Lost in Holland was Michael’s duo with Josh Hisle from 2008 to 2012. “Son of a Roofer” is off Lost in Holland’s new EP, “The Next Great Loss,” their first newly released recorded music in more than a decade.
Hisle, a Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq war, is one of the most honest and passionate songwriters today. His work with Neil Young and Crosby, Stills and Nash in the film “Déjà vu” sped him into a life of honest songwriting and solo performance. Hisle’s work has been reviewed by critics from Rolling Stone, Glide Magazine and Variety. He was crowned Neil Young’s Latest Discovery in 2008, with a performance at Sundance Film Festival with Young and Graham Nash. 2011 found him on tour opening for Stephen Stills. Josh has worked closely with Common Ground on the Hill to develop this year’s Veterans Scholarship Initiative
Here’s what Hisle had to say about the song, and their collaboration:
“‘Son of a Roofer’ is not only a song about my life and the things I’ve done, but it’s also a song about how rooted we are in our family Traditions. My dad is a hard person, a tough person, but also a loving and thoughtful person. I guess that’s what I am too, and as regretful as I am of some of the timeline of life, I’m very proud to be the son of a roofer.
“Lost in Holland is more than a band to me. It’s a brotherhood, much like the kind found in the Marines. We show up, roughly rehearsed, and we dominate every venue or bill we are on, benevolently. We speak truth and only truth, and we don’t care what happens because we know that what we are doing, every time we perform, is righteous. Righteous and purposeful is all I can be, and after 10 years apart, I find that Michael has not lost an ounce of that tenacity and passion. It’s inspiring to be in his presence on stage. He’s the best there is, and the songs wouldn’t exist without him. I often say that destiny isn’t real, but rather, it is strategy that places us where we are meant to be. But sometimes, in moments of reflection, I wonder if there really are spiritual forces beyond serendipity that make us find each other. Who knows, but Lost in Holland rocks harder than anything I’ve ever done, and I’m humbled by it. And to have my son Holland play on this track is truly amazing. He was at the studio as a baby while we recorded “The Last Great Loss”, and now he’s playing with us. I know that Michael J. Ronstadt would be very proud of that, and would definitely approve of the piano parts!”