Keeping On

by Mikey James

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about

Known primarily as an indie-pop singer-songwriter with humble beginnings as a bedroom artist aspiring to George Martin-esque grandeur on a cassette 4-track, Mikey James is no stranger to writing and recording in isolation. Whether working in bands like Longwave and The Mercies, playing all the instruments himself, or donning the producer’s hat, James’ inimitable style has always balanced between odd quirks and the “it” factor that makes a song take up residence in your head. Which in part explains why several of his songs have landed on TV shows like Gossip Girl, This Is Us, New Girl, and Community, to name just a few. Along the way, James has gotten increasingly fluent in a myriad of styles. 

So it’s no surprise that his latest single “Keeping On,” achieves the fullness of a New Orleans marching band, touches on rockabilly, pogos along on a new-wave groove à la Elvis Costello and Joe Jackson, and channels Bob Dylan channeling Jelly Roll Morton — all wrapped up in a tidy 3-minute package and chock full of its unforgettable hook. Don’t let the catchiness fool you, though: A lifelong student of production, rock and roll, and songwriting in general, James has grown into something of a mystic on a quest for an ultimate musical essence. Where in the past he would labor for months on end stacking tracks upon tracks, James is able to cut to the quick with a song like “Keeping On” — ironically achieving the production depth he’d always been aiming for by limiting his options. In some ways, being confined to his basement lately has only helped. 

We may not have any clue what the future holds for the music industry, but James was destined to be a maverick outsider from day one, so even major upheaval doesn’t really change things all that much for him (knock wood). As the world recovers from the aftershocks of so many daunting things beyond our control, we can at least count on James to keep on keepin’ on no matter how much the chips get down. “Keeping On” is his offer of encouragement — and a nudge to remind us that we can always dig deeper into our shared history to get to the heart of music. James had Jelly Roll Morton in his sites this time. Who knows who it’ll be next. The quest keeps on..

lyrics

It’ll make you nervous
Make you lame
Turn libido
Some thing strange
Presumptuous labor
Predictable grief
Keeping on
Keeping on
It gets heavy
Wounded knees
Keeping on


Push the circuit
Spitting sparks
Nerves are jerking
Dogs they bark
Your old girl saw you
What did she think
Did you touch the metal
Didn’t see the brink
You had it easy
But you had to see
What’s keeping on
Keeping on


Look at ‘em marvel
Aim to please
The place is crowded
More to need
Where’s Time and Chance
I want to meet
A cold hunger’s
Gathering steam
The ways are endless
An endless creep
Keeping on

credits

released June 8, 2020
Recorded and Mixed by Mikey James, Bare Essential Recording, Perinton. Mastered by David Glasser, Airshow Mastering, Boulder.
Mikey James: Vocal, 12 String and Electric Guitar, Piano, Drums
Anthony Kuhn: Electric Guitar
Kyle Vock: Upright Bass
Evan Dobbins: Trombone
Additional Production: Johnny Cummings

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about

Mikey James Rochester, New York

One of independent music’s great eccentrics of the last two-plus decades, James has always had a keen ear for production and arrangement since his earliest efforts to capture the grandeur of George Martin’s layering on a cassette 4-track machine.

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