“Let me play my 45’s. I’m still alive!”
The refrain is from singer-songwriter Mike Evin’s new single, “Dancing To Sir Duke”, and it encapsulates the wide-eyed spirit of his music. For over 15 years, with his heart on his sleeve, Evin 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 — like Barenaked Ladies and Ron Sexsmith.
The joyful sing-a-long “Dancing To Sir Duke” is a celebratory ode to the healing power of music. The song comes in tandem with the announcement of Evin’s 7th album, Something Stirs When You Sing, out August 23rd. Produced by Chris Stringer (Timber Timbre, Abigail Lapell), “Dancing To Sir Duke” is vibrant, soul-infused and chock full of handclaps and doo-wop vocals.
The song is inspired by his childhood days discovering music on his Fisher Price record player.
“I particularly remember how the Stevie Wonder song ‘Sir Duke’ hit me blasting out of those small, distorted speakers,” says Evin. “So that became the central image of this song.”
Known for crafting heartfelt lyrics with a slightly off-kilter angle, Evin uses the memory of dancing to “Sir Duke” (itself an homage to Duke Ellington and other jazz greats) to evoke the desire to feel alive and reconnect with a wide-eyed sense of discovery.
Evin’s live-in-studio piano and vocal performance was captured at Toronto’s Union Sound on the legendary grand piano that has been played by everyone from Oscar Peterson to Jeremy Dutcher. No click track or headphones were used, giving the song the live energy of Evin’s concert performances. The accompanying instrumental touches are minimal but transformative – gospel-flavoured bass, pulsating shaker and handclaps, and an army of background vocals.
Toronto-based Evin has developed a devoted fan base throughout North America and the UK. Originally from Montreal, Evin 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 made a whole range of diverse albums. He’s toured and shared stages with BNL, Sarah Harmer, Sexsmith, Dan Mangan and Martha Wainwright, and his music has charted on CBC and Sirius XM.
Perhaps Evin’s vibe can be best described by his friend and close collaborator Jim Creeggan: “Mike Evin taps into what motivates people and champions the search for happiness.”
