Michael Stipe has unveiled a new song, “Hum Desiderata,” exclusively on the online sound exhibition platform Joyfully Waiting. The song is a unique blend of music and spoken word, with the “Desiderata” part featuring a spoken-word rendition of Max Ehrmann’s poem from his installation at ICA Milan, along with additional vocals from Athens, Georgia artist Elizabeth Hatmaker. Likely more interesting to Stipe fans, “Hum” is an instrumental version of a song from his upcoming debut solo album, co-produced by Stipe and Andy LeMaster, and buoyed by dynamic, full strings.
Upcoming Solo Album
Back in April, the R.E.M. singer spoke about his first solo project during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he also debuted a new song, “The Rest of Ever.” At the time, Stipe said he was writing the “final lyrics” for the album, announcing that it was coming out at the end of the year. He also described one of the songs as “the sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time through MIDI.”
Recent Collaborations
Earlier this year, Stipe teamed up with producer Andrew Watt, Josh Klinghoffer (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam), and Travis Barker for “I Played the Fool,” the theme to the HBO series Rooster, starring Steve Carell. He later performed the track on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, alongside Watt, Klinghoffer, Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, Queens of the Stone Age’s Troy Van Leeuwen, and Chris Chaney (AC/DC, ex-Jane’s Addiction).
In conclusion, Michael Stipe is gearing up for a exciting year with his upcoming debut solo album and recent collaborations with other notable artists. Fans of R.E.M. and Stipe can look forward to hearing more of his solo work, including the newly released song “Hum Desiderata” on Joyfully Waiting. With his unique blend of music and spoken word, Stipe continues to push the boundaries of his artistry and entertain fans around the world.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte, widely regarded as the “Shakespeare of Sh*tposts,” is a video game expert with a unique knack for turning pixels into punchlines.
Born in the small town of Respawn, Pennsylvania, Pixel grew up mashing buttons on an ancient NES controller, firmly believing that “blowing into the cartridge” was a sacred ritual passed down through generations.
Pixel P. Snarkbyte: proving that life, much like a buggy open-world game, is better with a little lag-induced chaos.
