Heartfelt piano-pop troubadour Mike Evin released his seventh album, Something Stirs When You Sing, yesterday.
Fueled by a breakup and the pandemic, it’s his most immediate work to date — “old school pop” marked by poignant storytelling, propulsive piano playing, conversational singing, rich harmonic movement, and adventurous melodies that live inside you.
The playful vibe and sing-a-long chorus of “Outside with a Guitar” captures this beloved memory of making music outdoors during the pandemic. Mike 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. The melody is worthy of Billy Joel at his best.
With a cello that tugs at the heartstrings, the sad, sweet “Grandma’s Vie En Rose” tells the story of Mike serenading his 102-year-old grandmother with the famous Edith Piaf song – to which she had a visceral reaction, 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” finds Mike re-connecting with a cherished childhood memory of discovering music through 45 RPM records and his Fisher Price record player. It’s also an homage to the Stevie Wonder song.
And “I Almost Called You Babe” is a heartrending ballad that came out of the same breakup that inspired “The Ham in You.” Said Mike, “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.”
Toronto-based Mike has developed a devoted fan base throughout North America and the UK. Originally from Montreal, he first gained exposure in 2005 with the critically acclaimed I’ll Bring The Stereo, co-produced by Jim and Andy Creeggan of Barenaked Ladies fame. Since then, he’s toured and shared stages with BNL, Sarah Harmer, Ron Sexsmith, Dan Mangan, and Martha Wainwright, and his music has charted on CBC and Sirius XM.
For more than 15 years, Mike has been writing immediate and disarming piano pop songs with adventurous melodies that live inside you. His vulnerable and harmonically rich music has been called a “lesson in ‘old school’ pop” (Roadie Music), and it’s made him a favourite among some of Canada’s most renowned musicians, including BNL and Sexsmith.
