Jason Singer really wants to go to Disney World.
“We are trying to finagle our way in there on a day off,” says Singer on the horn from Nashville. “We have never been to Disney World. I would really like to see the Star Wars thing.”
But before Singer goes to Disney, he has to actually visit Orlando first. And he will on Wednesday, when his alternative-rock project Michigander makes a stop at the Social along with Sydney Sprague.
Singer’s introduction to music came when he found an old guitar in his father’s closet, and desperately wanted to play.
“‘That seems cool, I want to learn that,'” says Singer about his dad’s guitar. “So I got some chord charts. I would print out chord charts and tabs and learn songs. I felt like playing the guitar was cool. I wasn’t really good at anything else, but I was the best at guitar at that age (but not anymore). I felt like it was my outlet or it was my sport because I played it so much. I was the kid who carried the guitar around in school.”
Singer also would be helped by going to a place that is just as, if not more, magical than Disney: his local public library. Having a library card is a lifelong FastPass to knowledge and, in Singer’s case, CDs.
“They had a Teen section, and I remember Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay was there, and Transatlanticism by Death Cab, and there was the White Stripes and Oasis,” says Singer about the library. “There were all these bands there that were impactful to my sound and quote-unquote process.”
Those library trips were influential for Singer, and shaped the type of music that he wanted to create.
“Something about the music that just drew me,” says Singer about the CDs he would check out from the library. “It felt big, and it felt genuine. I remember putting those CDs on my parents’ computer and ripping them and putting them on my old iPod and being in the lunchroom and being like, ‘This is so crazy.'”
Those memories stuck with Singer, and you can hear the bigness in the music that Michigander creates. Recently, Michigander turned a decade old, and there’s no better way to celebrate than to release a new record.
Michigander’s self-titled LP will be released in February, Singer’s first full-length album after a decade of releasing EPs. Much like how Singer might react when waiting in line for Space Mountain or the Tower of Terror, he was hesitant about moving forward. But he felt like it was time to release the record.
“I felt like I was ready for it,” says Singer of his new record. “I felt naturally ready for it and the songs were there. I felt like I was good enough to create it, and everything was firing on all cylinders. I wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t good enough. There’s no reason to do that. Everything came together and it was the time to do it. Ten years in, too, and it feels like I’m ready for it. Like I’m hitting a deadline in a way.”
Taking his time also meant Singer could produce the record he truly wanted. He not only learned lessons musically making the record, but life lessons as well.
“I wanted to make my best work and work hard doing it. I wanted to make sure the songs were good and that I believed in them. As far as the production, I got to record it in Nashville where I live now, and make it with my producer Jeremy Lutito. We could work on it as much as we wanted, but we could work on it for a week and then take a break,” says Singer. “We had an attitude on the songs where we could zoom out and be like, ‘This needs to change’ or ‘That song’s not good.’ It was really helpful. We could take our time with it. I learned to slow down, take our time, and do it how you want to do. And [to] make it with your friends; that is important, too.”
Another lesson Singer learned? At times it’s good to quit while you’re ahead. He learned this on a trip to a cabin when writing the song “Giving Up” for the record.
“At the top of 2024 I went away to a little cabin and I was like, ‘I’m gonna write some songs,'” Singer explains.
“I was gonna stay the night. I got my guitar and I started working and then ‘Giving Up’ was the first song I wrote. I went, ‘I’m not gonna top this one, I’m going home.’ I grilled up a bratwurst and drank a beer and went home. It was nice and I didn’t even spend the night there. That song is the anthem for the people-pleasers.”
Singer will no doubt let us know when he finds the answer to people-pleasing, but he offers other lessons on the upcoming record. The song “Peace of Mind” is about how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
“That song is about living rich on minimum wage and how money doesn’t solve all your problems,” says Singer. “Falling in love doesn’t solve all your problems. We are humans and we are always wanting more. We are never satisfied and I don’t know if we will ever be.”
Human nature aside, Singer is satisfied in one area and that’s being able to have new music to play on tour. He’s looking forward to playing the new songs, and adjusting his setlist accordingly.
“Playing the older songs doesn’t feel genuine to me anymore,” says Singer. “The newer songs are a better representation of who I am now. Everyone has good memories of their past, but also some people are glad they have changed as a person. I am glad I have changed as a person, but sometimes it is hard to play those songs sometimes because you feel like they aren’t good enough or you don’t resonate with the message and the lyrics.
“I’m looking forward to having a whole album of new music and retiring some of the older songs.”
The upcoming tour will be Singer’s first time in many of the cities in the Sunshine State and he’s coming with a ton of touring experience. In the past couple of years he has played with Foxing, Manchester Orchestra and Andrew McMahon.
“I learned how to be confident in myself, and be serious in what I do, but don’t take myself too seriously,” says Singer about what he’s learned on previous tours. “That is their vibe and they all work super hard and take their craft seriously, but there’s a line between being serious and professional and taking yourself seriously. Being around those guys has been cool to watch and be inspired by.”
Singer will be spending a decent amount of time in Florida, with five shows up and down the state. Previously, he has only visited the Panhandle and is looking forward to seeing what Florida has to offer.
“I don’t know anything about Florida,” explains Singer. “I’ve been to Destin, Florida. We are diving into Florida and we have five shows there. I am truthfully excited for the Orlando show, and excited to check out Orlando. ”
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This article appears in Jan 22-28, 2025.