Another Michael is Ushering a New Style of Indie-Pop with ‘New Music and Big Pop’

I felt late to the game when I was introduced to the music of Philadelphia trio Another Michael.

The trio, consisting of band members Michael Doherty, Alenni Davis, and Nick Sebastiano, is yet to release their debut full-length project, but already are making music that sounds and feels like a sophisticated indie mainstay, deep into their discography. With their debut studio album, New Music and Big Pop, due out on February 19, 2021, a look back at their music leading up to their release seems well-deserved.

Doherty began releasing music on Bandcamp under the moniker Another Michael back in 2015 with his first single, “The Boulder”. One year later, the EP Sans would be released via Topshelf Records. Highlighted by the previously released “The Boulder” and the twang-influenced “Football”, Doherty showed just how he can use his uniquely angelic vocals as a weapon to invoke emotion. 

After laying the groundwork for what the sound of Another Michael would be, the group’s next project, Land, was released in 2018. This 4-track-long project further engrossed listeners into what Another Michael was looking to accomplish with their music. Covering the thoughts of daily existence through their writing, Another Michael was striking a chord within fans of the indie music scene.

As I mentioned previously, I did not find my way to the music of Another Michael until Run for Cover Records, the label home to emo/indie bands like Modern Baseball and Pinegrove, announced the signing of the hometown trio in October of 2020. In a release adjacent to their singing, Another Michael released the single “New Music”, along with its B-side, “Boring for the Times”. This release fully encaptured the overarching sentiments and sound that it seemed Another Michael had been working to exemplify over the past five years. The single is full of Doherty’s sonically enchanting vocals as he reminisces on the moments of bliss that come with sharing music you love with a significant other. 

With the levels of musicianship the group at large had developed over the years, they recorded their upcoming debut album New Music and Big Pop in a small A-frame house-turned-studio in Albany, New York. “It’s hard for a group of people to get closer than living together,” said bassist and producer Nick Sebastiano in a statement released with the album’s announcement. “The stronger our connection grew, the more it shaped the music we found ourselves making.” With Doherty’s vocals calling to mid those of Robin Pecknold across the record, accompanied by instrumental influenced by Big Thief and Frankie Cosmos, Another Michael is stepping into a whole new level of the pop-indie threshold with New Music and Big Pop.

The record is due out on Feb. 19, 2021, via Run For Cover Records. Pre-order the album here and listen to the single “New Music” below.