For nearly two decades, Micah Panzich has combined three winning components – passion, country, and good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll. Since 1999, he's made a name for himself as the front-man/guitarist in Long Beach alt-country band Paperplanes. As of Oct. 2016, he released his debut album Something for Someone as a solo artist. It isn’t a matter of ‘I wonder when he’ll do something next’ but more so, ‘I wonder what he’ll do next.’
“I just wanted to have fun…I wanted to record, experiment, try to get the studio working,” Panzich says. “I wanted to start putting out music so that if I travel somewhere, people won’t have to research the bands I was in and find what they’re going to listen to.”
Something for Someone was recorded out of Panzich and friends’ studio (which he jokingly refers to as his “first home”) in Long Beach. Releasing an album entirely on his own as well as having the studio as a resource gave him the chance to test the waters with how he wanted to execute his vision. As a result, he released a kick-ass twangy rock ‘n’ roll album that makes you want to get up, quit your day job, and go on a cross-country road trip.
The album has 15 tracks – each song effortlessly making you tap your foot and bob your head with friends or even reminisce on an old flame. Something for Someone is an incredibly genuine album from start to finish that keeps you entertained with melodic guitar playing and an overall sound that will have you itching to travel or wanting to drink some hard whiskey.
The album opens with “I used to have a lot of secrets to tell, I’m always thinking I was going to hell” off “You Get the DVD”. One of the song titles is named after Long Beach’s very own Gerald Desmond Bridge “Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project,” where Panzich expresses just how little by little, the bridge will eventually get built and how far the highways go. There's no doubt that Panzich stays true to his roots. He concludes the album with a question in “Life Goes By” – “life goes by, it passes by, I want to make it slow down for a few. Am I making any kind of sense at all to you?” Something for Someone presents an ongoing theme of isolation and a taste for adventure.
Panzich is satisfied with the fact that the album itself is finished and ready for everyone to hear. Not only did he write and sing all 15 tracks, but he also played most of the instruments you hear on the new record; guitar, keyboard, bass, banjo. He compares the level of enjoyment of recording to that of riding a bike. Panzich acquired even more knowledge taking an independent approach compared to what he already knew from being in bands.
“You're always learning – finding your art of songwriting or maybe even learning that you need to unlearn things. Sometimes you know too much. I learn every day with music, I guess that's why I do it. It's always a learning process, so it's fun,” Panzich says.
Panzich is already in the process of writing another record. He is keeping busy with all his side projects and will be scheduling a tour where you can hear his solo material live after the new year.
“I feel like I haven't reached my potential completely yet…I feel like I've gotten to the point where I'm satisfied with what I've written or recorded. It's a lot of fun, it's therapeutic. I've been doing it for a long time now…” Panzich says. “
This record isn't just something for someone, it's for everyone.
Yvonne Villasenor is often in a sleep deprived daze daydreaming about ’90s heartthrobs, dogs, upcoming album releases, and what she’s going to eat for dinner. When she snaps back to reality, she writes about OC’s latest music and artists.