Jason Singer, the Michigan-born singer-songwriter and producer who goes by Michigander, has been releasing music for the past decade, each project building upon the last to lead him to this moment. “To make an analogy, the EPs were like television episodes of my story, and the album is the movie version. It’s blown up on the big screen. I’m just getting started, but this is my introduction to the world,” Singer says.
And what an introduction it is! Over the years, Michigander has steadily gained streams and followers through his well-loved EPs: Midland (2018), Where Do We Go From Here (2019), Everything Will Be Ok Eventually (2021), and It Will Never Be The Same (2023). His music radiates a blend of hopeful vulnerability and infectious optimism, a spirit that translates seamlessly into his live performances. After years of slow and steady emergence, Michigander is fully realized and ready to share his vision on a larger scale with his self-titled, debut album.
Like I said, this album has been over ten years in the making, a culmination of personal stories and reflections shaped by a decade of songwriting. Singer, a multi-instrumentalist, crafts lyrics that feel both deeply specific and universally relatable. His songwriting captures the ups and downs of self-discovery, balancing introspection with anthemic energy. He cites influences like Coldplay and The National, artists known for blending sweeping, cinematic sounds with intimate lyricism. In a 2016 interview with HuffPost, Singer explained, “One thing I try to stress is that Michigander is mainly me but still a band. I have different people who play live with me, but I do 95% of everything myself. Like Bon Iver, I guess.” It’s a unique dynamic—though he collaborates with musicians for his live shows, Michigander remains an intensely personal creative project.
Getting into the album, it opens with “Broadcast,” a fitting introduction that begins with the line, “Where do we go from here?” The track explodes into a full-bodied anthem, complete with a horn solo that evokes the triumphant energy of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. There’s a timeless quality to it—something nostalgic yet fresh, with melodies that recall the catchiest hooks of ‘90s pop-rock.
From there, “Emotional” comes in hot, driven by pounding drums and Singer’s soaring vocals—reminiscent of the early 2000s. The line “I’m so emotional, but I don’t know any other way” feels like a mission statement for Michigander as an artist. His music embraces big emotions, channeling them into high-energy, power-pop-infused indie rock. “I think I’m finally at a point in my career where all my influences have melted and molded together, which now kind of just feels like my own sound,” Singer shared in an interview last year. And you can hear that synthesis in these songs, where shimmering synths, warm horns, and rich guitar textures blend into something uniquely his own.
Each song carries a sense of movement, making the album feel like the perfect road trip companion. Lyrically, it wrestles with themes of change, self-acceptance, and resilience. On “Letterman,” Singer reflects on transformation, singing, “I kinda like change” and “There’s no reason for me to stay down.” It’s a small but powerful moment that encapsulates the album’s message: moving forward, even when it’s hard. “Spitting Image” grapples with the pressure to be someone you’re not, while “I’ll Be Ok” and “Socialite” lean into Michigander’s signature brand of hopeful songwriting. Even while singing “I’m not okay right now,” you can’t help but dance.
Then comes “Important,” a piano-driven ballad that slows things down, offering one of the album’s most emotionally raw moments as Singer confesses, “I see the cracks and I can’t ignore it.” It’s immediately followed by “Episode,” the dreamiest track on the album, recounting a love story with a cinematic, almost surreal quality. With the opening line, “I think I know how this is gonna go,” the song hints at a familiar cycle—whether it’s love, loss, or something in between. The track’s hazy production and ethereal melodies make it a standout, offering a wistful contrast to the album’s more driving anthems.
The album closes with “Hair”, a song that starts simply, led by piano and bass, carrying the stripped-down, earnest quality of a Springsteen song (I’m aware that I’ve referenced The Boss twice now). There’s an undeniable Americana air to it—not just because Michigander is named after a state, but because the songwriting taps into something deeply nostalgic and inherently rooted in place. The track feels like a gentle exhale after the album’s emotional highs, a reflection on everything that came before it. Singer acknowledges time’s passing with the line “Getting older now, but I won’t look away,” reinforcing the album’s recurring theme of embracing change rather than resisting it. He sings about hair falling out and changing colors, a metaphor for the undeniability—and beauty—of growing older. It’s a poignant closer, tying together the album’s themes of resilience and self-acceptance with quiet grace.
Just before the album’s release, Singer shared on Instagram: “I’ve been dreaming of this since high school. This album feels like the most real and authentic thing I’ve ever made, and I’m incredibly proud of it.” And that pride is palpable in every note.
This isn’t just an introduction—it’s a declaration. Michigander has arrived.
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