Mister Goodnite

The suave sounds of Mister Goodnite comes courtesy of Mini Mansions‘ Tyler Parkford. He calls Mister Goodnite “a side-project where I construct original lo-fi pop songs by singing over old psych records and soul cuts.” His new effort, ”You’re Too Cool”, evokes symphonic bliss; it sits somewhere between the brass-tinged nostalgia of Philly soul and recent psych-pop explorations in the vein of Ariel Pink and Mayer Hawthorne. Parkford has an airy youthful enunciation in his voice, perfect for the gleeful psych and soul interpretations he crafts. His melodic wizardry was already apparent with Mini Mansions, but Mister Goodnite is a whole different breed. - Obscure Sound

The suave sounds of Mister Goodnite comes courtesy of Mini Mansions‘ Tyler Parkford. He calls Mister Goodnite “a side-project where I construct original lo-fi pop songs by singing over old psych records and soul cuts.” His new effort, ”You’re Too Cool”, evokes symphonic bliss; it sits somewhere between the brass-tinged nostalgia of Philly soul and recent psych-pop explorations in the vein of Ariel Pink and Mayer Hawthorne. Parkford has an airy youthful enunciation in his voice, perfect for the gleeful psych and soul interpretations he crafts. His melodic wizardry was already apparent with Mini Mansions, but Mister Goodnite is a whole different breed. - Obscure Sound

We Owl and Bear folk are big fans of Mini Mansions. Ever since we first set ears on their 2010 self-titled debut, we’ve been smitten with the LA trio’s moody atmospheres and ’60s-inspired harmonies. And while that band began as a side project for Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman, now another Mini Mansions member has unveiled a side band of their own.

Mister Goodnite is the new “ghostface-pop” project from Mini Mansions vocalist/keyboardist Tyler Parkford. The concept involves Parkford singing new songs over old psych, prog, and soul records. The result is a fascinating blend of the old and the modern that brings out the best of both worlds.

As one might expect from a Mini Mansions resident, the story behind the project’s inception is a bit on the dark side.

“The project started as a story I made up about some dude in Los Angeles who dies in a car crash and is doomed to spend eternity in purgatory as a lounge singer, singing to a crowd of other seedy poltergeists,” Parkford told us.

“It’s like a gritty Ralph Bakshi animation,” he said. “He can’t play any instruments, so instead he sings over all these projected memories that the ghosts carry from their past lives. Long-lost soul ballads and murky ’70s AM pop that they used to hear in the car as a kid before they bit the dust. But the lounge singer doesn’t know the lyrics to most of these songs, so he just wings it and sings his own melodies and words over each track.”

The desire for a listener to make up their own lyrics to a song appealed to Parkford.

“I think it’s pretty universal to improvise vocal melodies over the radio when your stuck in shitty traffic or in the shower,” Parkford said. “I love catching people do that. I’m just taking that a step further and singing my own own songs using only old record samples as the backdrop.”

The brilliance of that decision is immediately apparent on tracks like “In Lieu,” which marries a careening backing track with a wonderful, understated vocal from Parkford. The bass- and sax-heavy “You’re Too Cool” and the sauntering “Love Fast Die Drunk” prove that Mister Goodnite’s formula is no fluke, and we can’t wait to hear whatever comes next from the project. - Owl and Bear

We Owl and Bear folk are big fans of Mini Mansions. Ever since we first set ears on their 2010 self-titled debut, we’ve been smitten with the LA trio’s moody atmospheres and ’60s-inspired harmonies. And while that band began as a side project for Queens of the Stone Age bassist Michael Shuman, now another Mini Mansions member has unveiled a side band of their own.

Mister Goodnite is the new “ghostface-pop” project from Mini Mansions vocalist/keyboardist Tyler Parkford. The concept involves Parkford singing new songs over old psych, prog, and soul records. The result is a fascinating blend of the old and the modern that brings out the best of both worlds.

As one might expect from a Mini Mansions resident, the story behind the project’s inception is a bit on the dark side.

“The project started as a story I made up about some dude in Los Angeles who dies in a car crash and is doomed to spend eternity in purgatory as a lounge singer, singing to a crowd of other seedy poltergeists,” Parkford told us.

“It’s like a gritty Ralph Bakshi animation,” he said. “He can’t play any instruments, so instead he sings over all these projected memories that the ghosts carry from their past lives. Long-lost soul ballads and murky ’70s AM pop that they used to hear in the car as a kid before they bit the dust. But the lounge singer doesn’t know the lyrics to most of these songs, so he just wings it and sings his own melodies and words over each track.”

The desire for a listener to make up their own lyrics to a song appealed to Parkford.

“I think it’s pretty universal to improvise vocal melodies over the radio when your stuck in shitty traffic or in the shower,” Parkford said. “I love catching people do that. I’m just taking that a step further and singing my own own songs using only old record samples as the backdrop.”

The brilliance of that decision is immediately apparent on tracks like “In Lieu,” which marries a careening backing track with a wonderful, understated vocal from Parkford. The bass- and sax-heavy “You’re Too Cool” and the sauntering “Love Fast Die Drunk” prove that Mister Goodnite’s formula is no fluke, and we can’t wait to hear whatever comes next from the project. - Owl and Bear

If you are anything like us then you will be well known within the small circle of your own home of singing over songs with your own set of lyrics. Mister Goodnite has taken this to the next level, and is releasing his own re-encarnated slow jams using only his voice, old record cuts and cheap 45's.

Think Ariel Pink meets Wu Tang meets Al Green and vibe oot to these three exclusie goosey tracks! - Beat Magazine

If you are anything like us then you will be well known within the small circle of your own home of singing over songs with your own set of lyrics. Mister Goodnite has taken this to the next level, and is releasing his own re-encarnated slow jams using only his voice, old record cuts and cheap 45's.

Think Ariel Pink meets Wu Tang meets Al Green and vibe oot to these three exclusie goosey tracks! - Beat Magazine

The decadence of an afternoon cat nap with no alarm and no agenda. A cracked window sneaks a breeze between the screen. A cloud of sound slinks under the sill the way smells travel in old Looney Tunes cartoons, as a long puffy cloud hanging in the air over my ears. It’s muffled by the walls in between its source and me, but the frequencies carry with it a melody, a barbershop strut, a walking bassline opens the door to my room and sends me sleep-walking to the source, to Mr. Goodnite’s good time tune, “You’re Too Cool.” - Yours Truly

The decadence of an afternoon cat nap with no alarm and no agenda. A cracked window sneaks a breeze between the screen. A cloud of sound slinks under the sill the way smells travel in old Looney Tunes cartoons, as a long puffy cloud hanging in the air over my ears. It’s muffled by the walls in between its source and me, but the frequencies carry with it a melody, a barbershop strut, a walking bassline opens the door to my room and sends me sleep-walking to the source, to Mr. Goodnite’s good time tune, “You’re Too Cool.” - Yours Truly