The Contortionist’s Michael Lessard Releases Solo Track, “Use the Rest”

The Contortionist frontman Michael Lessard (ex-Last Chance to Reason) has released his very first solo track, “Use the Rest,” a startlingly honest piece about depression and anxiety with an appropriately earnest video.

The standalone single, which Lessard promises is the first in a series, features Lessard’s vocals over an arpeggiated acoustic guitar line and some subtle keyboard and piano texturing; we’ve heard this quiet, introspective side of Lessard before in his work with the Contortionist, but never on full display like this. It seems like a safe assumption that Lessard’s forthcoming solo material will be more in this vein, not heavy, which is fine: experimentation and stepping outside a band’s norm is what side projects are for!

Lessard offered of the single and the music still to come:

 “I’m beyond excited to announce the release of my debut song to the world!” says Lessard. “I’ve worked very hard to make a song and video that I thought would be the best representation of what is to come.”

“‘Use The Rest’ is the first of many singles/videos to be released. I’ve been lucky enough to team up with Good Fight Music, who have allowed me to build on the idea of creating standalone pieces of music and video for now. I look forward to sharing more music very soon!”

Check out “Use the Rest” below.