Stop what you’re doing. Seriously. If you need a jolt of no-bullshit indie rock that actually has something to say, then Michael Wu’s new single “Better Way” is your fix.
Wu, the Upstate New York indie-rock songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, is done with passive reflection. His latest EP, The Other Side, tackles how we mentally check out of our own lives. The opener “Time25” laid the groundwork, dwelling on how past and future hijack our heads. But “Better Way” is where the rubber meets the road. This track is the pivot—the moment in the narrative where you stop whining and start moving. It’s about staring down the crap that holds you back: the fatigue, the excuses, the hesitation that silently dictates your every day. This is a song that recognizes progress is possible but only after you smash your self-built barriers.
Let’s talk sound, because this is where Wu’s rock credentials slam into gear. A longtime bassist for regional acts like Gunpoets and touring with Maddy Walsh & The Blind Spots, Wu recently grabbed a Telecaster and found his songwriting voice. For “Better Way” and the EP, he found his definitive weapon: a Rickenbacker. You can hear it—that ringing, chiming character, a direct nod to his influences like Johnny Marr and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck.
But a great guitar line needs a foundation, and who better to lay it down than Wu himself on bass? After decades as a hired-gun bassist in the Ithaca and Binghamton scenes, he knows how to anchor a song with melodic low-end that propels without overpowering. It’s all muscle and purpose. Working with engineer/producer John Carter, Wu built the confidence to step up as a frontman, delivering a lead vocal that’s clear, understated, but with the earnest resolve the song’s message demands.
Michael Wu has built indie rock the right way: with intention, clarity, and a sparse arrangement that lets the songwriting—and the raw, honest story behind it—take centre stage. “Better Way” is that early turning point, the sound of moving from worry to action.