Words By: Lilja Cormack 

Today, Michigander, the sonic alter-ego of Jason Singer, releases his third EP titled Everything Will Be OK Eventually. As a Detroit-based, Michigan native, this artist is “Oozing” with “Midwestern magnetism” according to KCRW. The EP features current radio hit “Let Down” as well as five other charming tracks that have no shortage of spirit. 

During quarantine, Singer was finally able to devote time and attention to ideas and tracks that he had been kicking around since 2019. With this extra time came a dedication to expanding and opening up these songs. Strings, an orchestra of guitars, and more programming and samples lay the groundwork for this new era of his music. Michiganders touching lyrics about chasing a dream until it’s real will leave you feeling optimistic and hopeful for the future in a non-tacky, real way. That’s something we can all appreciate right now. 

The EP opens with the dreamy, synthy violin and guitar on “Better.” With the introduction of a strong drum line shortly after, this song has all the right ingredients of a feel-good summer anthem. It offers a bright expression of appreciation for how much better that special someone makes your life. It sets the stage for the rest of this uplifting story of love which continues on the next track “Let Down.” 

Released in 2020 with folk-tinged companion track “48,” these tracks introduced the new era of Michiganders sound. “Let Down” is currently receiving loads of radio and streaming attention. It is in rotation at SiriusXM’s Alt Nation and The Spectrum and has been rising up the Triple A radio charts. It has also claimed the #3 spot on It’s ALT Good!, one of Spotify’s top rock playlists where it already has almost 1,000,000 streams. All this attention has been well deserved. This track features a catchy guitar line and even catchier lyrics. He really gives a taste of that much needed optimism in this track. Furthermore, it leads into the next song perfectly.

After singing about not wanting to mess up this perfect thing he has going in releasing EPs — hit single, “Saturday” illustrates that fear in its entirety.  The third song on the EP takes a few moments to build up then hits you with a powerful chorus and bridge. This progression makes the lyrics hit even harder. On top of bittersweet instrumentals, Michigander sings “I don’t want to let you slip away.”

Michigander slows it down a bit in “Headlights” — Singer’s first co-written track with guitarist Jake LeMond. Although guitar is prominently featured, it’s the piano and synth that really give this track it’s character. Singers vocals seem to float above the dreamy instrumentals, showcasing his beautiful falsetto at the end of the track. 

EP concludes with “OK” and “Together” — a pairing that relates in message while complimenting of each other. “OK” has more of a pop tone to it. He once again shows off his effortless falsetto, this time singing about being alone or feeling lonely, something we’re sure we can all relate to in the past few months. The lyrics reminds us that being alone sometimes might suck but it is quite alright — we can all use some reassurance in that area considering the past year we have all been through. It is for this exact reason why the next track is so timely and a personal favorite on the EP. 

In “Together”, Michigander captures the anxiety induced by the pandemic that started last year. At some moments, the news has sounded borderline apocalyptic which is why the lyrics “If the worlds going to fall apart then maybe we could fall together” are so relatable. It’s a cute way to say, yeah this sucks but at least we’re together, hence the name. It’s easy to appreciate the musical aspects of this song as a whole. Instrumentally, it has a different sound from the rest of the EP. In addition to piano and guitar, it also features brassy horn sounds that give it a warm, fresh, and romantic feel. The best part of the song, and arguably the whole EP, comes in the last minute of this track. The rich instrumentation cuts out leaving just Singer’s voice and a simple guitar line. As he sings “alone again, yeah I’m feelin all alone again” a stark and beautiful contrast is created between the seemingly cheerful first and last parts of the song. The product is a deep level of rawness debuted in that moment. This display of Michiganders range leaves you aching for more of this song and it is a wonderful way to end this EP. 

Michigander’s history as an artist makes this project even more exciting — back in 2016, he released his debut single “Nineties” that achieved viral success and amassed over 1 million streams on Spotify. That momentum followed him with his next two projects; EPs Midland [2018] and Where Do We Go From Here [2019] — which have both since become fan favorites. “Misery”, the hit single from the most recent of the two, has garnered over 6 million streams, earning Michigander his first Triple A radio hit. During his career he has also had the chance to perform alongside artists such as Mt Joy, Hippo Campus, Silversun Pickups, and Tokyo Police Club. His past is certainly impressive but this project represents a new era for Michigander. 

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