We are very honoured to premiere the new track ‘Lake Michigan’ from Chicago-based musician Evan Uhlmann. Uhlmann wrote his first song at age five, he later studied under Ray Davies of The Kinks at 22. Now 35, he has collaborated with his brother Greg Uhlmann (of Perfume Genius, Hand Habits) to produce an album, the first release being the sonic jewel that is ‘Lake Michigan’.
Uhlmann has created an achingly beautiful track that sparkles, glitters and ebbs and flows like the eponymous lake. There is a tangible aquatic flow, hypnotic and statuesque filled with a heady atmosphere and lush melodies. A sweeping organ sound creates the delicious updraft upon which a piano tinkles before Uhlmann’s deep sonorous vocals sweep in. With the same timbre to his voice as Matt Berninger from The National, there is also an element of UK’s The Golden Dregs and a subtle hint of Tindersticks and Nick Cave.
Uhlmann says of the track:
I wrote this song while grappling with self-doubt in a new relationship, consumed by the fear of not being worthy and the anxiety of anticipating where things might lead before they even started. Lake Michigan became my reflective space, a place to process this unfolding experience.
In a sense, Lake Michigan the place becomes a palimpsest of his emotions: a calming place of restoration. As a salve to stormy skies, the song is a dreamy journey, reflecting light like the surface of the water. It’s achingly beautiful.
This is a magnificent majestic track that comes with a mesmerising video ( with art direction and animation by Sam Congdon):
‘Lake Michigan’ is released tomorrow (Wednesday, 5 June 2024) and you can pre-save here.
