Michael Ian Cummings, former lead singer and songwriter of SKATERS, released his debut solo EP Oldest Troubles. The indie rock record is made up of five tracks where Cummings reflects on his own past experiences in a skillful way, as the listener is able to feel connected to each of his songs.
Oldest Troubles comes after Cummings took a six year hiatus from music. When Warner Brothers Records dropped his band SKATERS, Cummings felt disillusioned with the industry. He was left in the common place many musicians find themselves when the band life stops and needed to unplug, reset, and find his inspiration once again. Now, Cummings found that inspiration again. He also described making the album as “cathartic.”
“This was 100% for me to regain my balance in making and releasing music,” Cummings said in an interview. “And part of that was not doing things I didn’t feel good about in my gut. And whether that was a choice, like re-recording something so it sounds pristine, or keeping the live take, keeping the fucked up guitar that might be out of tune because it just felt better.”
His attitude paid off. While it may have been more for Cummings himself in how he recorded the EP, it also made the record better as a whole. In songs like “Contemporary Me,” the listener can feel more of his emotions because of how raw it sounds.
The title track, “Oldest Troubles,” reflects the melancholic feeling Cummings may have felt when writing and recording the song. The strings in the background only add to the beauty of the song, making it the most replay-able track on the record.
Listen to the Oldest Troubles on Bandcamp, Spotify, or Apple Music.
Key Tracks: Contemporary Me, Oldest Troubles, Suburban Crackhouse Beats
