Michigander’s Jason Singer sits down with Atwood Magazine to unpack his long-awaited self-titled debut album — a sweeping, cinematic collection that captures the beauty in change, the ache of letting go, and the power of making music with purpose. Framed through the lens of a ‘broadcast,’ the record explores the noise, chaos, and clarity of life in the modern world — and what it means to find your voice within it.

Stream: ‘Michigander’ – Michigander

There is nothing quite like listening to an album and instantly feeling like you already know it inside and out.

It’s the type of music that exudes nostalgia and cuts through the noise with lyrics vulnerable enough to allow you to feel them right away. Michigander does this with his self-titled debut album, which covers a  cohesive tale of change, letting go and navigating the ‘broadcast’ or public nature of the modern world.

Released February 7^th via Totally Normal Records / Thirty Tigers, Michigander comes after 10 years in the music industry spent writing, performing, touring, and releasing music. Michigander – the moniker for Kalamazoo, Michigan-bred singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jason Singer – has honed his craft over the years through four highly regarded EPs and singles; his latest, 2023’s It Will Never Be The Same, was praised as “an inspiring, spirited collection of intimate indie rock anthems and upheavals brimming with raw passion, soaring energy, and feverish emotion” upon its release.

All of his past efforts have led him to this moment, delivering an outstanding full-length record that captures the emotional highs and lows of growth, self-discovery, and the messy beauty of change. Michigander is an artist to his core, creating an experience so cohesive that the first song and the last song are purposefully in the same key, setting the scene for the album to restart and for the listener to re-immerse themselves in his world. From nostalgic tracks like “Letterman” to lyrical masterpieces like “Episode,” Michigander shows his breadth while staying true to the sonic core of the album. Rock anthems like “Socialite” somehow effortlessly flow into the beautiful “Hair,” tying a bow on the carefully crafted album.

An album years in the making, Michigander is both a culmination and a fresh start – a strikingly intentional body of work that invites listeners to sit with change, reflect on the past, and move forward with purpose. It’s an intimate and expansive debut that feels lived-in from the very first listen, capturing universal truths through deeply personal storytelling.

Atwood Magazine recently sat down with Michigander to chat about his inspirations, his creative process, and the overall cohesive nature of his debut album.

Through candid storytelling and a meticulous sonic vision, Michigander has crafted a debut that resonates long after the final note fades. It’s a record that doesn’t just mark a milestone in Jason Singer’s career – it sets a new standard for what it means to make music that’s both deeply personal and profoundly relatable. With Michigander, he invites us not only into his world, but also into our own memories, fears, and hopes — proving that sometimes, the most powerful broadcasts come from within.

Read our interview below, and stream Michigander wherever you listen to music. Catch Michigander on tour this spring and summer – find tickets and more information at michiganderband.com!

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:: stream/purchase Michigander here ::

:: connect with Michigander here ::

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A CONVERSATION WITH MICHIGANDER

Michigander: I wanted this album to be different than anything I’ve ever made. So that is kind of why I chose that one. It’s a different way to start the album. I  wrote this with my drummer, Aaron Senor and Jeremy Lutito, who’s my producer. It’s kind of a political song. The “broadcast”is the term for our world, and this is just how it is. It feels like a television show. It feels very stupid sometimes, but also it feels awesome sometimes. So that’s what I’m referring to as the broadcast.

Well, wrap it up and ship it out
If you’re trying to sell your soul
We’re out of time and short on cash
So we’ll fix it up in post
Well, everyone’s a movie star
On a diet of their own facts
Well, put your hair and makeup on
Welcome to the broadcast

I’m an American dreaming
I’m an American dreaming
Well, I’ve been hooked on a feeling
I hit my head on the ceiling
But don’t you look away
‘Cause I’m American

– “Broadcast,” Michigander

Michigander: Yeah, that song is one of the only songs I wrote when I had broken my leg a few years ago. I was kind of out of it for a long time. It’s about how there are a lot of things that are scary with change, people growing older, etc. But then it’s also you changing yourself and  realizing you don’t have to be afraid of change.

Michigander: Thank you. This is my favorite song too!  I’ve had a lot of people in my life where I let their actions and behavior dictate how I feel. And I feel like – no one really should let other people dictate how you’re feeling. This song talks about that – I’ve had a lot of people in my life that I’ve really rooted for and cared about and want to see win, but they just keep making horrible decisions and they can never get out of their own way. So yeah, that is definitely what that song is about.

Michigander: Yeah, I wrote that song with Trent Dabbs, who’s a friend of mine. We wrote a lot of these songs together. I think I had written down the word episode or something, and he kind of had this melody. But again, that song’s kind of exactly what it’s about. It’s growing up and realizing certain people aren’t certain people. It’s realizing that it’s okay if they’re not in your life as much as they used to be. It’s okay to move on and find new people and change.

Michigander: Yeah. Now that we’re talking about this in depth, I think you’re right.

Michigander: Yeah, we have been playing that one live. That’s our favorite one to play right now. I also wrote that one with Trent and Jeremy. I don’t remember exactly how it came about, but I do remember thinking that the album needed one theater heater is what I call it, or a crazy song. So that is what that one is. Song 11. It’s like, before it wraps up, it’s the final fight scene. That song is about politics in the world and how I think some people are brainwashed.

Michigander: (laughs) Yes – so that’s what that song’s about.

Michigander: Yeah, I think that was one of the first songs I wrote for this album actually.  It’s been around for a while, and I just was always like, this feels like an album closer. I got this piano from my wife’s grandma – I think that was one of the first things I wrote on it, and it was very stream of conscious. I recorded that little drum beat, and then I just grabbed a microphone and hit record, and 90% of those lyrics from the whole song were just written on the spot, which is very rare for me. I was just singing exactly what I was feeling, and that’s the song. It feels like such a good closer to the record. It’s purposely in the same key as the first song so if you’re listening cyclically – it will naturally flow back to the first song.

Michigander: Exactly. I really feel like this record is supposed to be listened to in full. That’s how I consume music and making this, I don’t know if it’ll always be like this for me, but this record particularly was I really wanted it to be cohesive and feel as one thing. So thanks for saying that.

Michigander: Thanks. Thanks for caring.

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:: stream/purchase Michigander here ::

:: connect with Michigander here ::

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Michigander

an album by Michigander