DETROIT – A Michigan based indie-folk group may have created Michigan's song of the summer.
"The Accidentals" are from Traverse City, Michigan. The group, which includes Katie Larson, Savannah Buist and Michael Dause, have been together since 2014.
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They won Traverse Magazine's "Red Hot Best" of Northern Michigan Music for their third year in a row in 2015, as well as the No. 1 Artist at The Emerging Artists Series at Summerfest. They were also named one of the top seven breakout artists at SXSW 2015 by Billboard Magazine.
The first single off their new EP, which will be released in June, is a tribute to their home state - Michigan.
"Michigan and Again has kind of a story behind it," said Buist. "On our first run to the west coast, we created an indiegogo campaign (a "musical garage sale" of sorts) to help fund the gas prices, lodging, etc. We sold old instruments, merchandise, paintings, handwritten lyrics, and the opportunity for us to write a song about a topic of the buyer's choice. One of our biggest longtime supporters, Mark from Ludington, purchased this opportunity and asked us to write a song about Michigan."
"Michigan and Again" shows the group on tour, making their way home to Michigan.
"We have found something beautiful in every part of the state. Our intention was to just show our appreciation for those things," said Larson. "We have traveled most of the US this year and we've seen some insanely beautiful landscapes and met amazing people along the way, so we wanted to give a nod to those places and people as well."
The group said Michigan has played a huge part in molding them as artists.
"We grew up here. In Northern Michigan, in an environment that was supportive of the arts. We were lucky to have innovative schools that focused on the arts, and encouraged us to play an instrument, and made it affordable," said Buist.
As for their favorite places, the list is never ending, but Traverse City is home.
"There is music in every corner on any night downtown, tons of wineries and breweries toward Suttons Bay."
Their single has been well received -- with close to 100,000 views on the music video.
"The reaction from our listeners has been incredible," said Buist.". It's kind of beautiful to watch pieces of their lives coincide with the lyrics of the song - to write how you feel and publish it for the world to see, and to realize that you're not alone in that feeling."
Check out the music video for "Michigan and Again" below (or here) -- and see more music from the group on their BandCamp page or website.