Motorbike James takes you on another cosmic journey in his new summer single Truck — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
The latest unique offering from the singular singer-songwriter, Truck isn’t some massive, mightily roaring beast barrelling down the road at breakneck pace. It’s a relaxing groove ride that cruises through a sunny Beck-ish landscape midway between indie-rock, folk-pop and blue-eyed R&B — while a sweetly psychedelic breeze (and perhaps another more pungent aroma) gently wafts through the cabin. As James eases the seat back and heads for the horizon, his hazy vocals spin hypnotic lyrical mantras spun from dreamy minimalism and sincere simplicity: “Get in my truck / We’ll go for a ride,” he invites. “I’ll take you for a ride … Any way you’re feeling / Any way you wanna be.”
In case all of the above didn’t make it clear: Motorbike James — aka Edmonton multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and producer Michael Werbicki — is a stream-of-consciousness writer. He creates his music using pure emotion and what he feels in the moment because his natural prerogative is to live a life in the moment, for the moment. That quality comes out in all sides of his life — chasing adrenaline highs, riding motorbikes, exploring the world — but most of all through music. What comes out the other side is a unique offering of music that is hard to pin under any one genre. Elements of electronic, indie rock, psychedelia and R&B poke through each song.
Truck is the followup to Motorbike James’ self-produced 2021 album Viisions, a collection of songs that, through their evolution, took on both a unique character and an accompanying narrative. Drawing inspiration from classic conceptual albums such as Pink Floyd’s The Wall or David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust, Viisions offered a deep conceptual journey that remains open-ended enough for listener exploration. The album, on the surface, follows a space man protagonist as he experiences a seemingly paranormal connection with a divine entity. This connection proves to be rooted less in the paranormal and more in a deeper understanding that transcends time and dimensions.
The “big word” definition of the album would go as follows: “Viisions is an account of the human experience, unconfined by time as a linear construct. A protagonist being pulled from singularity and thrust into the higher consciousness that binds all things.” The simpler description would bill the album “a cosmic journey through the beauty and mystery of time and space in search of pure consciousness and understanding.” The album weaves through lush instrumentals, changing pace from energetic to reprise. Deep harmonies guide the listener through dynamic montages, but always settle into lai-back grooves and vibes, balancing accessibility with a deep meditative aura.
Check out Truck above, sample Viisions below, and follow Motorbike James on Facebook and Instagram.
