Micah Erenberg “Songs From The Secret Beach” Album Release

The Secret Beach is the moniker used by bedroom folk artist, Micah Erenberg, whose refreshingly plainspoken candor has become a dominant through-line in the singer/songwriter’s ever-expanding catalog. Whether releasing records under his own name, or lending his talents as a producer, Erenberg exists in a constant whirlpool of creation. This latest offering, Songs From The Secret Beach, finds beauty in the mundanity of daily life. Produced by Erenberg, and mixed by revered producer/engineer Rob Schnapf (Kurt Vile, Beck, Cass Mccombs), this collection is at once an exercise in restraint, as well as an arrestingly lush exploration of sonic possibility.

Since the release of his 2016 debut, Erenberg has toured extensively in support of his solo pursuits. Previously signed to the now defunct Canadian indie label Sleepless Records (Michael Rault, July Talk) for his well-regarded 2019 release Love Is Gonna Find You, Erenberg’s brand of unabashed lyrical honesty, and vulnerable talk-like delivery has earned admiration from audiences across North America and Europe.

Of his process, Erenberg states, “A lot of music inherently mimics other music. It’s just natural because there is so much music out there. It’s impossible not to be inspired and shaped by the music you hear, so I try to draw more of my inspiration from non-musical things; physical experiences, conversations, feelings, sensations, and inner reflections, in an attempt to achieve some form of genuine originality.” This exercise is clearly displayed on the track “God Is,” where Erenberg offers Lennon-esq narratives of the co-existence of god and man in raw glamor-less situations. Similarly, on the title track, Erenberg delivers a juxtaposition between a blissfully playful arrangement, and a whimsically disguised commentary on the fragility of human existence. This is a common place practice for the singer-songwriter, who seamlessly maneuvers between carefree melodicism and heavy subject matter. The wisdom of this record exists between the cracks. There is a nuance that could easily be overlooked. However, Songs From The Secret Beach takes a courageous and uninhibited stab at honesty, and it may be the best kept secret you discover this year.