M U S I C
DRIFTING MOTH
A four-song EP by Mike Blackwell
Available October 16, 2026
Drifting Moth arrived quickly.
All four songs were written in 2026, with most taking shape during a concentrated stretch in May and June. What emerged was a record about longing, uncertainty, and the distance between the life we have and the one we keep reaching toward.
Written, performed, and produced by Mike Blackwell in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, the EP moves through Red Dirt, Americana, roots rock, and an unexpected turn toward rhythmic, pop-minded country.
“Long Way to Run” widens the view beyond one relationship, looking at how far we still have to travel in love, in society, and in becoming what we are capable of being.
“Clinical Disorder” imagines romantic obsession as something that ought to have a diagnosis: the hopeless request that somebody, somewhere, might know how to make a troubled love good again.
Then comes "Love Me Right.”
Rather than documenting the past, Blackwell wrote toward the future he wanted: a song about being wanted back, being loved completely, and having that love last. The music carried it somewhere unexpected, developing into a rhythmic, pop-minded country recording unlike anything else on the EP.
“Isn’t It Time” asks a quieter question. Life changes. Moments pass. Rivers never flow quite the same way twice. After all the reasons two people have found to remain friends, isn’t it finally time to become something more?
From that song comes the image that gives the EP its name: a drifting moth to a flame.
Four songs written within the same season somehow arrived with four different personalities, yet all seemed to be reaching for the same light.
DRIFTING MOTH
-
Long Way to Run
-
Clinical Disorder
-
Isn’t It Time
-
Love Me Right
All songs written and performed by Mike Blackwell.
Produced by Mike Blackwell in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
An American roots songwriter, Mike Blackwell draws from the storytelling traditions of artists like Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy LaFave, and Bob Childers. Blending folk, rock, blues, and country influences, his songs are grounded in narrative and place, often carrying the spirit of the American road.
Whether performing solo or with a band, Blackwell's live shows lean into groove and feel, giving his roots-driven songwriting a bluesy edge and a natural connection with the audience.
Discography
Come Back to Me (2008) is the debut album from Oklahoma songwriter Mike Blackwell, introducing a collection of roots-driven songs shaped by folk, country, and Americana influences. Featuring twelve original tracks - including "Better Days," "Oh Louisiana," and the title song - the album reflects Blackwell's early songwriting voice, blending narrative lyrics with melodic, road-worn sincerity. Released on Home Free Records, the album captures a raw and heartfelt snapshot of the themes that continue to define his music: place, memory, and the search for something just beyond the horizon. (Qobuz)
Drifting Moth is a record about old songs finding their moment, new songs arriving when they need to, and the strange distance between where we are and where we hope to be.
Moral Compass is a musical project by Mike Blackwell rooted in the traditions of American folk, blues, and Americana songwriting. The project centers on story-driven songs that explore questions of direction conscience, and the winding paths people take through life. With a sound that blends reflective lyrics, roots instrumentation, and a groove that leans into blues and road=worn Americana, Moral Compass continues Blackwell's exploration of music as both storytelling and personal expression.
