Social Distancing: four songs of the pandemic

Produced by Michael Simon, and recorded entirely remotely by the members of the band during the spring and summer of 2020, Social Distancing features four songs written in the shadow of the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. The songs were written primarily by Michael Simon and Eric Stepanian along with additional lyrics by Trevor Larkin and Leah Wilson-Velasco.

credits

Dave Chalfant – guitars, percussion
Brian Griffith – drums
Trevor Larkin – guitars
Katryna Nields – featured guest vocal
Michael Simon – basses, guitars, keys, percussion, background vocals
Eric Stepanian – lead vocals

Produced and mixed by Michael Simon
Recorded in Washington, Massachusetts, and Tennessee by Dave Chalfant, Brian Griffith, Trevor Larkin, Michael Simon, and Eric Stepanian
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound

Available March 5, 2021

Michael Simon

Michael Simon is a bassist, guitarist, producer, engineer and educator from Walla Walla, Washington, fluent in pop, rock, jazz, electronic, classical, and other genres. Michael’s musicianship and technical skill, coupled with his keen ability to hear and analyze sounds, music, and textures, make him uniquely positioned to capture and expand upon the essence of each artist’s unique voice and music.

While based in Boston for 8 years, Michael was the bassist, lead guitarist and backing singer for the touring pop/rock band Stepanian. While with Stepanian, Michael played almost 500 shows across the eastern US and was a part of the release of 2 full-length albums, Autumn She Leaves, Wait Out the Rain (the LP), and 1 concert DVD/album, Live at Club Passim.

During this time in Boston, Michael honed his engineering and production chops at Sackamusic Studio and independently, serving as assistant engineer or mix engineer on releases by The Nields, The Boxcar Lilies, Eric Stepanian and others. As an independent recording engineer he worked with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, recording their chamber concerts.

Since returning to the northwest, Michael has founded Coffee Ring Studios, a full-service recording studio in Walla Walla, Wash. He has produced and engineered releases by David Hyun-Su Kim, Johnny Boyd, Kate Morrison, Rogue Lobster, Off the Record, The B Side, Candace Brown, Eric Stepanian, and many others. Additionally he serves as recording engineer (and often live sound engineer) for the Walla Walla Symphony, Walla Walla Choral Society, Mid-Columbia Mastersingers, Whitman College Department of Music and others.

Michael's expertise extends to live sound engineering as well, having provided Front of House sound for venues including Gesa Powerhouse Theatre, Main Street Studios and Cordiner Hall.  Michael has run sound for acts including Mark O’Connor, Blind Boys of Alabama, Cody ChesNUTT, Oz Noy, Nathaniel Rateliff and many more.

A graduate of Whitman College, Michael teaches courses in music technology, music theory, and lessons on both classical and jazz bass at Whitman College. He also serves as the Department of Music’s recording engineer and music technologist.

Michael continues to play actively as both a bassist (upright and electric) as well as a singer/songwriter/guitarist, including performances with Phil Lynch, Whitman College jazz faculty, Tom Simon Jazz Trio, and the Walla Walla Symphony.

Check out Michael's Whitman College faculty bio.