“One Track Mind” features a Washtenaw County artist or band discussing one song from their latest release.

Standout Track: No. 1, “Denim Blues,” from DAViS. The Ann Arbor singer-songwriter’s latest EP, Denim Duster, features themes of wanderlust, growth, and aspiration. The EP is named after an actual denim duster that DAViS regularly wears and sports on the cover of his release.

On “Denim Blues,” DAViS struggles with the present, questions the future, and longs for an escape. “Yeah, this one was like a diary entry and gets at my challenges with being present and aims to make peace with what’s right now. To ‘stand here and be patient’ and not feel like I have to be so action-oriented all the time. The experience of writing and producing this song was cathartic for me in the way that it happened quite fast compared to other songs.”

Musical Motivation: “Denim Blues” reflects a diverse range of genres, including soul, pop, and R&B, showcasing DAViS’s musical versatility. The track is a slow groove that's filled with smooth vocals, introspective lyrics, and breezy instrumentation. “[Genres] have an influence, but not as much as people do. Two artists in the same genre might have very different expressions, and it’s the expression that I’m most interested in.”

DAViS played guitar and bass, provided background vocals, and engineered and produced the track. "Denim Blues" was recorded at The Barbershop Studio in Ann Arbor and included a collaboration with Sabbatical Bob's David Ward on drums. "Each of their musicianship is like its own color paint on a palette, and each of their colors adds something beautiful to the overall canvas."

Denim Duster Debut: DAViS can’t quite pinpoint when he acquired the denim duster, but it has become one of his signature wardrobe pieces. “But what I can say is that people love a denim duster. Never have I gotten stopped so much in my life as when I wear that jacket. Shout out to Eric at Today Clothing for putting it over my shoulders. I would say what makes it special to me is that he imagined I would rock it.”

Lori Stratton is a library technician, writer for Pulp, and writer and editor of strattonsetlist.com.