“Time At The Lake” feels like more than just a summer song. What were you
hoping people would feel when they hear it?
I hope the song brings a content and maybe a soft smile to listeners remembering the
best of times being in tune with life while enjoying their time at the lake.
You say spending time at the lake means something different to everyone. What’s
your own favorite part of being at the lake?
Tough question. It’s really the essence of everything, all wrapped in one. The sights
and sounds are vivid, food tastes better and music comes alive, The sunrises, sunsets,
moonlit skies, are all even better being at the lake. Maybe it’s because it signals you to
take it all in and savor the best of times.
The song blends indie pop, jazz, and a little soul. How did you land on that sound
for this track?
Two of my lifelong friends and I were throwing out ideas about what a song called Time
at The Lake would best sound like. That’s when I decided the music has to drive the
song. Our group uses a lot of sax and when tossing around ideas for the music we set
out to have a soft jazzy feel and it took off from there with an indies feel. It wasn’t until
the end, when we turned our sax player loose, and when he was done, we knew it
became our lead. True story, the water intro and outro came from my phone at midnight
on my dock one breezy summer night, a fitting final touch to the ambience of the song.
Was there a specific lake, cabin, or memory that sparked the idea for “Time At The
Lake”?
I was part way through writing more of a beach album when on Memorial Day weekend
2025, I sent a message to a friend saying to enjoy your time at the like. I was looking
out at the lake that day and It hit me right away, this is the direction I want the next
album to go.
I thought back to my friends and growing up as a guest at their family cabin and how it
led us to buy a small cabin of our own and how grateful we have been to give our
children a lake life upbringing. I remember driving to a store that very day, workshopping
the phrase “time at the lake”, rhyming it and trying to sing it. I went back to our cabin
and wrote the scratch set. Scenes and memories flowed from being at my friend’s
cabin and now being at our own cabin. Memories of the best days that spanned a life
time gave it a deep purpose and the trick was to write it in a way that left the imagination
open to each person’s individual experiences going to the lake. I also knew exactly who
would do our vocals, as I wanted a female voice that had a calming yet convincing
appeal.
The song mentions everything from fishing and boating to campfires and family
cookouts. Which of those moments best sums up a perfect lake weekend for
you?
Wow, each day is its own and I enjoy them all. I think the perfect weekend has a little bit
of everything. I do love to fish, jet ski, cruise the lake, cook out and have a campfire
under a full moon and watch the stars and dream…
Come to think of it I’ve pretty much described the full album when you add in sharing
time w friends and family!
Minnesotans have a special connection to lake life. Do you think people from
outside the state will relate to the song in the same way?
My hope is that eventually more and more people in lake country will like our music.
Most of the songs should be relatable to anyone who seeks leisure at a lake, beach or
taking a drive along the back roads. The album is a love story about being in tune with
life and nature, enjoying it with loved ones. There are millions of people who vacation
near water each year and I hope our work finds them and brings content when reflecting
on their experiences.
This is the title track for the new album. What made “Time At The Lake” the song
that best represents the whole project?
I just knew. I was convinced instantly that Time at The Lake was going to be the title and
the overriding theme of the album. We later added A Minnesota Treasure to personalize
it to my home state, the land of 10,000 lakes.
Your music covers a lot of different genres. What made this feel like the right time
to lean into a laid-back, feel-good summer vibe?
I was writing a ton in 2025 and remember even before knowing where we were going
with the album. I shared a sound blend I liked w a friend who has a music background.
She had been educating me on how classic music can paint a vivid picture of emotions
with sound. I usually write lyrics and then piece together how it may sound afterwards
but this was different…
I was writing the song Heaven Sent but was stuck so I started listening to a bunch of
different beats, found two I liked and sailed through completing the lyrics for the song. I
was so happy thinking I’ve finally found my sound. I remember her look of approval,
even though she said it would be great if you can pull this off. Our musical team loves
challenges, and this one was to take certain elements and combine them into our own
new sound. A sound that has more of an Indies feel and add in some soft jazz. I have a
great team, and they are empowered to create. We found the vibe for a summer album
creating our theme in a way we hope others can relate.
if someone presses play on “Time At The Lake” while driving to the cabin, what
do you hope happens before the song ends?
I hope their singing “it’s time at the lake, making life great, grabbing all we can take,”
Seriously, If some ones playing Time at The lake while driving to cabin or resort, I hope
it helps builds the anticipation, especially when driving the back roads that usually
accompany the tail end of one’s journeys to their destination.
The upcoming album is called Time At The Lake – A Minnesota Treasure. What
makes that experience such a treasure to you personally?
I’ve been fortunate to have friends who taught me lake life for many years having me as
a guest at their family cabin. Later my wife and i bought a small cabin and renovated it
so our children could experience the very same lake life i had.
Of all the albums and songs we’ve done, this album was by far the most personal and
rewarding to make. One last piece was missing in this album and that was a tribute to
my friends. Their older brother would always beat is up to the lake each time I visited.
The final road to their family cabin was pitch black save for one small yellow porch light
that was always on. That was my friend’s cabin. Their brother would be waiting for us
and greet us with hugs, a beer and made us feel welcomed with a story or two. Over the
years we would spend hours beneath that back porch light catching up on our
friendships. This feeling needed to be included in our set as unfortunately we lost Rob a
few years back and I wanted to honor his memory with the song Back Porch Light.
The album includes vocal songs along with a few instrumentals. How does “Time
At The Lake” help set the tone for everything else listeners are about to hear?
It sort of happened by accident one day as I thought I was listening to the full vocal mix
of a demo but was only listening to the instrumental version. I wasn’t a big fan if
instrumentals at first because my lyrics drove each song. However, when listening to the
instrumentals of that song, it changed my mind. We put in three instrumentals, First we
did “Tall Pines”, as that’s often what one sees driving the back roads in Northern
Minnesota. Next, we included a boat ride song remembering younger days listening to
George Benson Breez’n, so we wrote “Idyllic Cruise’. Last we wanted to put something
in about Northern Lights. It was pretty humorous as I went to our musical lead and said i
wanted something compelling w Spanish guitars that would lead it as a good classic
music song would leave one mesmerized. The joke is that our music lead is Spanish,
so he smiled and said dramatic guitars, and thus the song ‘Northern Lights Serenade”
was completed.
Summer playlists are always competitive. Why do you think “Time At The Lake”
deserves a spot on everyone’s lake weekend soundtrack?
You are right in saying there are many summer playlists. In fact, I’m making one right
now titled “Summer Soulstice” where we will include some of the lake music i grew up
with and blend in a good part of the Time at the lake album. Sort of the best of summer
all in on. Watch for it on Spotify.
Final thoughts. I heard it said once, “when in Rome” so when in Minnesota or at any
lake take a listen to’”Time at The Lake”
