Watch the Sunshine-Filled Music Video for Michael Rault’s “I’ll Be There”

Michael Rault’s new music video and single “I’ll Be There,” off his forthcoming album It’s A New Day Tonight, is just the pick-me-up needed to get over those mid-week blues. The Montreal-based singer-songwriter is set to release his Wick Records debut on May 18. “I’ll Be There” is the album’s opener and the second single to be released off the record, following “Sleep with Me” in 2017. You can revisit that first single below.

After going on tour with Aussie-rockers King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, Rault teamed up with producer Wayne Gordon and signed to the Brooklyn-based Daptone Records rock subsidiary, Wick Records, during what was initially only supposed to be a two-week recording stint. Signing on to Wick made Rault the first Canadian member of the Daptone label, and the musician then went on to finish the record with Gordon as co-producer. The label’s unique live-to-tape recording setup gives the forthcoming album its loose ‘70s vibe, combined with an energetic “21st-century optimism.”

“The editing and patching together of tracks on the album was minimal compared to modern standards,” says Rault in a statement, “which forced me to get more used to having to perform each song all the way through in the studio and then live with the imperfections afterwards.”

The Alex Kingsmill-directed music video for “I’ll Be There” features Rault riding in the back of a pickup truck as fireworks and brightly colored rainbow lights are superimposed over a changing urban and rural landscape.

It’s A New Day Tonight derives its name from what’s described in the press release as “the most Canadian of sources”: a pregame interview with a hockey player who was quoted as saying, “It’s a new day tonight, we’ve got to put the past behind us.“ Rault addresses the album’s title (and title track) in a statement:

At first, I thought it was an awkward phrase. But I quickly thought: “Awkward turn of phrase… or a good album title?” [The title track] is almost completely describing a very positive nightlife experience, but the opening line implies that this evening is coming as a major relief after spending the majority of the day depressed.

See the video for Rault’s new single “I’ll Be There” below, followed by the album’s tracklist and cover art. The musician will be at SXSW from March 14-17—find his full tour slate further down below.

It’s A New Day Tonight Tracklist:
01. I’ll Be There
02. New Day Tonight
03. Sleep With Me
04. Oh, Clever Boy
05. Sitting Still
06. Dream Song
07. Pyramid Scheme
08. Out of the Light
09. Sleeping & Smiling
10. When the Sun Shines

It’s A New Day Tonight Album Art:

Michael Rault 2018 Tour Dates:

March
14 – Austin, Texas @ Hotel Vegas (Desert Daze Party) – 2:45PM – (SXSW)
14 – Austin, Texas @ Panache Bruise Cruise #3 – 6:00PM – (SXSW)
16 – Austin, Texas @ St. Elmo’s Fire – 2:15PM – SXSW
16 – Austin, Texas @ Hotel Vegas (Panache Showcase) – 9:30PM – (SXSW)
17 – Austin, Texas @ Barracuda (Do512 The Big One) – 3:00PM – (SXSW)
17 – Austin, Texas @ Hotel Vegas (Burgermania VII) – 6:45PM – (SXSW)

May
22 – Toronto, Ontario @ Horseshoe Tavern
23 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Beachland Tavern
24 – Louisville, Ky. @ Zanzabar
25 – Nashville, Tenn. @ The Basement
26 – Atlanta, Ga. @ The Earl
28 – Raleigh, N.C. @ Neptunes
29 – Washington, District of Columbia @ DC 9
30 – Philadelphia, Pa. @ Johnny Brenda’s
31 – Brooklyn, N.Y. @ Our Wicked Lady Rooftop

June
01 – Boston, Mass. @ Once Ballroom @ Lounge
02 – Montreal, Quebec @ Bar le Ritz