Ears Wide Open: Mike Sempert

Kevin Bronson on May 9th, 2014

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As frontman of San Francisco’s Birds & Batteries, Mike Sempert dealt in music that straddled the line between contemporary Americana and electro-tinged indie pop, all of it notable for his weighty vocals, weightier lyrics and tasteful orchestrations. Sempert’s solo debut, “Mid Dream” (out this week via Orange County-based Velvet Blue Music), was made in northern California just before he got married, adopted a dog and moved to Los Angeles. As soundtracks to existential crises go, it’s pretty good therapy – Sempert stares down just about everything that could make a songwriter hit the bottle, and even mere consumers of music will find “Oceans of Rock and Roll” relatable. There, he ponders the intimidating vastness of music that’s being made, has been made and is yet to be made. Best not think about such things when you’re working out that new chord progression, right? As Sempert decides on the song “Good Morning Young Artist,” though: “So good morning, young artist, good morning / Remember you’re more than what you make / What you make is getting better every day / So rest up, it’s gonna be OK.” It really is.

||| Stream: “Oceans of Rock and Roll” and “Finest Line”