, whose band name takes inspiration from Loch Ness. “I’m really interested, excited, and curious to see how it’s received and what happens next. I think no matter what, we have a cool roster of new songs.”
I recently spoke with the band about the album ahead of a January 30 album release show at Ziggy’s.
David Barrett prefers to tell stories instrumentally.
The composer-guitarist captures defining moments and memories on his latest instrumental folk album, Guitar Stories From the Midwest.
“It’s not a coincidence I call it Guitar Stories because most of them for me have a plot to the story,” said Barrett, who’s based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. “Most of them grew out of a baby being born, a forlorn moment, or a whimsical time. They start from a place and go somewhere.”
The album’s 14 songs celebrate going to the circus, attending a family wedding, traveling on a train to Chicago, enjoying a sunrise, playing soccer in a park, and relishing notable places in Michigan.
“For me, whether it be a song or a composition, I always say, ‘A good song is one you want to hear again,’” said Barrett, who also composes on the piano. “If you’re not taken somewhere, then you’re playing a typewriter.”
Barrett’s cinematic and inspirational guitarwork invites listeners to embark on past and present adventures in their mind’s eye.
“It starts with a heartbeat, and hopefully, you carry that heartbeat and take people somewhere,” he said. “If I do that, it’s a good day in the neighborhood.”
To learn more, I spoke with Barrett about his background and latest album.
The Detroit band features turbocharged instrumentation and explosive vocals on its latest EP.
“We just left it at that,” said Matt Gawne, a vocalist-guitarist for Absentees.
“We did it live. We recorded a second guitar, and then we recorded the vocals. [Engineer-producer] Jon-Mikal [Bartee] came over to my place with a bunch of microphones, and he just set up where we were. It was awesome for him and awesome for us.”
All the Hertz: Volume 1 is an awesome experience for listeners as well. While it’s only 16 minutes long, the punk EP’s scorching electric guitars, thumping bass, and thunderous drums energize fans across seven tracks.
“It all came out great, thanks to Jon-Mikal [Bartee], too,” said John Quillen, the band’s drummer. “He put a nice touch on it, and he knew what we wanted to go with. He gave us a sound with a more modern recording.”
In addition to its edgy sound, All the Hertz: Volume 1 covers a variety of themes, ranging from trauma to toxic jobs to new relationships.
“The most emotional song I’ve ever written is ‘Sensational,’ said Tony Dunn, a vocalist-guitarist for Absentees.
“It’s about somebody close to me who tried taking their own life, and fortunately, is still here. I’ve never written anything that personal … and I think it really shows on that song. Usually, I make up stories, but every now and then, I give a little piece of [me].
Now, Absentees continue to evolve their punk sound with Brandon Manoyian, the band’s new bassist.
“I play on a five-string bass, and I come from another band that plays in a lower tuning,” he said. “Playing with John and playing with everybody else, it’s been a different, but phenomenal experience, and everything flows and goes together.”
I recently spoke with Absentees about their latest EP ahead of a December 6 show at The Rex Theater in Morenci, Michigan.
Nathan Langston, founder and director of Telephone. Photo taken from Telephone’s website.
In 2010, Nathan Langston craved connection after moving to New York City.
The poet-composer wanted to meet other artists and developed an art project called Telephone, which is inspired by the children’s game of the same name.
“The game seemed like a sneaky way to meet other artists,” said Langston, founder and director of Telephone. “It took a long time, but it worked! At first, I was physically taking work from artist to artist around the city on the subway, but that took too long.”
Instead, Langston and other artists started sharing their creative works online for Telephone.
“We began passing works via the internet, which vastly increased the pool size of possible players,” said Langton, who’s now based in Seattle.
“The other thing we did was to assign each finished work to two or three artists, rather than one. That meant that the game branched outward like a family tree, and if any one artist dropped out, the game could continue expanding.”
“It’s how Don Juan describes a warrior’s ‘place of predilection’ as a physical spot that grounds you, restores you, and reconnects you with your purpose. That concept has always struck me as being profound, and with this song, I realized that my own place of predilection isn’t necessarily physical but rather musical.”
Juhl and bandmate John Patrick soar on “Predilection,” which features a tranquil blend of acoustic guitar, organ, mandolin, violin, double bass, and banjo.
“For me, that space is a kind of inner landscape where I wanted the instrumental to reflect that sense of lifting off into a place that’s familiar yet expansive,” Juhl said. “A few early listeners told me it felt like a journey, and that meant a lot because that’s exactly how I experience it.”
I recently spoke with Juhl about the band’s new single and the creative process behind it.
The Stratton Setlist 