My name is Michael Hensley and I’m an electro pop artist — think Depeche Mode/Pet Shop Boys meets Robyn/Goldfrapp — and this site is about my own music and my faves by other exciting artists. You can also download all my new songs free or read my bio. Enjoy!
If you’re not familiar with Saint Etienne, you really should dig through their catalog and have a few listens. But whether you’re a long-time fan or just discovering them recently, their new song “Tonight” is lovely — I saw this aptly described as “dance music for adults” and I have to agree! Check it out:
I had an amazing time at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA, last night! It was so great to get back on stage and the audience reaction was amazing, I felt so positive about it all and can’t wait to get more shows lined up. I’ve received a few pics from the show I thought I’d share from a few different sources (let me know if you have any as well!):
Also kinda cool — I’m now a legitimate tag on the Weekly Dig Boston website. They don’t review my performance in particular but they do feature one of my songs!
I’ve been working with my mix engineer behind the scenes to polish up my songs for my “Heart Mechanical” EP (out March 26) and I’m ready to start sharing the results! The first song on the album is “Life is a Disco” — you may have heard the demo version before but I hope you’ll agree it sounds even better as the full studio version. There are still a few more weeks before my EP is available, but in the meantime I’m offering this song as a free “teaser” download:
Download “Life is a Disco” (320kbps MP3)
What do you think? Tell me your thoughts! And please share on Twitter, Facebook, etc. if you like!
I am extremely excited to announce the details of my forthcoming EP, “Heart Mechanical,” featuring 7 songs (some of which I have shared in demo form). They have all been given a professional production & mixing job by my collaborator Yasuhiko Fukuoka and I can’t wait to share them! Album artwork and track list below:
1. Life is a Disco
2. We’re Here to Recruit Your Kids
3. You Don’t Own Me
4. Heart Mechanical
5. Inside
6. This Love is Not Enough
7. Dreams
The (tentative) release date is March 26, 2012. Look out for more information, including song previews and more photos, coming soon!
If you’ve been following me on Twitter or Facebook you’ve already heard my announcement that I’ll be performing my first live show since 2008 at the Middle East Upstairs in Cambridge, MA on Tuesday, January 17, 2012! I’m very excited about the show, where I’ll be sharing the bill with Mic Raygun, Glowkids & Fuse, and Young London. I hope to see you there! The details in easy-to-read form:
Michael Hensley with Young London, Glowkids & Fuse, and Mic Raygun
Middle East Upstairs
472 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
8PM 18+ $9
Buy Tickets
I will also be announcing details about my new EP, including album cover and track list, within the next couple weeks, so stay tuned!
I’ve been enjoying The Sound of Arrows since I first heard their remix of Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” close to 2 years ago. I fell in love with their song “Nova” earlier this year and am now riding the dreamy waves of their first full-length album, “Voyage” (including the single “Wonders,” linked in the video above). Lush vocals and even lusher synth-pad soundscapes create airy expanses, while catchy melodies and beats keep the music grounded in the realm of electro pop. I know many of you have been familiar with the Sound of Arrows for awhile now, but a few more kudos for them couldn’t hurt, right?
Things have gotten a little quiet around here lately — but not behind the scenes! I just got back from a trip to New York City to work with my producer/engineer virtuoso, Yasuhiko Fukuoka, to turn my songs from demos into finished pieces. The five songs I’ve shared so far, plus one new one called “This Love Is Not Enough,” will be packaged together into an EP, which I will release probably in January. Mixing is still underway but so far things sound GREAT and I am very excited! Some of the songs may sound pretty similar to what you’ve already heard, but others will be getting more significant re-workings, and all of them will sound much crisper, with better vocals, bigger beats, and clearer sound overall.
My hope is to follow the Robyn plan and release one or two more EPs in 2012 to follow up what I’ve done so far. I’m also working on amping up my promotion efforts and starting to perform live again. Things. Are. Happening!
A lot of “dreamy” electro music ends up sounding wispy and fragile. M83 somehow keeps that light, effortless sound alive while still grounding it in strong beats and vocals that make their lush songs sound really substantial. I’m thoroughly loving the new album “Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming,” particularly the single “Midnight City.” Check it out and enjoy!
“Life is a Disco” came together surprisingly quickly for me. I wanted to explore a chill drum ‘n’ bass style, since I’ve been listening to a lot of Everything But the Girl lately and also noticing how drum ‘n’ bass seems to have crept back into some modern electro by artists like Katy B and Skream. Lyrically, I hope it’s fairly straightforward — it’s using the dancefloor as a metaphor for life. Are you going to stand on the sidelines, or are you going to dance? I also really enjoyed working on some vocal layering and harmonies, and playing with song structure a bit, particularly on the second half of the track. Let me know what you think!
Download a free MP3 of “Life is a Disco” – 320kbps | 128kbps
LYRICS:
strobing lights
I can barely see
chaos and noise
a voice says to mewhat you waiting for?
it’s right here
and if you want more
the path’s clear[refrain:]
did you let go (fear)
let go (pain)
let go (of all your doubt)
did you give in (joy)
give in (love)
give in (to the sound)[chorus:]
some day the beat will end
the dancefloor will empty out
how were those moments spent
where were you in the crowd?the room’s alive
I can feel the heat
do I stand aside?
or do I find the beat?why are you afraid?
there’s no wrong or right
the longer you wait
the more passes by[refrain]
[chorus]
life is a disco
so won’t you dance with me
Thoughts? Comments? Tell me what you think! And please download, tweet, and share with friends!
