MIDNIGHT CHANNEL – “MUST BE NICE”
INDEPENDENT
Midnight Channel surprises longtime listeners with their first-ever vocal track, “Must Be Nice” – a dreamy, rhythm-forward blend of bossa nova melancholy, delusional romanticism, and subtle frustration. With vocals by Geneva Murphy, the Lethbridge-based jazz collective explores what it feels like to be left behind in love and how powerful it is when someone finally sees you.
“Must Be Nice” is a love song about how hard it is to even get a date – let alone meet people who see you. It’s a reflection on that third-wheel feeling from high school, when everyone around you seems to be finding connection, and you’re stuck focusing on all the “self-work” people tell you to do. It’s about longing, being left out, and how powerful it is when you finally do meet someone.
The song is lush and layered, blending soft Latin grooves with warped jazz harmony, cuíca and berimbau percussion, and a moody, meditative vocal performance. Guitarist Austin Phillips flips his strings upside down – literally – to craft piano-like voicings, while Matthew Erdmann’s production channels cosmic textures using a Yamaha YC-30 portamento strip, à la Sun Ra. The result is a richly expressive, emotionally off-kilter song about the ache of watching connection happen around you and wondering when it’ll be your turn.
Midnight Channel blends the boundary-pushing spirit of 1960s cosmic free jazz with the vibrant energy of the modern jazz revival. Infused with elements of post-bop, Japanese fusion, and neo-soul grooves, Midnight Channel brings a sound that’s rooted in tradition yet refreshingly modern – perfect for longtime jazz heads and new listeners alike. With “Must Be Nice,” the band continues to stretch what a jazz ensemble can be.
Following their 2023 debut album Gemini Sunrise – which hit #10 on the National Earshot! Jazz Charts – Midnight Channel returns with a bold new sound and an ever-evolving lineup. True to their ethos, the band’s lineup is fluid and collaborative, making every show and recording uniquely its own.
ARTIST QUOTE
“Must Be Nice” is a love song about how hard it is to get a date, let alone meet people. It’s meant to remind you of third-wheeling your best friend and his girl in high school while seeing everyone around you connect while you’re stuck doing all the self-improvement people tell you to do.
Midnight Channel
[Single]
(Independent)
Release Date: July 18, 2025
Artist Links
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