Best known as the drummer and producer of Canadian indie band fanclubwallet – and a sought-after producer in Ottawa’s local scene – Watson has quietly spent the past three years crafting Willow, a deeply personal and self-contained body of work.
“Motorcycle” introduces the album with a stripped-down, sub-two-minute acoustic lo-fi vignette, capturing a sense of yearning, independence, and youthful imagination. Built around a simple, repeated desire (“I want a motorcycle”), the track reflects both a literal and emotional longing.
"'Motorcycle' is the lighter side of this period of my life," says Watson. "Last spring, I really wanted a dirtbike, and there was just no way I could afford one or even begin to entertain the idea. So I wrote a song with my partner Hannah [Judge] about it instead."
That mix of tenderness and introspection carries throughout Willow, an album shaped in part by the passing of Watson’s late-childhood dog, Cas. The record expands outward from that loss into broader meditations on time, memory, and growing up.
Much of Willow was recorded in solitude during camping trips across Ontario Provincial Parks, with Watson powering their setup using a borrowed portable battery. These environments seep into the recordings themselves – cicadas, wind, and ambient textures subtly woven into the album’s sonic fabric, grounding its emotional weight in a tangible sense of place.
The album is almost entirely self-made: Watson wrote, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered the project. Longtime creative partner Hannah Judge of fanclubwallet contributes co-writing and vocals on select tracks, including "Motorcycle," reinforcing the collaborative but deeply personal spirit at the heart of Willow.
Willow Tracklist:
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R2R (Quits)
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Heading Out
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Granite Hill
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Motorcycle
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Canton
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Interlude
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Mile 11
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Willow
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Heart Stops (Birds Talk)
"Motorcycle" is now streaming on all major platforms.
About Preloved
Preloved is the solo project of Ottawa-based artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Michael (Miki) Watson. Known for their work with fanclubwallet and within Canada’s indie music community, Watson approaches Preloved as a fully self-realized outlet – writing, performing, recording, and producing every element of the project. Rooted in lo-fi textures, natural environments, and diaristic songwriting, Preloved explores memory, identity, and the passage of time with honesty and emotional precision.