Start Listening To: Blue Wilson
Let’s take a walk on ‘Future Street’.
Michael Stevenson, under the name of Blue Wilson, born and bred in LA, makes sad guitar pop with a Californian flair for anyone thirsty for some easy-going and heart-satisfying tunes. On his debut album, ‘Future Street’, from a post-pandemic point of view, he explores themes of isolation/partnership and their ever-changing values depending on circumstances. For the first time, he got out of his self-producing solitary and invited Ben Lumsdaine to collaborate. Now, he invites us to take a step away from the control/comfort zone and into kindness.
Can you tell us who you are, where you’re from and about the music you make?
My name is Michael Stevenson, born and raised in Los Angeles. I make music that starts on a guitar and ends somewhere else. It’s ‘pop’ in the structural sense. Sometimes sad.
How are you feeling about the release of your debut album ‘Future Street’?
It’s the first release that I am wholeheartedly proud of. To me, it is the most complete, and most honest collection of songs I’ve worked on. I have listened to the record almost every day since completing it, which might sound strange - however once my music is released, I rarely listen to it again. I’m ready for it to be out!
Can you tell us more about your songwriting process?
Writing songs has always come fairly naturally to me, which is both a blessing and a curse when it comes to sifting through hundreds of ideas living on my iPhone voice memos app - (most of which are not good). Most of the time it starts on my nylon guitar, carving out a vocal melody through a series of chords I land on. Lyrics come last.
What are some themes behind your new record?
This record grapples a lot with isolation vs partnership - whether or not people are good for each other in certain circumstances. I think a lot of the album is me trying to rationalize how much time I spend alone. Which ultimately, I find (probably) too much enjoyment in.
Can you tell us how you produce your music?
Typically, I write, record, and mix everything on my own. For this record, I ventured into letting someone else produce my music for the first time. Bringing in another collaborator was something I was hesitant about initially (…I have minor control issues). In the end, having Ben Lumsdaine produce these songs was such an incredible experience. He’s a true genius, a wonderful human to work with, and his vision took this album to a wonderful new place.
Can you tell us something interesting about yourself that doesn’t have anything to do with music?
I have a degree in Geology and love volcanos!
What’s it like working with Acrophase?
I’m beyond thrilled to be working with Acrophase. Both George and Dan have so much enthusiasm for the Blue Wilson project. They’re a young label with growing talent and their hunger and drive to support their artists is undeniable.
If your music were a film or TV show which would it be?
I spent way too long thinking about this. Maybe ‘Lars and the Real Girl’
Name an album you’re still listening to from when you were younger and why it’s important to you?
After the Gold Rush - Neil Young. Those songs have been entering my brain since infancy and continue to do so. It’s my mom’s favorite record. Hard to say how much Neil really influences my music but I’m inclined to believe there’s some inspiration.
What do you hate right now?
Absolutely nothing.
What do you love right now?
LA Times crossword puzzles, hooping with the squad, the song “Glad and Sorry” by Faces.
What comes next in the Blue Wilson story?
Tour!? Another album?! Producing for other artists, exploring other genres.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?
Be good to each other.
