“One Track Mind” features a Washtenaw County-associated artist or band discussing a single song.

Standout Track: Track no. 8, "Bonfire," from Ypsilanti's Post-Ford on its debut album, Cannibal Delicacy. Ben Stein is the project's mastermind and sole permanent member, and the record's longest song shows a nimble brain capable of swaggering through indie rock, metal, a capella, folk, industrial, and noise for nearly 10 engaging minutes. That versatility has been apparent on the numerous singles and EPs Post-Ford has released over the past three years—some tunes are experimental works for string sections; many are well-done live recordings—but his ability and desire to crank out music was one of necessity: "I have a lot of health problems and have never been quite sure if I’ll even live to see the day when I’ve got the kind of budget I’d need to get these things recorded and released in the 'proper' way." Cannibal Delicacy collects all that diversity in a "proper" way, making a compelling case for a brilliant musical mind.

“One Track Mind” features a Washtenaw County-associated artist or band discussing a single song.

Standout Track: No. 1, “Up North,” from Ann Arbor’s Knut Hill. The folk singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s debut EP, Acoustic Roads, Vol. 1, celebrates the natural beauty of Northern Michigan and the joy of engaging in outdoor activities.

On “Up North,” Hill sings about seeking refuge and relaxation in Northern Michigan while spending time with loved ones. “For me, being ‘smitten with the Mitten’ means [being with] family and friends and exploring this beautiful part of the world. Unplugging from everyday life is important. As I grow older, I’m able to connect more meaningfully there with memories of good times and good people.” 

“One Track Mind” features a Washtenaw County-associated artist or band discussing a single song.

Standout Track: “With Me” from Detroit's Lorian Janine, an EMU alum and past Amplify Fellowship recipient. Her current single is like a journal entry; it explores longing for someone, revisiting a past relationship, and letting it go. For Janine, writing the song was a cathartic experience that helped her process a range of thoughts and emotions.

“I think it’s important to not ignore what you feel while you’re healing through something, no matter how embarrassing, painful, or annoying it seems,” she wrote in an email interview.

“Most of us probably want to hurry up and heal so we can move on, but that’s not how it works. Feeling all of the icky things—whether it’s jealousy, anger, regret, longing, hurt—and embracing them with honesty and humility is all part of the healing process. I hope that people listening will feel me saying, ‘Hey, I know you’re still lurking on their page, still looking at old pictures, and imagining what life would have been like with them. But you know what? That’s okay. Let yourself feel it so that you can properly heal. That feeling won’t last forever, I promise.’”

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

Standout Track: No. 2, “Pardon My Dust,” from Annie and Rod Capps. The Chelsea couple’s latest folk album, Never Done, is about self-improvement and the lessons they've learned on their journey of personal growth.

On “Pardon My Dust,” Annie Capps sings about self-reinvention and uses construction-based metaphors to show that her work is never done. Those references come from driving back and forth to Chicago over the years. “I think this song in particular is more about how we need to be kinder to ourselves and others who are struggling with life and all the challenges and curve balls it throws us along the way. Also, those who have done any kind of therapy will understand that you have to tear down stuff to rebuild something better. Thus, the self-destruction reference. Not all self-destruction is necessarily bad if it reveals what needs fixing.”

“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.”

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

Standout Track: No. 2, “Maneuvers Through the Prominence of Tau Ceti,” from Michael Skib. The Ann Arbor artist’s latest album, The Distance Between Two Stars, is an electronic and cinematic journey into another realm. The album includes several references related to stars, planets, and space pollution.

On “Maneuvers Through the Prominence of Tau Ceti,” he takes inspiration from the star Tau Ceti in the constellation Cetus. “I was reading about exoplanets—planets outside our solar system—actually. Tau Ceti has been a star of interest in the search for exoplanets for a while because of its proximity to Earth and its sun-like properties. It’s also in reference to The Dispossessed, which takes place on planets in Tau Ceti’s orbit. I sort of imagine whatever mission might have been taking place, in the loose-fitting storyline of this album, might have been related to the search for hospitable planets.”

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

Standout Track: No. 4, "Rain (We Are Alive)," by Ann Arbor vocal-looping artist Ki5 from his new four-track EP, Mind, with guest vocals from Aviva Match. The artist born Kyler Wilkins writes uplifting, soul-centric, a capella pop that is usually built by him sampling his own voice to provide the harmonic and rhythmic beds of his songs as well as the melodic leads. On some previous releases, Wilkins has strayed outside of vox-only jams and incorporated the likes of drums, synths, bass, and viola, but for "Rain," it's just body parts—mouth and hands—to make all the sounds, including the liquid percussion. "'Rain' was inspired by a want to encourage presence by engaging with senses of hearing and touch," Wilkins said. "The first set of lyrics are 'Be free / Listen to the rain / We are alive,' and that very simply is an invitation to the present using hearing. The rain sounds [here] apply to the sense of touch through their creation with hand-clapping and snaps."

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

Standout Track: No. 6, “Amaretto,” from Fearless Amaretto (they/them). The Ypsilanti artist’s latest EP, Diary of Amaretto, is an exploration of passion, intimacy, and authenticity in relationships. Each song is like a personal journey entry, examining Fearless Amaretto’s thoughts and feelings about different romantic encounters.

On “Amaretto,” they’re educating potential suitors about how to approach them. “Navigating sex and relationships as a witch, or even as an intuitive or empathetic person, is always interesting," Amaretto said. "I’m often presented with suitors who talk a big game with no follow-through, or have feelings they want to explore with me, but are afraid to speak up. ‘Amaretto’ is that song to let them know to shit or get off the pot. Either make a move or move aside, because someone is waiting for their chance. You are that witch! I hope people hear this song and are reminded that they are not only desired, but they’re also deserving of people who won’t play about their desire for you. Tell them not to call your name unless they’re about that life.”

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

Standout Track: No. 2, “Stand Up!”, from 3Steez aka Trés Styles. The Athletic Mic League MC’s latest album, The Lover & The Fighter: Ninja, is the first of three planned releases featuring a martial arts theme. The boom-bap hip-hop album revisits 3Steez’s past, including his time living in New York. On “Stand Up!”, 3Steez includes lyrical references to Athletic Mic League, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and other Michigan shout-outs. “I’m in New York talking about being from Michigan. I’m in ninja mode, killing everything as a member of my crew, representing Michigan everywhere I [go]. When I got home, I felt like that song needed to exist and be heard. I’d been in New York so long people thought I was from there—which made sense—but as a member of AML, I had to make sure Michigan was still being put on the map.”

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

Standout Track: No. 1, “North Ingalls Street,” from North Ingalls. The seven-piece band’s debut release, To Be Loved Back, is about finding love through different relationships. On “North Ingalls Street,” singer-songwriter Corazon Szell finds refuge and community at a house on 213 North Ingalls Street in Ann Arbor. A U-M alumna and a player for the women’s rugby team, she lived there with the team for two years before graduating in 2025. “Before I even lived there, it was a place that always had its doors open. A place where I could go to escape my dorm and hang out with my friends that I had made on the team. And when I moved in, I wanted to continue the idea that all are welcome. ‘North Ingalls Street’ was inspired by that idea. The idea that no matter what is going on in your life—good, bad, happy, sad—there will always be a place for you to come and share, and to feel safe doing so. The memories that I have in that house with my roommates, my friends, and my family, hosting potlucks, board game nights, movie nights, bonfires, and more, are some I will never forget.”