News
26 July 2026 – Michael Stipe Finds Peace Inside ‘Hum Desiderata’
By Editorial Team - July 26, 2026
Summary
Michael Stipe shares 'Hum Desiderata', an experimental spoken-word piece built around Max Ehrmann's 1927 poem, featuring Elizabeth Hatmaker and Andy LeMaster.
Key Facts
- Michael Stipe releases experimental sound work 'Hum Desiderata'.
- Recites Max Ehrmann's 1927 poem alongside vocalist Elizabeth Hatmaker.
- Instrumental created with producer Andy LeMaster as part of an online sound exhibition.
- Entities: Michael Stipe, Hum Desiderata, Max Ehrmann, Elizabeth Hatmaker, Andy LeMaster
- Tags: michael-stipe, rem, hum-desiderata, spoken-word, experimental, andy-lemaster
<a href="/tags/michael-stipe">Michael Stipe</a> continues the gradual unveiling of his first solo-album era with ‘Hum Desiderata’, an unusual sound work built around Max Ehrmann’s 1927 poem ‘Desiderata’. Stipe and additional vocalist Elizabeth Hatmaker recite the text over ‘Hum’, an instrumental created by Stipe with Andy LeMaster. Rather than treating the famous poem like a framed motivational quotation in a waiting room, the piece gives its language an unsettled musical environment where reassurance and uncertainty can coexist.
Stipe’s unmistakable voice brings weight to lines about maintaining calm, dignity and compassion in a noisy world, while Hatmaker’s presence prevents the recording from feeling like a solitary sermon. The track is currently presented through an online sound exhibition rather than a conventional single campaign, which suits its reflective character. Discover more innovative sound works in our <a href="/genres/experimental">Experimental Music</a> coverage.