‘The Water’ by New Mexico-based roots singer-songwriter Michael Rudd is a quietly epic song that feels all the more powerful for its understated approach. Opening with just the dramatic percussion from Mark Clark on drums, the song builds steadily and slowly, gently adding musical layers from Asher Barreras on electric bass and cello, and Brant Leeper on Hammond organ. Pat Malone and Rudd deliver electric guitar that flows on languid currents, while Rudd’s characterful vocal performance has the moody feel of Nick Cave. The result is a darkly atmospheric exploration of a character who is struggling to maintain faith in himself while facing life’s challenges alone. Seeking love and connection, he eventually finds redemption and a kind of peace. This is affecting music to immerse yourself in.
Rudd is about to release his third album, “Ways of the World”, on 27th February 2026. Rudd’s songs follow the stories of people who are searching for themselves, trying to understand who they are and attempting to find meaning in their lives. Ultimately, his characters are finding their place in the world and seeking transcendence. A sensitive, reflective songwriter, Rudd draws us into narratives that we can be absorbed by and associate with; he explains, “I think we all live on the margins to a certain extent, revealing what we want to reveal to others but keeping so much of the confusion and chaos of being alive inside. The songs on my new album, just like my first two, focus on that inner, more secretive world we often choose to keep to ourselves. Not just the suffering and the desperation and the feelings of isolation, but also that other side of being human – love, beauty, joy.”
Enjoy this captivating, hauntingly atmospheric song and then check out the album.
Exclusive Q&A with Michael Rudd about the song and video:
What is the story behind this song? How did it come together? What is it about? What inspired you to write it?
‘The Water’ is the story of the life of one man, a Job-like figure seeking redemption. I don’t recall the inspiration exactly, but it probably was as simple as trying to tell a story that seemed true and to get a whole life down in a single song. It seems to me that we’re all like Job, trying to retain some kind of faith in something while we face one obstacle or hardship after the next.
If listeners can take away one thing from having heard this song, what do you hope that it is?
My hope is that listeners can see themselves, or some part of themselves, reflected somewhere in the song.
How does this song fit in among the others on the album? How is it similar or different? What made you choose this song as a single?
‘The Water’ makes this collection of songs into an album. It sets the stage for the other stories that I try to tell. In some ways, all the other songs are different movements based on ‘The Water.’
‘The Water’ embodies what I tried to do with the album, and, from my perspective, is its most essential song. From a wider viewpoint, it encompasses what I’m trying to do musically and lyrically with the larger project, which, after recording a new album in March 2026, will consist of five albums since February 2024.
What is your favourite thing about this song – a music interlude, lyric phrase, the vibe? What do you like best about it?
I love the interplay between Mark Clark’s percussion, Asher Barreras’ bass, and Pat Malone’s guitar. They create a vibe that tells its own story, but one that complements what I’m doing vocally and lyrically.
Speaking of vibe, what kind of feel were you going for on this one? Did it change a lot in the studio, or did the song turn out to be exactly like you imagined it would?
All of my songs are written on an acoustic guitar, so when we get to the studio, there’s a whole lot of potential to add voicings and instruments. For example, I had an idea what I wanted for percussion, but Mark took it and made it his own and brought out aspects of the song that I didn’t know were there.
Tell us about the video. Whose idea was the video treatment, who directed it, where did you film it, etc.? How does the video add to the message of the song?
I worked with David Rosenfield on the video, our second together. We filmed it in two locations in New Mexico – along the Turquoise Trail between Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and in the far northwest corner of Albuquerque on the eastern bank of the Rio Grande. Best of all, my daughter, Olivia, who’s a dancer, joined us. Her dancing was really important in visually representing the imagery in the song. Dancing in deep, wet sand is no easy task, but I loved what she came up with.
What’s coming up next for you?
“Ways of the World”, the new album, will be released on February 27th. I get a little impatient with industry norms, so the next album, “Midnight at Dawn”, will be released in September or October 2026, with singles coming out this spring. And we’ll be back in the studio in March to record another album, which will be released in late winter or early spring of 2027. It’s a short life, so why wait?
