In this episode of BackStory, Canada’s The Alumni tell us the story behind their track “Detroit,” and offer you a FREE DOWNLOAD of the track! The story & download are after the jump…

“Detroit” is our long overdue homage to the great Motor City. One bright, yet typically abysmal fall day, we decided to take a trip to the city in question. Although our sole intention was to smuggle a CraigsList-acquired 1967 Wurlitzer 200a electric piano across the border, what we would bring home would prove to be so much more.

During our short stint of touristic curiosity, we were exposed to the rich, yet sometimes overlooked history of Detroit. Specifically interesting were the Detroit riots of 1967, and how an entire city reacted at a critical boiling point. We have always been fans of Motown and artists like Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and Stevie Wonder, but never realized the reality of life at the epicenter of this music. Everyone knows that Detroit continues to have its ups and downs, so we wanted to extend a hand of encouragement to revive the level of creativity and prosperity as it had experienced in that era.

After driving home that evening, we put our new electric piano into commission, creating the staccato-laden keyboard lines for an unknown song. Armed with a keyboard, acoustic guitar, and the cheapest bottle of scotch money can buy, the chords and lyrics for “Detroit” were born. It isn’t about telling Detroit to suck it up and move on, but telling it something it already knows: that it is tough, and good things come out of tough times.

Detroit by The Alumni by leonalaurie