Turning loneliness into something lush, danceable, and strangely comforting.
Midnight Channel—the genre-defying jazz collective from Lethbridge, Alberta—has released their brand new single “Must Be Nice,” now streaming everywhere. The sultry, Latin jazz-inspired track marks a bold new direction for the band as their first-ever vocal release, turning loneliness into something lush, danceable, and strangely comforting.
Built around a mid-tempo cha-cha rhythm, “Must Be Nice” blends soft acoustic guitar, warm horn arrangements, and layered percussion with a stunning detour in the bridge you have to hear to believe. The result is a track that feels both intimate and expansive—equal parts groove and ache.
“It’s a love song about how hard it is to get a date, let alone meet people,” says bassist and composer Matthew Erdmann. “It’s meant to remind you of third-wheeling your best friend and his girl in high school—seeing everyone else connect while you’re stuck doing all the self-improvement people tell you to do.”
Following their 2023 debut Gemini Sunrise—which reached #10 on the National Earshot! Jazz Charts—“Must Be Nice” showcases a more grounded, vulnerable side of Midnight Channel. Where the band first made waves with a genre-melting mix of cosmic free jazz, post-bop, Japanese fusion, and neo-soul, this single leans into something more emotionally direct and human.
It’s still Midnight Channel at heart—experimental, full of feeling, and fiercely musical—but now the lyrics bring the listener even closer.
The track is the second single from the group’s upcoming full-length album, slated for release on September 12, 2025. Like all of their work, “Must Be Nice” is fully self-produced and performed by a rotating cast of collaborators—a hallmark of the collective’s fluid, ever-evolving identity.
Live, Midnight Channel has built a reputation for unforgettable performances—from Sled Island (2024 & 2025) to intimate, garden-set shows at Lethbridge’s Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens. Their improvisational spirit and emotional honesty have earned them a loyal following in Alberta’s growing jazz scene and beyond.
“Must Be Nice” is out now on all streaming platforms. Listen wherever you get your music—and if you’ve ever felt like the only one left out of the love story, this one’s for you.
Built around a mid-tempo cha-cha rhythm, “Must Be Nice” blends soft acoustic guitar, warm horn arrangements, and layered percussion with a stunning detour in the bridge you have to hear to believe. The result is a track that feels both intimate and expansive—equal parts groove and ache.
“It’s a love song about how hard it is to get a date, let alone meet people,” says bassist and composer Matthew Erdmann. “It’s meant to remind you of third-wheeling your best friend and his girl in high school—seeing everyone else connect while you’re stuck doing all the self-improvement people tell you to do.”
Following their 2023 debut Gemini Sunrise—which reached #10 on the National Earshot! Jazz Charts—“Must Be Nice” showcases a more grounded, vulnerable side of Midnight Channel. Where the band first made waves with a genre-melting mix of cosmic free jazz, post-bop, Japanese fusion, and neo-soul, this single leans into something more emotionally direct and human.
It’s still Midnight Channel at heart—experimental, full of feeling, and fiercely musical—but now the lyrics bring the listener even closer.
The track is the second single from the group’s upcoming full-length album, slated for release on September 12, 2025. Like all of their work, “Must Be Nice” is fully self-produced and performed by a rotating cast of collaborators—a hallmark of the collective’s fluid, ever-evolving identity.
Live, Midnight Channel has built a reputation for unforgettable performances—from Sled Island (2024 & 2025) to intimate, garden-set shows at Lethbridge’s Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens. Their improvisational spirit and emotional honesty have earned them a loyal following in Alberta’s growing jazz scene and beyond.
“Must Be Nice” is out now on all streaming platforms. Listen wherever you get your music—and if you’ve ever felt like the only one left out of the love story, this one’s for you.
