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Los Angeles singer-songwriter Mike Stocksdale’s newest album, Connectors, is the sound of celebration. Recorded live in the studio, it captures the lightning-in-a-bottle “pure joy and energy of a live performance,” much to the enjoyment of those in staunch opposition of anything that sounds even remotely AI-engineered. |
The fourteen-track record marks Stocksdale’s eleventh(!) album as a solo artist, clearly showing an unwavering dedication to his craft. He intended for the new album –which just greeted listeners June 4th, 2026 — to showcase “the raw chemistry, spontaneity, and human feel of real musicians playing together in the same room,” a synchronicity that can feel lost in overproduced, modern tunes. |
“I wanted the album to be gapless and for the songs to connect both sonically and lyrically,” Stocksdale stated. “I wanted it to sound like it was made by real life human beings.” And in listening to Connectors, you can feel the power of pure unadulterated musicianship. |
The album’s first single, “Nothing Like Beginning,” starts off like a rowdy jam session, then coalesces into a treatise on the therapeutic power of music. “People say I don’t feel enough / But I feel everything,” Stocksdale sings. “I take it in and then I hide it all away / Until I start to sing.” Music creates a channel for emotional vulnerability — but a person can only open up so much. “Yeah you should hear me in the car / With tears flowing down my face,” Stocksdale adds. “Shouting out the new John Craigie record/ Windows up just in case.” |
“Wolf Blues”, another single and an unhinged rock n’ roll number, pokes fun at the “lone wolf” stereotype and leans heavy into the raspy wit of old blues tunes. “Everyone thinks it’s so easy to be on the prowl / But life for a wolf is so hard when you can’t leave the house,” Stocksdale sings about the type of man who swears he can have any woman he wants — if he actually puts effort into approaching one in person. “I checked under the table / Checked under the couch / Looked under the rug / Can’t figure it out… Where’d all the bad girls go?” |
“Lonely in some crowded bar / Hanging with them would be stars / I paid to sing a song or two / What is music worth to you,” Stocksdale sings in “Ohio”, a single based on an unsettling experience he had at an open mic night where audience members got in for free but musicians had to pay to perform. The song is pared-down, with his plaintive vocals accompanied by a lone guitar, and the sense of loss runs deeper than just a bad venue. “It don’t matter what I hear / Wish you that were standing near.” |
Another track of note, “Best Of Luck,” has a harder to pin down sound — the guitar riffs are very bluesy, but the catchy chorus is more reminiscent of 90s pop rock. Stocksdale’s skill at wordplay shines as he calls out someone who can never settle down: “Everything is nothing, but still you try / To stuff it all in a suitcase and say goodbye… You’ve been leaving town since last July.” The following line, “You’re a cinnamon sad girl Norman fucking Rockwell superstar,” is delightfully distinct, yet relatable. That’s the strength of Connectors — it makes specific situations feel universal, inviting every listener to join in on the jam session. |
A true songwriter at heart, the Los Angeles native’s journey began at the age of fifteen, picking up his first guitar and writing songs after only learning a few chords. Initially, he channeled his creative energy as the lead guitarist and songwriter for the popular Midwest band, Three Minute Mile. But it was later, as a solo artist, that he truly found his voice. His most recent album prior to Connectors, Settle Down! Live at The Hotel Cafe, is a raw and intimate blend of blues-infused indie folk that captures the essence of a special evening. |
Connectors is just that — a collection of music that inspires through genuine songs and has the ability to bring together all walks of life, as any good piece of music will do. Stocksdale has his album release show June 30th at The Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles. |
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