MJ Lenderman is an acclaimed artist hailing from Asheville, North Carolina. With a passion for music that knows no bounds, MJ has captivated audiences with their unique blend of soulful melodies and thought-provoking lyrics. With years of experience in the industry, MJ has honed their craft and developed a signature sound that sets them apart from the crowd. Their music effortlessly combines elements of folk, rock, and blues to create a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly original.
Whether performing on stage or recording in the studio, MJ’s talent shines through in every note. Their powerful vocals and heartfelt performances have earned them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim.
MJ Lenderman’s voice is clear. His music is built on honest lyrics fixed in his own reality and a quick wit buoyed by fervent guitars and pedal steel. On last year’s “You Are Every Girl to Me” from his breakthrough solo album “Boat Songs“, the Wednesday guitarist’s token of love came in the form of airport merch and heartfelt words.
On one of the few solo singles he released this year we hear more about that affection: “Her love for me is real / She gives me what she has to give,” he sings on his rendering of “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”—not Bob Dylan’s timeless classic, but American flag apparel enthusiast and professional golfer John Daly’s.
For Lenderman, it isn’t a shootout or a bad game of golf that has him rapping on those big, pearly gates. It isn’t even the DUI he alludes to in the first verse (“They took my driver’s license / But you still have yours”)—instead it’s his lover’s devotion. It’s the kind of love that makes a no-alternative demotion to the passenger seat feel like flying with newfound wings.
“Manning Fireworks” is a remarkable development in MJ Lenderman’s story as an incredibly incisive singer-songwriter, whose propensity for humour always points to some uneasy, disorienting darkness. The punchlines are still here, as are the rusted-wire guitar solos that have made Lenderman a favourite for indie rock fans looking for an emerging guitar hero. There’s a new sincerity, too, as Lenderman lets listeners clearly see the world through his warped lens.
The Fat Angel Sings 