“Imbued with an early ’70s rock n’ roll spirit, be it the twangy leanings of the Stones and the Kinks during that time, or the gritty street life of Lou Reed. ”
HESS - Lamplight Hotel
New York/New Jersey psych-folk/synth-pop artist HESS has officially announced the release of his debut solo LP, Lamplight Motel, out October 9th on Baby Robot Records. Along with the announcement, HESS, better known as Michael Hesslein, principal songwriter and vocalist for New York roots-rockers Mail the Horse, shared Lamplight Motel's lead single "I'll Drive," which Floated Magazine praised as having, "A chilled-out dance vibe and the umami of driving down the highway with the top down at the same time. It easily can fit the bill of dance packed room or a dark velvet highway alone." "I'll Drive" is out everywhere today.
The Atlantic coastline often conjures up a specific set of images: sandy beaches, densely populated boardwalks, and colorful rows of umbrellas. In New Jersey, these images persist alongside those of its own cultural microcosm, one of working class pride, vintage automobiles, and all the woes on which Springsteen built his career. It’s at this nexus of idyllic and down-to-earth where you’ll find singer/songwriter HESS’s debut solo LP Lamplight Motel. But make no mistake, this is not your typical, “Rock & roller discovers Bruce” record; the ethos has been ingrained from the beginning. HESS was born in the same town as Springsteen, Long Branch, NJ, and with Lamplight Motel, has crafted a fully-realized portrait of life and death on the New Jersey coast—equally beautiful, seedy, and forlorn—all built upon dreamy layers of warm, vintage synthesizers, punchy electronic percussion and soulful, R&B-inspired vocals.
For the past decade, HESS has made a name for himself as the principal songwriter and vocalist for New York rock & roll powerhouse Mail the Horse, garnering praise from media outlets including Brooklyn Vegan, Paste, Spin, American Songwriter, Relix, PopMatters, and more for his hand in crafting the particular brand of boisterous, rootsy bar-rock that earned the band festival slots at Bonnaroo, Firefly, South By Southwest & more. Simultaneously, HESS has established himself as one of the more sought-after keyboardists in New York City, steadily building a resume of live performance and session work that includes work with comedian John Early and his variety shows "Literally Me" and "Now More Than Ever," touring with staple NYC Americana acts Don DiLego and Hollis Brown, and playing keys for East Village legend Jesse Malin in his full band live-stream series throughout the COVID-19 lockdown. Now, with the creation of Lamplight Motel, HESS has gracefully moved into his auteur period, taking control of his sound and recording his most personal work to date. “When you’re working with a band, you don’t get to put yourself into the music as much, it’s about the band as a whole,” says HESS. “This was kind of my first exploration into more personal storytelling. My old songs would be inspired by real events or people, but I wouldn’t dig too deep. I think I was afraid what being that vulnerable might bring out in myself.”
To bring his vision to life, HESS enlisted Savior Adore’s Paul Hammer and spent roughly a year and a half commuting back and forth between his home in Brooklyn and Hammer’s studio in Upstate New York, crashing in Hammer’s guest room between marathon recording sessions. The hours of travel and erratic schedule proved worth it in the end, with Hammer’s production savvy leading to the creation of the lush, expansive soundscapes that set the tone for the entirety of Lamplight Motel. “Paul and I were always on the same page with the aesthetic ideas for the album,” says HESS. “We talked about mood a lot, put up pictures of 70s and 80s motels, the beach, a lot of nostalgic Jersey shore images. That’s my background and my spiritual home, so we channeled that and built the sound around that aesthetic.”
Sonically, Lamplight Motel blends 70s-inspired folk with modern psych-rock and synth-pop, while nodding towards hints of classic R&B and New Wave. On the hazy lead single “I’ll Drive,” HESS pulls influences from folk and funk and wraps them in layers of swirling, Tame Impala-esque psych. The sound is at once dreamy and melancholy, conjuring images of neon-bathed streets and palm trees, but also conveying a deep wistfulness. “‘I’ll Drive’ is for people who need the road to feel like themselves,” says HESS. “After spending years touring, many of my friends and I are more familiar with the highways than with our own families and friends. ‘I’ll Drive’ is an anthem for those of us who, when an argument hits the tipping point and we can’t face the realities of life, just drive.”
This tension between Lamplight Motel’s laid-back aesthetic and emotionally bare lyrical content results in an album greater than the sum of its already-exceptional parts. The contrast continues throughout the record, such as on “Believer Outta Me,” a stark exploration of religion and faith in the wake of loss inspired by the death of HESS’ grandfather, that opens as a piano ballad before warping into a psych-pop groove complete with 80s-inspired synths, swirling, chorus-heavy guitars and electronic hand claps. “While I was writing Lamplight Motel, some important people in my life started dying,” says HESS. “I found it was a little helpful for me to feel like they were still around in some way. It helped me deal with the loss, especially with my grandfather. It’s about the process of becoming a believer in something, even if I don’t know what.”
The concept of loss permeates throughout almost the entirety of Lamplight Motel whether it’s the loss of life outlined in “Believer Outta Me” and “No Delays (For Josephine),” the loss of romance (“Red Clouds”), or loss of innocence (“Whisper Wildwood”), while the album’s closer & title track is a reflection on life and love from the window next to a hospital bed, inspired by HESS’ uncle’s battle with lung cancer and the comfort of a home filled with memories.
Lamplight Motel is HESS’ reintroduction as a songwriting powerhouse. As a solo artist outside of the confines of the traditional band structure, his sonic palette has expanded and his storytelling has become more poignant. With its tropical-tinged hazy melodies backing HESS’ emotionally resonant lyricism, Lamplight Motel is a full-bodied exploration of growth and loss in the working class and a reminder that darkness and loss don’t only exist in the low-lit basements and bedrooms of the world, but in seemingly idyllic beach town settings as well.