“Pop Music Hypnotism” – Alt77 Music Blog
As heard on 88.5 KCSN Los Angeles
Mike and Mandy are singer-songwriter Amanda Pajer and Producer-Arranger-Songwriter Michael Faulkner, who met working on a professional production of William Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors.” Both musical from a young age, they very quickly formed a tribute act and began releasing original music during COVID-19 lockdowns. “Shelter in Place” is their debut EP, comprising several of their singles.
Sporting a wide variety of influences, from trip-hop to folk, dub reggae to disco, and post-punk to funk, “Shelter in Place” sums up the collective experience of a global pandemic. The songs represent a journey through lockdowns, beginning with a mellow, chilled out message of universal love (“Are You Now,” “Wormhole”), continuing with a metaphorical disco trip through the wormhole (“Tesseract”), the stir-crazy need to act out setting in (“Ricochet”), and culminating in the realization of what really matters (“Lovesong”).
Mike and Mandy come from eclectic musical backgrounds. Mike grew up on the California coast and sang in a ska band at the forefront of the second wave. Mandy was steeped in classic rock in America’s heartland. As a tribute act Mike and Mandy have played 1000’s of hours of gigs presenting music as varied as parlor songs, jazz, oldies, country western, folk, and rock and roll. The lockdowns freed Mike and Mandy up to make the original music that burned in their hearts all along. Close listeners will hear a melting pot of multiple genres melding throughout this release.
Actors as well as musicians, Mandy recently appeared as part of artist St. Vincent’s extended “country” family in the feature film, “The Nowhere Inn,” and harmonized with Larry David in an episode of “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” while Mike played a hapless local policeman in the feature film “Stoker Hills” and was also spotted in a commercial where he was caught air-drumming to “Fly By Night” by Rush in a Volkswagen Jetta.
“Shelter in Place” was created by and for isolated people. There is solace in a song well sung, comfort in a chorus. Mike and Mandy hope the experience of listening to these songs is as soothing as making them was.
Previous Coverage:
- “A versatile work… brilliantly performed” – Roadie Music
- “A catchy post-punk new-wave single!” – Radio Castor (“Track of the Day”)
- “Vibing beats bounce against your back.” “Mandy’s vocals are fairy light against the textured melody” – The Other Side
- “A beautiful work of art” – Gifted Balance
- “Occasional synth pads embrace the track with shimmering sounds… not just an ordinary love song, but especially in the chorus, pure magic.” – Berlin on Air
- “Throughout, you hear influences of different styles and genres that feel similar but refreshing and new.” – Rising Artists
- “Little chesnuts” “so well executed” – SLE Music Radio
- “Cosmic lounge music.” – A reddit user
Brief
Mike and Mandy
- Based in Los Angeles, CA
- Both actors and musicians
- Genres: folktronica, dreampop, psychpop, ska/reggae, alternative and anything that delights
- Independent
- Written, Recorded and Produced at home
- Physical CD copies available