Michael Warren releases "Once American" – a songwriter’s deep dive into the American experience

With today’s release of "Once American", Michael Warren presents a personal and ambitious collection of songs, marked by American landscapes and its people. Warren, known for his previous work as a composer for film and TV as well as a producer and DJ in Europe’s club scene, here turns his artistic focus to the heart of the United States and places himself in the tradition of storytelling singer-songwriters with influences from blues and folk.

"Once American" marks a clearly new chapter in Warren's career. The guitar takes center stage and storytelling is at the forefront, with a sound deeply rooted in American folk and blues tradition. Each song carries Warren’s own experiences and reflections, many drawn from his relationship with Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. The area's grand nature and urban complexity serve as backdrops and motifs in his lyrics, where stories wind from city neighborhoods out into the wilderness beyond asphalt and city lights.

The previously released song "3rd Avenue Pigeon Man" exemplifies Warren’s approach on the album. Here he chooses a real location as the framework for compelling stories about people and environments in the city, creating authenticity and intimacy. Through details and local grounding, the listener gets an insight into everyday life and the ever-changing cityscape, seen through Warren’s eyes.

With years of musical experience – from orchestral music to pulsing club sounds – Warren displays a maturity in form and feeling on "Once American". Electronic elements are toned down in favor of acoustic expression, where the warmth and narrative power of folk and blues music are allowed space. This means both a return to roots and a step forward in his songwriting and storytelling.

The project "Once American" is intended as the first part of a larger series where Warren wants to explore more regions, people, and significant encounters across the USA. This ongoing journey shows his desire to tie individual fates to larger stories about the country, and to offer a nuanced image of American society shaped by contrasts and complexity.

With "Once American" Michael Warren embarks on a musical journey where songwriting becomes a tool for both personal and collective storytelling. The project captures a specific sense of time and place and invites the listener to reflect on the different realities that shape the USA – told through an artist whose expression continues to evolve with each new step.