Most artists pull from pain; Michael Indemaio flips the narrative. The writer-turned-musician’s debut album, Take Me With You—anchored by the unexpectedly euphoric single This Is the Part—isn’t another breakup diary or angst-soaked confession. Instead, it’s a rare burst of unapologetic joy, a love letter to resilience that blends punk’s raw urgency with jazz horns, piano flourishes, and a poet’s unflinching introspection. “I wanted to make my favorite album,” says the three-time published poet. “Like it already existed, and I just had to uncover it.”
Across its twelve tracks, Take Me With You resists easy categorization. Sylvia, with its nod to Plath’s iconic “I am, I am” mantra, transforms literary darkness into a blazing brass-soaked anthem. Indemaio’s work is a kind of alchemy—turning shadows into fuel. Where others might dwell in melancholy, he chooses gratitude, creating what feels like one of the first true post-healing concept albums: a body of work that acknowledges past wounds yet refuses to let them define the present.
For two decades, Indemaio’s art lived on the page and in fleeting social media posts. Now, it breathes in rhythm and melody. This Is the Part disguises quiet wisdom in a dancefloor-ready command—“this is the part where we all fall apart”—while the album’s deeper cuts hide lyrical Easter eggs and unexpected instrumental turns. It’s music that proves joy can be as layered and complex as sorrow—and twice as magnetic.
Even in its most celebratory moments, the album carries a writer’s precision. Lines hit with the weight of lived experience, and melodies rise with the confidence of someone who’s already done the hard work of healing. The result is an album that feels both intentional and instinctive, the sound of an artist finally inhabiting his full creative voice.
Looking ahead, Indemaio hints that his next project will be “more accessible”—a natural evolution after the intensely personal statement of Take Me With You. But this debut will remain singular: a milestone where poetry found its backbeat and refused to sit quietly on the page.
For his audience, he offers a mantra and a dare: “Let’s plant roses in the rubble.” It’s not just a lyric—it’s a blueprint for living. Press play on This Is the Part. The dance doesn’t just begin now—it’s been waiting for you.
Take Me With You is available on all platforms. Connect with Michael Indemaio @indemaio on X, Instagram, and TikTok.
