Micatone – Where Do You Belong?

German nu jazz stalwarts Micatone return to Sonar Kollektiv after a six year hiatus with the ethereal and emotionally charged coming-of-age piece, Where Do You Belong?

The core duo of the band, Boris Meinhold on guitar and synths and Lisa Bassenge on vocals, have been making music for the label for over two decades, with five studio albums and numerous singles to date.

Where Do You Belong? was inspired by singer Lisa’s now nineteen year old daughter at a time when she was trying to find her place in the world. Lisa explains that the “song (is) about the in-between state humans find themselves in when they grow up. A phase where life seems full of possibilities, shiny and brand new but at the same time scary and somehow overwhelming.”

The track was produced during COVID lockdown with Boris using field recordings, guitars, an old organ bass pedal and choir that give the track that celestial feel. Lisa wrote the melodies and lyrics over the top and asked vocalists Lilian Bennett-Schaar, Johanna Maisel and Josephine Pritz to sing the choral parts.

Label head honcho, Oliver Glage, then had the idea of Stefan Leisering, of Jazzanova, providing the programmed drums, and the track was complete. An elegant, touching and yet somewhat intangible new offering, and the first of a little series of pieces out on the label in 2023.