Mike Evin shares music video for “Outside With A Guitar” and album, Something Stirs When You Sing
Heartfelt piano-pop troubadour MIKE EVIN releases his seventh album SOMETHING STIRS WHEN YOU SING tomorrow, on August 23. Fueled by a breakup and the pandemic, Something Stirs When You Sing is his most immediate work to date. Its stripped down nature brings the hallmarks of Evin’s timeless “old school pop” into fine focus — poignant storytelling, propulsive piano playing, conversational singing, rich harmonic movement, and adventurous melodies that live inside you. For more information please visit any of Mike’s socials and his website.
The playful vibe and singalong chorus of “OUTSIDE WITH A GUITAR” – typical of Mike Evin’s catchy songs – captures this beloved memory of making music outdoors during the pandemic. Evin was part of the Roxton Road community, led by Ken Whiteley, which performed outside every night for almost two years.
Less than a month before recording the album, Evin went through a big breakup. “THE HAM IN YOU” came out during a moment of acceptance, influenced by how he and his ex-girlfriend used to call each other “hams” when they were being silly. With a melody worthy of Billy Joel at his best, Evin encapsulates the bittersweet moment.
With a cello that tugs at the heartstrings, the sad, sweet “GRANDMA’S VIE EN ROSE” tells the story of Evin serenading his 102-year-old grandmother with the famous Edith Piaf song – to which she had a visceral reaction, and from which he quotes in the first few notes of each verse’s melody.
The joyful bounce and the rhythmic shuffle of “DANCING TO SIR DUKE” find Evin reconnecting with a cherished childhood memory of discovering music through 45 records and his Fisher Price record player. It’s also an homage to the Stevie Wonder song and shares its tribute of music as a healing force.
“I ALMOST CALLED YOU BABE” is a heartrending ballad that came out of the same breakup that inspired “The Ham in You.” Says Evin, “I was just writing it as a form of catharsis and therapy. My producer Chris Stringer made me sing it over and over again in the studio –- one of the hardest recording sessions I’ve experienced.”
Although “NO CARNIVAL” was written in response to the early days of the pandemic, Evin was trying to write a song about how it felt, without specifically mentioning it. The metaphor of missing a festive occasion seems an apt one.
“ALONG THE WAY” is a bittersweet, sentimental ode to the passage of time in daily living, with music that recalls the melodicism of The Beatles’ “Here, There, and Everywhere.” It was commissioned by a fan in 2019 until Evin rediscovered it and was charmed by its humble wisdom.
With a melody worthy of Burt Bacharach, “BIRDS IN THE CITY” finds Evin taking his neighbor’s toddler out for a walk in the stroller, and being struck by how the sounds and sights of nature in the city came alive.
Talking about “MIDDLE OF THE WAR,” Evin says, “During the first lockdown, I felt compelled to ‘dress my best,’ even if no one would see me. I had also been reading a book about war in the Middle East, so this story of needing to feel alive during dark times came to me.”
Armed with only his voice and an acoustic guitar on “WE’VE GOT TO BELIEVE IN LOVE,” Evin attempts to find some common ground in these divisive times. This was originally a piano song, but quiet nights playing it on acoustic guitar brought out a more immediate quality. The sentiment is universal, the guitar is funky, and the vocals are soulful and genuine.
Upcoming Shows:
August 23 – Release Day House Concert – Toronto, ON
September 7 – Small World Music Centre – Toronto, ON
September 26 – Radstorm – Halifax, NS
September 27 – Buchanan’s Music – Mahone Bay, NS
September 28 – House concert – Moncton, NB
September 29 – The Cap – Fredericton, NB
October 23 – Casa Del Popolo – Montreal, QC
Casa Del Popolo (Matt Large Presents) (7:30 pm)
October 25 – House concert – Kingston
November 20 – Live On Elgin – Ottawa, ON