Former R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe has released “Hum Desiderata,” a new spoken-word and musical work created for the online art platform Joyfully Waiting, according to Spin. The release offers another preview of the sonic landscape surrounding his long-gestating solo debut album.
Inside the Sound of “Hum Desiderata”
“Hum Desiderata” pairs Stipe’s recitation of Max Ehrmann’s poem “Desiderata” with an instrumental version of his unreleased song “Hum,” according to reports from Spin. The recording utilizes Stipe’s narration from his “Desiderata” sound installation at ICA Milan, featuring music written and produced alongside longtime collaborator Andy LeMaster. Athens, Georgia-based artist Elizabeth Hatmaker contributes additional vocals to the piece, which is hosted as a free online sound work on the Joyfully Waiting platform.
Stipe has spent years assembling his first solo record after previously resisting the idea of recording music outside of R.E.M. During an April appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, where he performed the track “The Rest of Ever,” the 66-year-old vocalist shared details regarding the unconventional production methods used on the upcoming album. According to Stipe’s interview with Stephen Colbert, one track on the album incorporates a field recording of a tree in his backyard in Georgia being played back to itself, resulting in a sound he likened to Daft Punk alongside reworked lyrics to the 250-year-old sea shanty “Drunken Sailor.”
Transition From R.E.M. to Multidisciplinary Art
Since R.E.M.’s disbanding in 2011, Stipe has focused heavily on visual and multidisciplinary art rather than traditional album cycles. His portfolio spans photography, sculpture, video, and sound installations. His first institutional exhibition opened at Milan’s ICA in 2023, and he has published four photography books through the Italian publisher Damiani, as reported by Spin.
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