Midlake

Midlake is an American folk rock band formed in Denton, Texas, in 1999. The current lineup features Eric Pulido (vocals, guitar), McKenzie Smith (drums), Eric Nichelson (guitar, keyboards), Jesse Chandler (keyboards, flute, backing vocals), Joey McClellan (guitar, backing vocals), and Scott Lee (bass). A major turning point came in 2012 when founding vocalist and principal songwriter Tim Smith left the band while work was underway on their fourth studio album. Following his departure, Eric Pulido stepped into the role of lead vocalist, and the band chose to restart the recording process. The result was Antiphon, released in 2013, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Midlake. The band first developed a strong following in Europe after signing with Bella Union Records. Their reputation grew through performances at respected festivals, including Les Inrockuptibles, Wintercase, End of the Road, and South by Southwest. Midlake was founded by a group of jazz students at the University of North Texas College of Music. The original lineup consisted of Tim Smith, McKenzie Smith, Paul Alexander, Eric Nichelson, and Evan Jacobs. In its earliest incarnation, the group performed under the name The Cornbread All-Stars, focusing on funk and jazz-inspired music heavily influenced by artists such as Herbie Hancock. Over time, however, the band began moving toward a more melodic and atmospheric indie rock sound. As the musical direction evolved, Tim Smith shifted his focus from saxophone to songwriting. His compositions drew inspiration from a diverse range of artists, including Jethro Tull, Radiohead, Björk, and Grandaddy. These influences helped shape Midlake’s distinctive style, blending musical experimentation with strong songwriting and accessibility. The transition from jazz-based improvisation to richly textured folk and indie rock would eventually become one of the defining characteristics of the band’s sound and identity.
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