As Is is an intentional journey through the internal and external worlds of Mikhail Laxton. Entirely recorded and produced by Laxton in his Ottawa home studio, the EP serves as a manifesto for "unvarnished" creativity—capturing a transition from the weight of the past to the high-energy light of the present.
The sequence begins with "Small Town Chains" and "Without You," setting a soulful, narrative tone that explores the complexities of growth and distance. From there, the record dives into the "Shadow-world," introducing WĀWÜ—Laxton’s new Lo-Fi Soul trio. Across the tracks "Give Me Some Love" and "Breathe," the listener is immersed in hypnotic, minimalist grooves and nocturnal textures.
The record finds its emotional center with "Nobody Better," a classic Retro-Soul love ballad. Stripped-back and timeless, the track highlights Laxton’s ability to channel the vulnerability of the soul greats, serving as the intimate bridge between the EP’s experimental middle and its triumphant end.
The Triumphant Finale
The journey culminates with the lead single and final track, "The First Time." Breaking through like a sunrise, it is the only track on the EP recorded live off the floor with a full band. Delivering a triumphant explosion of Contemporary Soul, the song captures a "first-take" euphoria—a driving, open-road celebration that serves as the ultimate resolution to the EP’s narrative arc.
"I wanted the record to feel like an arrival," Laxton says. "You go through the shadows, you find your breath, you find that one person who is 'nobody better,' and you end with that massive, celebratory energy. It felt like the only honest way to close the story."
The "As Is" Tracklist
Small Town Chains – A soulful exploration of roots and restraint.
Without You – Intimate, home-studio storytelling.
Give Me Some Love (ft. WĀWÜ) – The introduction of the Shadow-world groove.
Breathe (ft. WĀWÜ) – Hypnotic Lo-Fi Soul and minimalist rhythm.
Nobody Better – A timeless Retro-Soul love ballad.
The First Time – The "Live off the Floor" Celebration.
