‘Brooding, yet uplifting’ are two ways to describe Canadian singer/songwriter Andrew Michelin, and his indie folk alt-rock project The All Canadian Soundclash’s new single, “I want it” — available now.
Falling in line with Michelin’s now-signature ‘less is more’ philosophy when it comes to his craft, the song joins “I Can See You Loving Me” as one of two singles The All Canadian Soundclash has released this year; the pair follow the project’s self-titled debut EP, which landed last summer, and came to be throughout months of restrictions post-COVID-19 outbreak.
“I’ve always found great joy and satisfaction by being involved in the creative music process,” Michelin shares, “so, when the world went into lockdown last year, I took the opportunity to write, and rewrite.”
More specifically, the Ottawa-based artist seized the opportunity to take a deep dive into his hefty arsenal of songs he’s accumulated throughout the past decade or so. “I wanted to see if there was anything worth releasing,” he recalls, “and there was.”
The result is “I want it” — his latest single from The All Canadian Soundclash and award-winning producer and musician Dale Murray (Hayden, Cuff The Duke, Joel Plaskett, Buck 65, Christina Martin, Matt Mays).
“It’s about never giving up on your desires, and winning the race no matter what difficulties may get in your way,” Michelin reveals. “It’s about finally overcoming your demons, and realizing it’s your time to shine — so let’s get this thing done!”
It’s a sentiment befitting the year the world has had to endure. “Even us,” he shares, referring to himself, Murray, and drummer Jordi Comstock. “We experienced this all too well when trying to record ‘I want it.’ Dale’s studio is in Nova Scotia, and the maritime provinces had their own isolation bubble where nobody was allowed to enter.
“With me being in Ontario, and the others out east, we were forced to find a different way to record.”
“I want it,” they did; Murray and Comstock recorded at Murray’s Farmhouse Studio, while Michelin contributed his portions from his home studio. “I told Dale this was going to work, and it did! There were many audio files back and forth through email so that Dale could splice and mix the tracks together there at his home.”
It wasn’t all without its uniquely discovered silver linings, he adds. “Even though we couldn’t get together and record in one spot, there’s something to be said about being able to record vocal tracks from the comfort of your own home.”
