Michl – “When You Loved Me Least”

Who would have thought Southern California’s Inland Empire would be a good breeding ground for soulful electro-pop? In the case of newcomer Michl, it has worked out just fine! His debut track, “Kill Our Way to Heaven,” proved to be a solid winner for those who heard it when it first made the rounds late last year. Now he offers up a second track, “When You Loved Me Least,” that manages to top its predecessor.

His strong lyrics speak of standing up for oneself in the face of a failed relationship, sung in a swooping style, transitioning from a murmured resignation to a falsetto-level statement of pride. The electronic-based musical background supports his vocals, with ominous bass throbs, skittering percussion and echoing reverb. It’s a remarkably complete package from such a new artist, who only made his live debut, opening for Baio in LA, just last month. But it seems likely we’ll be hearing a lot more from Michl in the near future.