The Radar tracks new music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels. Written by Lori Stratton (LS) and Christopher Porter (CP).
This week: fling ii, Michael Malis and Constantine Novotny, George Mashour, Nicole Myint, Fearless Amaretto, The Sea The Sea, Chirp, Violet Sol, and Magoose.
fling ii
3
Genre: Krautrock, ambient, electronic
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: Brad Gowland’s fling ii project is built on modular synths and improvising with friends in a studio, then editing the jams into albums and singles. The group’s third full-length LP is full of blissful, bubbling, and billowing soundscapes spread over six long tracks, and you’ll absolutely want good headphones and perhaps some plant-based assistance while listening, flat on your back, looking at the stars. Recommended if you like Cluster, Bitchin Bajas, and Emeralds. Fling ii plays Ann Arbor Funhouse on Saturday, August 22.—CP
Links: instagram.com/fling.ii
Michael Malis and Constantine Novotny
Another Shore, Another Country: Six Songs for Cavafy
Genre: art song
Location: Detroit area, formerly Ann Arbor
Notes: Inspired by Constantine P. Cavafy’s poem “Remember, Body…,” U-M grad and educator Michael Malis sat at his piano in 2021 and started composing the music that would become this album. After linking up with singer and fellow Detroit-area Greek-American Constantine Novotny, the music began to flow, and in July 2025, the duo recorded these six art songs, which touch on jazz, opera, and Greek folk music, in Traverse City. Read the full story of Another Shore, Another Country here. —CP
Links: michaelmalis.com
George Mashour
Blind Rainbows
Genre: psychedelia
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: By day, George Mashour explores consciousness as a doctor at the University of Michigan. By night, Mashour explores consciousness through psychedelic music. His second full-length album is only eight songs—including a cover of The Velvet Underground’s “I’m Waiting for My Man”—but Blind Rainbows takes you on a trip during its 30-minute runtime. Mashour creates his ’60s-inspired psych-pop with multi-instrumentalist Marty Gray, and you can tell they’re students of the genre. Every track is a glorious swirl of reverb, wah-wah, and tremolo—and the vibes are immaculate. —CP
Links: instagram.com/mashourmusic
Nicole Myint
“Can You Hear My Call?”
Genre: dance
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: Nicole Myint has to be one of the busiest DJs in Southeast Michigan. She spins regularly for UMich sporting events and the pro teams in Detroit, plus private events, weddings, and more. She’s carved out some time in her schedule to start producing original music, too, and her second single, “Can You Hear My Call?” is built on a funky sax riff that will bury itself in your eardrum. —CP
Links: linktr.ee/nicolemyint
Fearless Amaretto
“Act Right”
Genre: hip-hop, dance
Location: Ypsilanti
Notes: I don’t believe in voodoo, but when Fearless Amaretto sings, “You better act right … before I show you what my curses do,” I gotta admit, I’m paying attention. This genre-bending artist keeps cranking out smart, fierce, danceable singles that combine hip-hop, dancehall, and R&B in ways that sound totally Fearless. Avoid the hex and listen to “Act Right.” —CP
Links: instagram.com/i__am__fearless
The Sea The Sea
“Worms or Fire” b/w “We Kept the Bluebirds in Jars”
Genre: emo, screamo
Location: formerly Ypsilanti
Notes: In its initial configuration (2002-2004), The Sea The Sea was a chaotic screamo band, which you can hear on Complete Recordings 2003-2004. But for its first new songs in 22 years, the group dropped most of its abrasive tendencies and focused on creating moody melodies and widescreen arrangements that still nod to its noisier roots while embracing a more nuanced sound. —CP
Links: instagram.com/theseatheseaemo
Chirp
Torque
Genre: pop rock, R&B, prog rock, disco
Location: Ypsilanti
Notes: Chirp’s third album explores the twists and turns people encounter, especially around love, growth, and ambition. The band addresses these introspective themes against the album’s multigenre musical backdrop, which ranges from pop-rock and R&B to progressive rock and disco. The 10 tracks for Torque were recorded with Joe Hettinga in Grand Rapids and feature collaborations with Kevin Gastonguay (keys, synths) and Haruki Hakoyama (horns, woodwinds). While Chirp has had a busy summer touring season, the band hasn’t announced a local album release show for Torque yet.—LS
Links: chirpband.com
Violet Sol
“Sun and Moon”
“Didn’t Cha Know”
Genre: soul, folk, hip-hop
Location: Ypsilanti
Notes: Violet Sol has returned with two new singles, “Sun and Moon” and “Didn’t Cha Know,” since 2024’s “Truth.” The former is a cinematic ballad that fuses soul, folk, and hip-hop elements and thematically explores the heartbreak of a fleeting relationship. The latter is a folk-inspired cover of the 2000 Erykah Badu song “Didn’t Cha Know,” which was produced by the late J Dilla. Violet Sol is celebrating the release of its new material with Beanstalk and friends on August 22-23 at a secret location.—LS
Links: facebook.com/violetsolmusic
Magoose
indexing26-V1-ORANGE EP
Genre: electronic
Location: Ann Arbor
Notes: I think Magoose is a UMich student by way of Atlanta, Georgia, and his new EP came out on Ann Arbor’s Sun Babe Records. These four lo-fi pop-leaning songs have an industrial edge, which makes indexing26-V1-ORANGE sound almost like a collection of lost Nine Inch Nails demos. —CP
Links: instagram.com/magoosemusic
Send your music to pulp@aadl.org if you’re an artist or label with Washtenaw County associations. Check out more local music coverage here and in the Friday Five archives.
