December 22, 2024

Skylight Webzine

Online since 2000

Multi-instrumentalist Mike Ian Releases New Americana Album “Waterworks Junction – Time Will Tell”

New music with an Americana, Rootsy vibe to it with elements of Bluegrass. Some of these tunes date back to the late 90’s where Mike & Matt recorded demos at Mike’s home studio, Eyeball Studios in NJ. At that time the tunes had a more progressive, Peter Gabriel type vibe with Mike performing instrumentation and both Mike and Matt performing vocal duties. Mike had met Gabby a few years back and was quite impressed by her vocals. The two started gigging together quite frequently. Matt then approached Mike at one of their gigs with the idea of having Gab do vocals for a resurrection of these older tunes. A female approach if you will.  

The three members fine tuned these tunes both musically and lyrically over the course of a year and were quite happy with how it was shaping out. Mike had the chance to perform on a multitude of acoustic instruments including mandolin, pedal steel, upright bass, drums, piano, etc.  And various guest artists performed throughout. It turned into a full 14 song album entitled “Waterworks Junction – Time Will Tell” – The story of a woman from adolescence to her senior navigating the landscape of her life, loves, contemplations, desperations, and all of the other fabrics weaving the tapestry of her life. From a carefree childhood, through marriage, World War I, childbirth, the depression, World War II, the 50’s, the turbulent 60’s, and into the second Age of Enlightenment- the 70’s. 

The artwork was once again done by Mike’s daughter, Ivy whom also did last years release “The Learning Tree”

Track listing:

  1. Time Will Tell
  2. Something About You
  3. River Of Hope
  4. West Texas Plains
  5. I Go Knockin’
  6. Renew My Faith
  7. Waterworks Junction
  8. And When You Fall
  9. The Promised Land
  10. This I Do Not Know
  11. Know Not
  12. You Come And You Go
  13. The Best I Can
  14. Whisper Your Name

Mike Ian – all instrumentation, vocals
Gab Howarth – vocals

All tunes written by Matt Janda/Mike Ian/Gab Howarth

Guest artists include:
Rob Paparozzi – harmonica
Billy Patterson – harmonica
Tamara DeMent Gillece – violin
Elizabeth Mendoza – cello
Bob Ferguson – trumpet
Nick French – accordion/vox

Produced by Mike Ian & Matt Janda
Recorded/mixed by Mike Ian
Artwork by Ivy
Mastering by Tom Volpicelli

For more information:https://mikeian.com/waterworks-junction

Available on all streaming platforms

YouTube links:
https://youtu.be/Xk7iw63gSYs
https://youtu.be/GhwQuvQaX2U
https://youtu.be/xzeIsF4CDTQ
https://youtu.be/bTHntyUcBxk