Alightbulb sparked for Michael Rault when his father taught him the opening guitar riff to Van MorrisonâÄôs âÄúBrown Eyed GirlâÄù at age 12. âÄúAfter I figured that out, I was like, âÄòWhoa, this is amazing,âÄô and I continued on from there,âÄù Rault said. The Toronto-based indie rocker released his latest album, âÄúLiving Daylight,âÄù in the United States last May after its 2014 release in Canada. On Sunday, the 27-year-old singer-songwriter will open for Happyness at the 7th Street Entry. Following some shifts in the lineup, three musicians now make a regular band with Rault, including drummer Ily Barnes, bassist Evan Uschenko and guitarist Matthew Aldred. As a teenager, Rault, who also plays keyboard and drums, played in punk bands and set out on his first solo tour at age 18. His first album, 2010âÄôs âÄúMa-Me-OâÄù, channels the sound of âÄô50s pop. Now, his music connects with the psychedelic rock of the âÄô60s and âÄô70s. âÄúI made 20 years of musical history in 10 years in real life,âÄù Rault said with a laugh. Just as Rault has dabbled in different genres throughout his career, âÄúLiving DaylightâÄù presents a variety of emotions and styles within RaultâÄôs own sound. Rault recorded âÄúLiving DaylightsâÄù about two years ago. Though the album was edited after recording, many of the original vocal tracks that he recorded in his bedroom carried over, he said. The album features slower, introspective jams like âÄúToo All My Friends,âÄù the âÄô50s-esque dance tune âÄúI Wanna Love YouâÄù and bluesy tracks like âÄúHiding From a Heartbreak.âÄù Similar artists include Tame Impala, the Black Keys and Mac Demarco. The single âÄúNothing Means NothingâÄù grooves with tranquil vibes and vocals reminiscent of the Beatles. âÄúI was just using a little keyboard in my bedroom. It was one of the nights that I decided to drink a bunch of coffee and stay up all night and write a song,âÄù Rault said. âÄúI thought of the phrase âÄúnothing means nothing.âÄù âĦ It sounds ambiguous; it could kind of mean nothing means anything, or everything means something.âÄù The music video, animated by Sean Solomon, features a cartoon character singing against a psychedelic backdrop. âÄúI just told [Solomon] I wanted to have a cartoon version of myself in the video, and I wanted it to be trippy. And he was like, âÄòOK,âÄô and he went with that,âÄù Rault said. The track âÄúToo All My FriendsâÄù on âÄúLiving DaylightâÄù presents a heartfelt message of friendship with captivating melodies. âÄúThis song didnâÄôt really have a real lyrical hook at all, so I didnâÄôt really know what to name it,âÄù Rault said of the title. âÄúOne of my friends actually has a tattoo with âÄòToo All My FriendsâÄô and misspelled it with the two OâÄôs, and we used to give him a hard time about it, but I also [kind of] think itâÄôs amazing.âÄù Rault is touring the U.S. and will later tour Europe. While on the road, Rault said the band stays busy with their favorite tapes and occasional trips to the beach. âÄúWe have âÄòZeppelin IâÄô and âÄòZeppelin IVâÄô on tape, and those two are my personal go-toâÄôs,âÄù Rault said. âÄúWe also have Steve Miller BandâÄôs âÄòGreatest Hits,âÄô and thatâÄôs one the whole band really enjoys blasting down the highway, and we tend to sing along to that one a lot.âÄù Happyness with Michael Rault Where 7th Street Entry, 701 N. First Ave., Minneapolis When 7:30 p.m. Sunday Cost $10-$12
Nothing means something with rocker Michael Rault
![Michael Rault will play 7th Street Entry as an opening act for Happyness on Sunday.](https://mndaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/072215stRault-Press.jpg)
Image by Photo courtesy of Adam C Seward
Michael Rault will play 7th Street Entry as an opening act for Happyness on Sunday.
Published July 22, 2015