My Politic - Signs of Life (2025) Hi-Res

With a chosen moniker such as My Politic, you might assume that this is a band that has plenty to say about the political winds of change that blow through the land, especially at a time when opinions and ideologies seem particularly fractured and entrenched. But if such comments are to be found in their songs, and they certainly are if you know where to look, it is more of a social commentary is at work here, rather than direct political statement. And even then, they are the sort of observations seen through the filter of everyday life, and often of a vaguely philosophical nature.

And “Signs of Life,” from their new album of the same name, which will follow in a few months, is a classic example of this subtly at work. Watching his neighbor dig a hole in his garden and marvel at the things he finds – worthless yet intriguing objects that tell us something about someone else’s life – perhaps becomes a metaphor for us to remain curious in our own lives. And I agree. There is always something new to learn, another skill to master, an idea or point-of-view that might alter your own understanding of the world (something becoming particularly rare in today’s climate). There is always something new waiting around the next corner or beyond the next horizon. Or at least there is if we train ourselves to notice and embrace it.

Put to a gentle, acoustic, folky groove, the song is underpinned by solid beats that add energy and urgency and then polished with sonic sheens and shimmering motifs; it is a song that is both easy and accessible but has something fundamentally important to say.

“Maybe I’m doing alright?” Kaston Guffey muses…yes, sir, with an attitude like that, you certainly are.

Signs of Life was written in the two years between Guffey leaving Nashville and embracing a new life in Pittsburgh PA with his wife Georgia (a fellow songwriter and music educator). The album is many things at once: a celebration of curiosity and discovery, a reflection of what has come and gone, a portrait of the tumultuous nature of American life in these unprecedented times, and an existential examination of what it means to navigate through all of this complexity.

The album features the rich vocal harmonies between Guffey and Pankey that fans have come to expect and crave. The duo’s unique sensibilities are amplified by an incredible team of friends & musicians. Fans of Missouri Folklore will enjoy hearing the returning sounds of John Mailander’s ornamental fiddle and mandolin, Steve Peavy’s weaving dobro and pedal steell, and engineer Josh Washam’s tasteful bass, drums, piano, & synth. Recorded in November of 2024, this musical ensemble contributed to My Politic’s most sonically rich album to date.

Signs of Life is an album with a big heart and sees the duo at the peak of their ability to render everyday life into interesting, relatable and unforgettable songs. It's an album full of contradictions, one that understands that hope and hopelessness, pain and joy, fear and courage, simplicity and complexity are what make this life meaningful. The album is out in full on May 23rd 2025. You can hear the title track “Signs of Life” on 03/28 wherever you stream music.