The anthemic pop band frontman reveals details about his latest calamity while debuting a new track for Local Spins on WYCE, which also showcased fresh music by other Michigan artists.
Recuperating With a Broken Leg: Michigander’s Jason Singer broke his leg in three places. (Courtesy Photo)
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Filming a new music video in a remote, mountainous area outside of Los Angeles a few weeks ago, Jason Singer of Michigander suddenly found himself in a precarious and dangerous predicament.
“I slipped on some brush and I fell and I broke my leg, which was terrifying because there was no cell service and we were in the middle of nowhere,” Singer told Local Spins.
“Some rangers and the fire department came and an ambulance, and they pulled me up a mountain and got me to a hospital and I had surgery.”
Now recovering at his home in Nashville after a second surgery to repair a leg that was broken in three places, Singer said the accident has forced Michigander to cancel upcoming tour dates and delay release of a new EP, “It Will Never Be the Same,” until 2023.
“I try to keep my spirits up, but truthfully, it’s really, really depressing and hard. It’s hard not to be sad,” he conceded, noting it’s taken much longer than anticipated to release the new material that he started writing in late 2020.
More Upbeat Pop: Michigander says his new EP is his best work yet. (Courtesy Photo)
“But I’m on the road to recovery. I feel so loved and supported, more so than I did before I broke my leg. So, I guess I really know I have good friends and good people checking in on me.”
Despite the “unfortunate timing” of the unexpected calamity and cancellation of tour dates with the band Wilderado, 2022 until now has shaped up as a banner year for anthemic pop’s Michigander.
Not only did the Midland native get married and move from Michigan to Nashville last spring, but his recent singles have generated a major buzz on radio and other media outlets across the country, fueled in part by a successful U.S. tour with indie-rock mainstay Manchester Orchestra.
(Michigander and Manchester Orchestra also collaborated on a 2022 single, “In My Head,” that’s racked up more than 1.3 million listens on Spotify and about 300,000 views on YouTube.)
“It’s probably the busiest I’ve ever been, personally and professionally,” he acknowledged.
‘MORE POPPY, MORE FUN’ NEW MUSIC ON THE HORIZON
For this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, Singer showcased his two latest singles, “The Other Way” and “Stay Out of It,” which are slated to appear on the upcoming EP along with other yet-to-be-released tracks.
Watch the video for “In My Head” here and scroll down for the full radio show podcast and the music video for “The Other Way.”
VIDEO: Michigander & Manchester Orchestra, “In My Head”
Singer said he’s excited about new music that’s “a little more poppy, a little more upbeat and a little more fun” than some of his past tracks, crediting marriage to his wife, Britney, for giving him “a more positive outlook on life.”
“The more I do this, the less seriously I take myself because I realize it’s a pretty goofy job and a pretty goofy industry as a whole,” the guitarist and singer said. “I try to make light of it in a way.”
Consequently, he described his latest material as “more happy and joyous sounding.”
“I think it’s my best work and there’s been a buzz on the radio and that’s a cool feeling because you never really expect that when you’re starting,” he said.
Moving to Nashville has provided Singer with a new perspective, too, surrounded by world-class musicians and an intense, increasingly diverse music scene.
‘Really Awesome Shows’: Michigander playing Grand Rapids in late 2021. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
“There are people here I really look up to. Just being around them and being in their circle, is just kind of a great thing,” he said. “It’s really inspiring. It kind of keeps you on your toes. … It’s been challenging to push myself more.”
Still, he conceded, he eventually hopes to settle back in Michigan, where Michigander – Singer, drummer Aaron Senor, guitarist Jake LeMond and bassist Connor Robertson – enjoyed a series of crowd-pleasing shows this summer, playing Electric Forest in Rothbury and the Sonic Lunch series in Ann Arbor.
“All the shows were really awesome and we got to play Electric Forest which was a really interesting place that I wasn’t sure we would fit in, but we felt really welcomed,” Singer said.
The singer and songwriter speculated there may be “a silver lining” to his recent accident and setback, with so many musical adventures still looming ahead for Michigander.
“I hope people are patient and the buzz continues,” he said.
This week’s episode of Local Spins on WYCE – which spotlights Michigan-bred music at 11 a.m. Fridays on WYCE (88.1 FM) and online at wyce.org – also featured new music by Cold Leather Seats, The Still Wonder, Lavish Dude, Savon, Grace Theisen, Jordan Hamilton, Signal Quartet and Larry McCray, as well as tracks by EPCYA and The Skinny Limbs (this week’s musician’s pick by Singer). Listen to the full radio show here.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE (9/30/22)
VIDEO: Michigander, “The Other Way”
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