The Seeker: Joe Hertler returns to his old stomping grounds

For more than a decade, Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers has been a fixture in Michigan’s indie music scene and beyond. The group’s dynamic new LP, “Pursuit of Wonder,” was just pressed on vinyl and CD and will ship out to fans by the start of the new year or so. Speaking of 2024, the band will play on New Year’s Eve at Grewal Hall at 224 in downtown Lansing. City Pulse caught up with Hertler about the new record and his love for Lansing. Here’s what the singer-songwriter had to say. 

Who first inspired you to start writing your own songs?  

Joe Hertler: I was obsessed with Michigan music as a kid. I spent my early years trying to copy Frontier Ruckus, the Hard Lessons, Bear vs. Shark, Anathallo and the Silent Years. There were so many others, like Daniel Zott, Ella Riot, Theo Katzman, the Javelins, the Ragbirds and Sufjan Stevens. There was an enormous amount of incredible music coming out during that time. Today, I’m always trying to emulate Jamiroquai, Bill Withers, Death Cab for Cutie, the Flaming Lips and Dave Matthews.

Did you notice any overarching themes while writing the lyrics for your new ‘Pursuit of Wonder’ LP?

Impermanence is the overarching theme that ties together most of my music. All things have a beginning and an ending and are subject to change. This record deals with identity, especially in the sense of how ‘what we do’ defines how we view ourselves. The self, of course, is ever-changing. We’re a different person every waking morning. This record is very much about letting go and accepting that nothing is truly ever ours for the keeping, and that’s okay because the fleeting nature of all things is what gives them value.

Sonically, how did you approach the record? Did you try anything different on this LP?

Frankly, I thought we were done as a band when the pandemic was in full swing. How could we survive if we couldn’t play shows? I mourned it for a few months, but one day, I woke up and just started working. I wrote 40 songs over that period of time. It was perhaps the most prolific period of my life. But in my head, if the band were to break up, my demos would have to stand on their own. I learned to produce by making hip-hop beats and house music. For the first time in my career, I could dig in and apply what I’d learned.

But it looks like the band lived on.

The Rainbow Seekers survived! We picked out a record’s worth of songs from the batch and started refining them with my producer buddy Konrad Snyder, who leaned into the demos. He brought out the best of what was there and helped us refine it. Micah Bracken (keys), Ryan Hoger (electric guitar) and I spent about six to eight months going back and forth to Nashville, Tennessee. It was the most fun I’ve ever had making a record.

You’ve had a big following in Lansing for a long time. You lived here for quite some time, correct?

Lansing is my hometown. I lived there for over a decade and purchased a house on the east side with my former partner. After our breakup, I had to separate myself from Lansing. I got a fresh start in downtown Ann Arbor. But I will always and forever love Lansing. It was the ground upon which my entire career was built. It’s where the Rainbow Seekers all met and became friends. I will forever love Lansing. One day, I may move back.

Looking back, what were you up to in 2023? 

A lot of shows and content creation. Modern music is more about socials than music sometimes, which can be equal parts frustrating but also a great way to communicate. Music, to me, is much more than just music. It’s a means to connect, communicate and share ideas.

Going back to your music from 12 to 14 years ago, has your songwriting process evolved since then?

Yes and no. It’s still just a matter of tossing paint. But back then, I only played acoustic guitar. I now have a giant collection of instruments and maintain a practice schedule. The biggest difference between then and now, and this change happened during the writing of ‘Pluto,’ was that I started writing on bass and drums. Start with the foundation, the groove, and build upward. 

Do the members of the Rainbow Seekers influence your songwriting? 

I formed the band with Ryan and Micah, who are heavily involved in that process. We get together once a week when we’re not touring. They filter out the junk — and there are a lot of crappy songs. They are both songwriters, too, and extremely proficient multi-instrumentalists. Trying to credit who played what on this record was a confusing process. But yeah, this band could not exist without them.

What’s some advice you’d give to new singer-songwriters? 

Cut the bullshit and get to work. You have to view yourself as a professional. You have to view music as a craft far greater than yourself. Don’t wait for motivation, because you don’t have enough time to wait around. There’s a narrow window for most of us, and music leaves us all behind. You must ask yourself daily, “What does it mean to be a professional musician? How does a professional musician behave? What does a professional musician do?” Last, don’t forget about your family and friends. They are more important than music. They’ll be what you have when music leaves you behind.