Tag: Jay Jylkka

Over Time — Tom Alter Contemplates Past Lessons and Future Challenges on “Under the Firmament” Album

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 on Under 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.”

I spoke with Alter about Under the Firmament and the inspiration behind it.

Continue reading “Over Time — Tom Alter Contemplates Past Lessons and Future Challenges on “Under the Firmament” Album” →

Land of Confusion – Tom Alter Questions the State of the Nation and World on ‘Dispatch From the Lesser Middle’ Album

tom-alter
Tom Alter tackles a variety struggles on “Dispatch From the Lesser Middle.” Photo – Jay Jylkka

For Tom Alter, life has become quite the head-scratcher.

The current social and political state of the nation and the world leaves him questioning the present, yet remaining hopeful for the future.

“I turned 65 this year, and there’s so much in this world that leaves me shaking my head,” said Alter, a Fraser, Michigan singer-songwriter and guitarist. “I really never thought things would be like this … and as I was writing, somewhere in the middle of the process, I wrote the song, ‘A Wilderness.’”

The insightful opener from Alter’s latest indie-folk album, Dispatch From the Lesser Middle, features a dream in which he speaks to his younger self about being resilient in life.

Backed by wise acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and bass, he sings, “Young man buckle up / Living takes a lot of trust / If this sounds cliché / Don’t know another way I can instruct you / If I only had / A wise old man / Tell me what he’d come to know when I was young.”

“It’s saying, ‘Well, what did you expect?’ It’s kind of always been like this.’ Some of it is just trying to understand some of these changes that are going on in the world, but also realizing that they may not be permanent,” Alter said.

“When we’re young, we think everything’s gonna go along swimmingly, and we can set goals, and they’ll be achieved. The line I like in this song is, ‘You better buckle up,’ and I was setting myself straight.”

Continue reading “Land of Confusion – Tom Alter Questions the State of the Nation and World on ‘Dispatch From the Lesser Middle’ Album” →