Biography
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Michael Rault fuses garage rock, psychedelic songcraft, soft funk grooves, and catchy '70s radio melodies into a style that feels warmly familiar rather than archival. Early releases such as the 2012 EP Whirlpool highlighted his tougher garage edges, yet over time the emphasis moved toward gently swaying ballads reminiscent of Paul McCartney's solo work. Teaming with the Daptone Records team supplied these reflective tracks with crisp, energetic foundations on the 2018 album It's a New Day Tonight and the 2022 self-titled LP, striking an effective balance between vintage references and present-day clarity.
Rault launched his recording career in the mid-2000s by issuing a string of self-produced CD-Rs from his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His established knack for classic, retro-leaning composition eventually secured a deal with Sony Canada's Pirates Blend imprint, which put out his 1950s rock-styled debut Ma-Me-O in 2010. Following his 2012 relocation to Toronto, he issued the seven-track Whirlpool EP, which drew more heavily from '60s garage and psychedelic sources. Increasing ties with Toronto indie figures such as Young Guv and Slim Twig, whose group he also joined, helped broaden his reach. Continued refinement of his psych, garage, retro R&B, and unconventional guitar-rock approach drew the attention of Burger Records, which released the 2014 single Still Not Sad/Nothing Means Nothing. His next full-length, Living Daylight, finally appeared in early 2015.
While touring alongside soul singer Charles Bradley and later King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Rault met Daptone Records studio director Wayne Gordon. This connection prompted a trip to the Brooklyn facility to develop new material. Gordon responded positively, signed Rault to the Wick Records subsidiary, and the two completed an album that incorporated folk-rock and '70s AOR elements while tracking straight to tape for a warm, natural tone. Less a garage-rock revival and more a classic-rock revival, It's a New Day Tonight emerged in May 2018, after which Rault and his band toured extensively. Upon returning to Montreal, he ended both personal and professional relationships and spent the winter writing. He then relocated to Los Angeles, where he became a steady session musician for artists including Pearl Charles, Drugdealer, and PAINT.
When preparing his subsequent album, Rault again enlisted the Daptone collective. The resulting tracks centered on introspective piano ballads paired with taut funk rhythms, interspersed with occasional synth-driven rockers that simultaneously evoked Harry Nilsson and the Steve Miller Band. The self-titled record appeared in early 2022, shortly after Rault had joined the touring band of Zambian psych-rock outfit Witch for several U.S. dates.
Rault launched his recording career in the mid-2000s by issuing a string of self-produced CD-Rs from his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. His established knack for classic, retro-leaning composition eventually secured a deal with Sony Canada's Pirates Blend imprint, which put out his 1950s rock-styled debut Ma-Me-O in 2010. Following his 2012 relocation to Toronto, he issued the seven-track Whirlpool EP, which drew more heavily from '60s garage and psychedelic sources. Increasing ties with Toronto indie figures such as Young Guv and Slim Twig, whose group he also joined, helped broaden his reach. Continued refinement of his psych, garage, retro R&B, and unconventional guitar-rock approach drew the attention of Burger Records, which released the 2014 single Still Not Sad/Nothing Means Nothing. His next full-length, Living Daylight, finally appeared in early 2015.
While touring alongside soul singer Charles Bradley and later King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Rault met Daptone Records studio director Wayne Gordon. This connection prompted a trip to the Brooklyn facility to develop new material. Gordon responded positively, signed Rault to the Wick Records subsidiary, and the two completed an album that incorporated folk-rock and '70s AOR elements while tracking straight to tape for a warm, natural tone. Less a garage-rock revival and more a classic-rock revival, It's a New Day Tonight emerged in May 2018, after which Rault and his band toured extensively. Upon returning to Montreal, he ended both personal and professional relationships and spent the winter writing. He then relocated to Los Angeles, where he became a steady session musician for artists including Pearl Charles, Drugdealer, and PAINT.
When preparing his subsequent album, Rault again enlisted the Daptone collective. The resulting tracks centered on introspective piano ballads paired with taut funk rhythms, interspersed with occasional synth-driven rockers that simultaneously evoked Harry Nilsson and the Steve Miller Band. The self-titled record appeared in early 2022, shortly after Rault had joined the touring band of Zambian psych-rock outfit Witch for several U.S. dates.
Albums
Michael Rault
2022
It's a New Day Tonight
2018
Living Daylight
2015
Still Not Sad / Nothing Means Nothing
2015
Ma-Me-O
2010
Singles
