Michael Stipe has released “Hum Desiderata,” a new spoken-word and musical work pairing his recitation of Max Ehrmann’s poem “Desiderata” with an instrumental version of his unreleased song “Hum.” Released through the online sound and art platform Joyfully Waiting, the piece provides a fresh window into the former R.E.M. frontman’s long-gestating solo era as he builds toward his first full-length collection under his own name since the band’s 2011 breakup.
The recording brings together multiple threads of Stipe’s recent multidisciplinary art practices. According to available production details, the work incorporates narration originally recorded for his “Desiderata” sound installation at ICA Milan. That spoken performance is paired with music written and produced alongside longtime collaborator Andy LeMaster, featuring additional vocals contributed by Athens, Georgia-based artist Elizabeth Hatmaker.
His work on the project has evolved incrementally over several years, marking a deliberate pivot after a long period of resisting the idea of recording solo music following R.E.M.’s amicable split.
Inside Michael Stipe’s Expanding Solo Universe
Stipe offered fans another vivid look at his unreleased material during an April appearance on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” where he performed a new track titled “The Rest of Ever.” During his interview with host Stephen Colbert, the vocalist described one particularly unusual track on the forthcoming album as “the sound of a tree hearing itself for the first time.” Stipe explained that a friend recorded a tree in his backyard in Georgia and played the audio recording back to it, inspiring a resulting song that he noted “sounds like Daft Punk.” He also mentioned that he reworked the lyrics to the 250-year-old sea shanty “Drunken Sailor” to pair with the composition.
While music remains central to his current output, Stipe spent much of the decade following R.E.M.’s dissolution immersed deeply in the visual arts. His portfolio spans photography, sculpture, video, and immersive sound installations. His first major institutional exhibition opened at Milan’s ICA in 2023, cementing his transition into contemporary gallery spaces. Alongside these exhibits, he has published four photography books through the Italian publisher Damiani.
The Concept Behind ‘Hum Desiderata’
The newly unveiled “Hum Desiderata” functions as a digital exhibition piece rather than standard radio fare. It anchors the latest edition of Joyfully Waiting, a free online platform that curates original sound works by various artists and writers to be experienced as an immersive online gallery.
By blending Max Ehrmann’s century-old philosophical prose poem with ambient instrumental textures from “Hum,” Stipe continues to merge literary appreciation with avant-garde sound design. The project reflects his ongoing interest in unexpected collaborations and cross-disciplinary performance art, giving listeners a textured preview of how his upcoming solo album will bridge acoustic elements, spoken narrative, and electronic production.
As Stipe continues to roll out material ahead of his debut solo full-length release, fans can access “Hum Desiderata” directly through the Joyfully Waiting platform. Listeners and art enthusiasts are encouraged to share their thoughts and join the discussion in the comments section below.