Michael Franti Urges Us To ‘Work Hard And Be Nice’ On New Album

Michael Franti has announced his upcoming 11th studio album, Work Hard And Be Nice, will be released June 19 on Thirty Tigers. The project includes the lead songs, “How We Living,” and “I’m On Your Side,” both out today.

The award-winning film Stay Human, directed by Franti and coined by Woody Harrelson as “the film every human needs to watch right now,” will have its YouTube premiere, partnered with Levi’s, this evening, Wednesday, April 22 at 5 p.m. PT with a Q&A and acoustic performance with Franti via Instagram immediately following the screening.

“There is no better time for music that helps us laugh, cry, rage, soothe, dance and sing through the sea of emotions boiling inside each of us. How beautiful that we can come together today of all days, on Earth Day. While we may be physically distancing, socially I love how we’re coming together,” he said.  “I wrote ‘I’m On Your Side’ to share the message that despite the labels we put on each other to divide us into different groups and force us to choose sides, like political ideologies, gender, race, religion, sexuality and economic standing, we have a lot more in common than we do in difference. We all ‘stay awake at night wondering if we’ll be all right,’ or sit ‘…at the kitchen table counting up the bills to pay.’ And in each of those situations where we start to feel hopelessness creeping in, when we feel most alone in the battle, I want the listener to know, I feel it too. I’m there with you in spirit, without judgment, in solidarity and ‘I’m On Your Side.’”

In continued celebration of Earth Day and the announcement of Work Hard And Be Nice, Franti will join Earth Day Live on Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. PT, and on Friday, April 24, he will join Together We Breathe Hope, a free virtual concert benefiting the National Jewish Health COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund.

Work Hard And Be Nice Track Listing:

1. I Got You (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
2. Sun and Moon (Michael Franti & Chris Stevens)
3. Good Shit Happens (Michael Franti & Cappy Franti)
4. I Can Still Feel You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
5. Start Small Think Big (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens. Brett Warren & Brad Warren)
6. How We Living (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
7. Breaking Down The Door (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
8. The Friends Song (Michael Franti & Daniel Lubwama Kigozi)
9. Lay It All Down (Michael Franti, Chris Stevens & James Yeary)
10. P.S. I Love You (Michael Franti)
11. Work Hard And Be Nice (Michael Franti & Jonathan Singleton)
12. Is It Worth A Penny To You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
13. Walking Into The Sun (Michael Franti & Carl Young)
14. All My Friends (Michael Franti & Tim Myers)
15. I’m On Your Side (Michael Franti & Sean McConnell)
16. Daycation (Michael Franti & Nathan Chapman)
17. Watching The World Go By With You (Michael Franti & Carl Young)

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at [email protected].

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