From Stereogum · · 2m
The Hour Of Michael Cormier-O'Leary Is Upon Us
Michael Cormier-O'Leary discusses his DIY chamber pop band Hour, new solo EP, and Dear Life Records label.
In brief
Michael Cormier-O'Leary discusses his DIY chamber pop band Hour, new solo EP, and Dear Life Records label. Michael Cormier-O'Leary explains how his band Hour evolved from a basement project to a 13-member ensemble, releasing the melancholic album Ghost Bridge inspired by grief. Originally reported by Stereogum.
Hour's New Album Ghost Bridge
Michael Cormier-O'Leary releases Ghost Bridge, a 13-member chamber pop album exploring grief and loss.
“Ghost Bridge was the occasion for my recent interview with Cormier-O'Leary.”
Six-Year Gap in Hour Releases
Cormier-O'Leary took six years without a new Hour album, releasing two studio albums and a live album between 2024 and now.
“You went six years without a new Hour album, and now you've put out two studio albums and a live album between 2024 and now.”
DIY Chamber Pop Origins
Cormier-O'Leary started Hour in a basement in West Philly, blending improvised and composed elements.
“Our first show was in a basement, and that was the starting point of introducing compositional writing but still playing with, I mean, I was playing with just some of my favorite people in the West Philly scene.”
Growing the Band
Hour expanded from 9 to 13 members after Cormier-O'Leary moved back to Philly in 2023.
“Ease The Work had nine musicians, and now this record has 13.”
Chamber Pop Style
Cormier-O'Leary describes chamber pop as using orchestral colors to create emotional depth without full orchestras.
“I would use the word color. When you add the whole range of instruments that you get from a small orchestra, a lot of film scores are not full orchestras, it's like maybe 20 or so players, you just get this color from how you can arrange all the different instruments in their distinct timbres.”
Basement Recording Challenges
Cormier-O'Leary recorded Ghost Bridge in a basement, relying on Lucas Knapp to achieve professional sound despite limitations.
“This record was extremely hard to make, and I would say basically all of the credit goes to Lucas Knapp, who recorded all of it and made it sound like it was not recorded in a basement.”
Grief as Inspiration
Ghost Bridge explores grief and loss, with the title track 'Ghost Bridge' symbolizing a bridge that disappears.
“In a super broad stroke, I was just thinking about grieving. Literally, it's about grieving and death.”
Personal Connection to Music
Cormier-O'Leary's solo EP Proof Enough blends personal and fictional stories, including songs about his wedding and a 5-year-old named Marilyn.
“I wrote that song, and I felt like I understood what this character was really feeling, in a way that I don't often get to think about commiserating with the emotions of a 5-year-old.”
Dear Life Records
Cormier-O'Leary co-runs Dear Life Records, a label that released MJ Lenderman's Boat Songs and other artist projects.
“I started it in 2019. This is a pretty good segue from your previous question. I started it literally because I was writing songs and I had this Hour music, and I was like, 'It'd be nice to be able to put out both.'”
Label Growth
Dear Life Records grew during 2020 lockdowns, releasing 13 records before scaling down to six releases per year.
“We were definitely thrown into the deep end. That record sold out before street date. We had made 500 copies of it, and it was sold out before the album was out.”
Label Philosophy
Dear Life Records focuses on well-written music, with a mix of genres including classical and indie rock.
“We've learned a lot in a relatively short amount of time. I didn't set out to be a record label guy.”
Upcoming Releases
Dear Life Records plans five releases next year, including one major project that will excite fans.
“I'll have to be a little coy, but four of them are repeat artists. One of them in a mode that is pretty different from the other release we put out.”
Touring Experience
Cormier-O'Leary's Hour band tours with six members, adapting music to smaller settings while maintaining creative flexibility.
“We did this tour with six people, which, by regular band standards, is still a large band. But it's not even half of the instruments that are on the recording.”
Community Project
Hour functions as a community project, with each member contributing unique musical styles and improvisation.
“Every player has generally some idiosyncratic quality that I just can't imagine not having. Like the way Matt plays viola.”
Grief and Music
Cormier-O'Leary's music explores the zigzag nature of grief, balancing darkness with hope.
“The record ends with a song that I wrote right before recording that I named after my kid. I felt like an album where I was mainly thinking about death and then ending it with a newborn song.”
What Happens Next
Dear Life Records releases five new projects next year, including a major release that fans will be excited about.
“The fifth one, I think everyone's gonna be really excited about. It feels like it's a long time coming.”
What it means
Michael Cormier-O'Leary explains how his band Hour evolved from a basement project to a 13-member ensemble, releasing the melancholic album Ghost Bridge inspired by grief.
