Singer-songwriter Theo Katzman moved听to Ann Arbor in 2004 to study jazz at the University of Michigan. Though he left the city seven years later for New York and then settled in Los Angeles, the Wolverine State has had a lasting impact on his career.
鈥淚 think I can trace every dollar I鈥檝e made professionally to college,鈥 Katzman says. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 an exaggeration.鈥
Ann Arbor is where the 33-year-old began his solo career and played in a number of bands, eventually joining Jack Stratton and Joe Dart to form the core of Vulfpeck, the funk-pop collective with a devoted online following. It鈥檚 also where he befriended actor and singer Darren Criss, who would go on to star in Glee and hire Katzman to be his musical director and opening act on tour.
鈥淚 met my entire scene there,鈥 Katzman says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just endless, my Michigan thing.鈥
When it came time to record his recently released solo album, Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe, he returned to Ann Arbor, collaborating with old friend Tyler Duncan at his studio, The Barber House. Like the music Katzman makes with Vulfpeck, Modern Johnny Sings is full of tight and catchy pop-rock songs, though here he also dabbles in country and soulful balladry.
鈥淚鈥檓 just trying to write the full spectrum of what I hear,鈥 says Katzman. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want it to come off like it fits in any particular box 鈥 and I鈥檓 not trying to be cute with that. I just think that if I鈥檓 really honest, that can鈥檛 happen, because I don鈥檛 really come from one box.鈥
Some songs lean in an unexpectedly political direction, such as album-opener 鈥淵ou Could Be President,鈥 which sarcastically takes aim at President Trump. The soulful 鈥淟ike a Woman Scorned鈥 tackles toxic masculinity head-on. 鈥淢en are great, but also deeply f***ed up in the brain,鈥 Katzman sings. 鈥淚 am one, and if I鈥檓 honest, I鈥檓 a bit ashamed.鈥
Katzman was nervous to put that song out into the world, so he sent an early draft to two Michigan-based female songwriter friends 鈥 Christine Hucal, who records as Woman Believer and sings on Vulfpeck鈥檚 biggest hit, 鈥淏ack Pocket,鈥 and folk singer May Erlewine 鈥 to get their feedback. Erlewine helped make sure Katzman鈥檚 message wouldn鈥檛 be misconstrued.
鈥淚t was the scariest thing I鈥檝e ever written,鈥 Katzman says. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have been able to finish the song without her help.鈥
For more on Theo Katzman, visit
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