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Apr 06, 2021 By Caleb Campbell Photography by Meghan O'Leary

Philadelphia-based musician Michael Cormier is probably best known for his time drumming for indie rock band Friendship, composing his own instrumental music as Hour, and for co-founding Dear Life Records. Alongside his many other musical ventures though, he also writes his own intricate folk tunes under his given name. He debuted these swirling compositions in 2019 his albums M-F and Days Like Pearls and now, at long last, he’s announcing details of his third record, More Light!!, coming June 25th via Oof Records and Dear Life Records. Cormier has also shared the first single from the record “Degradation,” premiering early with Under the Radar.

Acting as the opener to the record, “Degradation” invites the listener into the beguiling compositions of More Light!! It’s a dark mood-setter, opening on restless and anxious nights, consumed by unidentified impending doom. “I am small and craven when faced with anything,” Cormier confesses. Yet within that setting, Cormier delivers a heartwarming silver lining on the refrain, noting that in one’s darkest moments “waking up becomes an act of pure creation.” It’s a simple yet moving statement affirming the power inherent in simply surviving to see another day.

Cormier’s diaristic poeticism is also deftly accompanied by a stellar set of collaborators, elevating the track from its insular opening into a majestic symphony of sequenced drums, swelling violin, and gorgeous vocal harmonies. The elements come together for a song that shifts between dark and light effortlessly, carried all along by Cormier’s airy melodies.

Cormier says of the track, “A lot of inspiration for this record came from nights of disrupted sleep. A typical night like this involves waking up around 3am to the irregular ticking of my heartbeat or some other ache or pain. My brain is quick to interpret these physiological cues as proof of imminent and untimely death. I jump out of bed, down a glass of water, then head to the bathroom, where I stare out the window into the darkness of my neighbor’s apartment, illuminated only by a single chandelier that is always left on. This song felt like a way to speak my irrational fears into existence while trying to reframe them in a more life-affirming way. I think the finished song is majestic, and I can’t recommend enough the curative powers of singing the words ‘so waking up becomes an act of pure creation.’

Lina Tullgren added violin, the rawness, and beauty of which left me completely disarmed. My dear friend Erika Nininger played rhodes and sang harmonies. She is one of the most brilliant musicians I know, thoughtful and explorative. The song would feel empty without her. Lucas Knapp, who plays many instruments on the album along with having a hand in the production and the final mixing of the record, did the drum programming and played bass and organ on this one. Every contribution he added was always exactly what was called for. He has a very innate sense of harmonic voicing and groove.” Check out the song and video a day early below and pre-order More Light!! here, out June 25th on Oof Records and Dear Life Records.