Our recurring feature series Track by Track sees artists guiding readers through each song on their new release. Today, singer-songwriter Michigander breaks down his self-titled project.
Perhaps without knowing just how unfortunately apt the LP’s subject matter would be, Jason Singer has created an album for the times. Singer is the frontman and multi-instrumental talent behind Michigander, the Nashville-based project now with a debut album out in the world.
The self-titled LP was preceded by a string of singles demonstrating Singer’s frank but insightful songwriting style, yielding songs that sit comfortably at the intersection of indie and rock. From the personal to the anthemic, Michigander captures the anxiety, frustration, and fear of our current moment in a way that’s all too relatable and urgent.
“Every day I wake up and read some horrible news about how our country is going downhill,” he tells Consequence.
The perspective is wrapped in detailed storytelling, with the journey of the album reflecting the difficulty of existing in times of turmoil on scales both big and small. “I think I want people to realize that growing up is scary, and that’s ok,” he says of the album’s themes. “It’s ok to change, it’s ok to think in new ways, it’s ok to change what you believe.”
In the coming months, Michigander will be hitting the road with Dawes (grab tickets here). “It’s gonna be really special to see them play every night,” he says.
Stream Michigander below and read on for Singer’s Track by Track insights into the background of each song.
“Broadcast”:
This one is about how the world is so crazy sometimes that it feels like we are on a television show. I feel like every day I wake up and read some horrible news about how our country is going downhill. It sucks.
“Emotional”:
“Emotional” is about how we are all just trying to do our best. Being alive is hard. We are all just trying our best in spite of being human. The key is to just keep going.
“Peace of Mind”:
I wrote this one with Butch Walker. It’s about living rich on minimum wage. It’s about how falling in love doesn’t solve all your problems. It’s about how the grass is truly always greener on the other side of the fence.
“Giving Up”:
This is one of the last songs I wrote for this album. Last January, I went to a little cabin to try to write some songs, and I ended up only writing this one. I was so proud of it that instead of trying to top it, I just drove back home that night.
“Letterman”:
This was one of the first songs I wrote for the album. I had my guitar in a lower tuning and just started playing this riff over and over. I looped it on my computer and wrote over top of it. This is one of those songs about growing up and coming to terms with the world changing around you.
“Breaker Box”:
I wrote this one with Trent Dabbs and Jeremy Luttio. I think this was the toughest song to get right. I think I was trying to say a lot with this one without being too specific. It’s a song about not letting other people’s poor choices dictate your feelings, which is something I really struggle with.
“Spitting Image”:
This track almost didn’t make the cut, but Jeremy edited it, and it turned out to be one of my favorite songs on the album. It has one of my favorite lyrics: “How long’s it take to build the hill you’ll die on?” This song is about accepting your friends for who they are.
“I’ll Be OK”:
I wrote this one about having my first-ever panic attacks. I was at SXSW in 2024, and I thought I might be having a heart attack. I went to urgent care, and everything was fine. Since then, I’ve had so many severe panic attacks and so much anxiety for the first time in my life. It was such a strange new feeling. It took a lot of work, therapy, and meds, but I currently feel like I’ve got it under control.
(Side note: If you’re struggling, please talk to someone. Talk to your doctor. Talk to a trusted friend. You can overcome it.)
“Important”:
This has been one of my favorites to play live. This originally was supposed to be an upbeat rock song, but when I was writing it with Chris Koo and Sam Hollander, I showed it to them on piano, and they were convinced it was more of a ballad. They were right. I absolutely adore this song and can’t believe it’s mine.
“Episode”:
Wrote this one with Trent Dabbs. It was our first time working together. It’s a song about realizing you may have outgrown people you used to feel really close with.
“Socialite”:
This was my first real attempt at writing a “political” song. I feel like it’s really hard to pull this off — I’m not sure I did. I’ll let the listener be the judge. It’s a song about being brainwashed by radical ideology. It’s a song for all the haters who tell me to “stick to the music” whenever I share an opinion.
“Hair”:
This song is so special. I wrote it when I got an heirloom family piano. I looped this piano part and wrote the song in one take. This one makes me cry. I hope it makes you cry too.