On his latest release, "Schulmans," Mikey Demilio manages to bottle lightning, or more accurately, the raw, electric energy of a late night in Nashville, preserved in jangly guitar riffs and indie-rock appeal. This is a song but a snapshot, a postcard from a night that obviously had an effect. Growing from the roots of indie and alternative rock, "Schulmans" weaves its DNA from the classic fibers of surf rock, the reverb-drenched guitars, driving rhythms, and breezy energy that, paradoxically, sounds both dreamy and refreshingly now.
There's something cinematic about the track, like you are being ushered to the corner booth of that bar, and a scene is playing out in real time. You can almost hear the clinking glasses and the hum of conversation seeping into Mikey's layered guitar tones. "Schulmans" leans into a human moment instead musicians hanging out, creativity sparking in the air, and, for reasons that will forever elude us, a bar that becomes a backdrop for inspiration. It's not about the drama of a life-altering night but the magic of the mundane, and Mikey taps into that so beautifully.
Mikey is low, rough, and reasonably accessible. There's no overproduction, no auto-tuned gloss, just a voice that feels like it's telling a story, not singing for effect. That reserve and lived-in delivery makes the song so distinguishingly accessible. The arrangement is catchy in an unassuming way, with grungy slouching drums and crunchy, shiny guitar lines reminiscent of the best 2000s indie but bathed in the sun-dappled mood of surf rock's heyday. In other words, "Schulmans" is a love letter to spontaneity, to the nights where creativity turns loose out of nowhere. Mikey Demilio gives us a vibe, a place, and a moment. Schulmans will be a home away from home for fans of indie authenticity and vintage rock textures, even if all of them have never been inside that Nashville joint.
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