Deko Entertainment is excited to be partnering with producer/guitarist Michael Lockwood (Aimee Mann, Carly Simon, Fiona Apple, Susanna Hoffs, Ben Taylor) and help launch his new label Sparkle Plenty Records. Deko will be working with Michael on a series of collaborations over the next year with the first being the single “Unkind” from Bird Streets (featuring an appearance by Aimee Mann). This is the first new music in three years from John Brodeur’s project is an epic breakup song marked by unflinching self-reflection. “This was one of the first things I started writing after my wife and I separated,” says Brodeur. “It’s about taking a broader look at a difficult situation, and owning up to one’s role in making that situation difficult. It’s probably the most honest thing I’ve ever written–an apology by way of an admission.”
Producer-guitarist and Aimee Mann associate Michael Lockwood helmed the recording. “I met
Michael through some mutual friends in Los Angeles,” says Brodeur, “and he played guitar on a
couple of our live shows there. We hit it off great and I was already a fan of his work, so it just
made sense to record something together.” In turn, Lockwood enlisted Mann herself to play
bass, along with some of her longtime band members, including Patrick Warren, whose
gorgeous string arrangement, in tandem with Lockwood’s fluid and melodic guitar lines, give an
emotional lift to Brodeur’s weary, longing vocal.
The mix, by Grammy winner Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer) helps guide “Unkind”
through its dynamic peaks and valleys, creating a remarkably cohesive and affecting piece–all
the more remarkable considering the entire recording was produced during lockdown, with none
of the players ever in the same room. “Unkind” is the inaugural release for Lockwood’s brand new label, Sparkle Plenty Records, and the first glimpse of the forthcoming second Bird Streets LP, due out this fall.
Michael had this to say about the new collaboration, “After years of being on all sides of this incredible musical journey, I am so pleased to partner up with Deko Entertainment and Jeff Keller Management to create a vehicle like Sparkle Plenty Records. The new home to John Brodeur’s band, Bird Streets. We have been making some beautiful music during these challenging times. ‘Unkind’ is John’s 1st release in three years and features my favourite bass player, Aimee Mann, as well as some of her musical collaborators from the past (Patrick Warren, John Sands, Buddy Judge as well as myself). I could not be happier to have it be our first release here at Sparkle Plenty. Play Loud and colour outside the lines”. Deko Entertainment president Bruce Pucciarello continues, “This project with Michael and Bird Streets is an exciting exploration into music composition and performance. We love the quest for new tradition at Deko and this stream of artistic creativity and the panorama of artists involved threatens to push some boundaries. We’re all in!”
