Project Description

The High Strung Website
Similar Artists: Dr. Dog, Fruit Bats, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeroes

The High Strung formed nearly 20 years ago, but the friendship of four core members started in fifth grade. Metro Detroit natives Derek Berk, Josh Malerman, Mark Owen, and Chad Stocker formed in 2000, along with Jason Berkowitz of Cleveland. After settling back in the Motor City, Stephen Palmer joined the group, adding much flair to the catalog. While audiences will recognize their song “The Luck You Got” from the opening credits of Showtime’s “Shameless,” the group has also received accolades from Rolling Stone, Spin, and Pitchfork. They have also been reviewed on Fresh Air twice and featured in This American Life. Singer and guitarist Malerman is also the author of the New York Times best-selling novel turned Netflix film Bird Box, starring Sandra Bullock. 

News

RELEASES

“Address Unknown” (Album)
Release Date: May 5, 2023

The new piano-driven album from indie-rock band the High Strung, Address Unknown begins with an invitation to travel via the title track and culminates in an emotional arrival with “The Bomb.” The singer/songwriting duo of Josh Malerman (New York Times bestselling author of Bird Box) and Mark Owen have delivered a covert concept album: a navigation of the big scary world, through mazes, telescopes, upon boats and skis, in which the duo get much closer to “home” by the end. Produced by Jason Berkowitz and Zach Shipps (Electric Six), it’s the band’s newest studio album, set to release May 5 on Paper Thin Records. Read more

Bio

New York Times best-selling author Josh Malerman and songwriting partner Mark Owen helm the High Strung’s best album to date: Address Unknown. Songs of psychological mazes, individuals setting out on identity quests, and even optimism as an option in a wild new world, all while maintaining the thrust of their hit “The Luck You Got”, the long-standing theme song for Showtime’s hit show “Shameless.” The pair of singer/songwriters trade off lead duties throughout, delivering an element of a late-night artistic showdown, old friends and new, declaring their individual takes on this modern and often confounding moment in time.

Detroit savant Zach Shipps and High Strung mainstay Jason Berkowitz produced the album in Malerman’s Laurel Canyon-esque home. Strings, piano, and acoustic guitars add much to the power of rhythm section Chad Stocker (bass) and Derek Berk (drums), and Stephen Palmer’s lead guitar lines cement his growing status as one of Detroit’s all-time players.

Malerman’s book Bird Box was a hit movie for Netflix, and while he’s started a production company with manager Ryan Lewis, he hasn’t turned his back on music, evidenced by the sincerity and enthusiasm in this Malerman/Owen batch of Brill Building-esque songs.

Address Unknown is an absolutely fresh sound in modern music. Rhythmic, lyrical, with harmonies to spare. The exact album you’d want to put on at that late-night gathering.

THE HIGH STRUNG

Josh Malerman   Songwriter, Lead Vocals, Piano

Mark Owen  Songwriter, Lead Vocals

Chad Stocker  Bass, Lead Vocals on The Bomb

Derek Berk  Drums

Stephen Palmer  Lead Guitar

Jason Berkowitz  Acoustic Guitar

All songs by Malerman/Owen except The Bomb by Malerman/Owen/Stocker

Produced by Zach Shipps and Jason Berkowitz

Additional Vocals by Allison Laako & Jim Burning

TOUR DATES

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