_{By McKinsleigh Smith}

Earlier this week, Utah indie singer/songwriter Mark Lanham released a 16-minute live performance entitled Mark Lanham Live From Man vs Music. An intimate, cinematic experience, it captures everything that makes Mark Lanham’s live performances so special: the humility, the rich vocals, and the focus on emotive storytelling that would make greats like James Taylor proud.

We’re living in a time where you almost can’t trust a single thing you see online. The approach Lanham and company have taken here is one I think should be emulated by other musicians.

Among things I found compelling were the long form presentation; the lack of flashy/click-baity hooks or an over-reliance on kinetic editing; and the attention to human detail (like Lanham’s opening walk into the studio and closeups on studio gear to set the stage). It’s all so simple, but highly effective. It feels very in-touch with reality in a way I’ve been longing for but haven’t experienced with most of my media intake recently.

Credit goes to director of photography Dylan Wineland, camera operator Cole Sax, and production assistant Hunter Sax for nailing the visual vibe. The experience is tactile. Haptic. It feels in line with Lanham’s earlier visual output, which may not be high in quantity but instead prioritizes texture through intentional processes, like the use of film.

The audio here is also superb, with Man vs Music owner Mike Sasich and audio engineer Greg Shaw handling the recording, and Sasich dialing in the mix and master. Sasich has made a worthy entry into Lanham’s discography, with 5 brand new tracks. This is Lanham’s first release since 2022’s It’s All What It’s Meant to Be.

Experience the live set for yourself below. Make sure to follow Mark Lanham on Instagram.