Show summary Hide summary
- Release details and why it matters for indie and electronic fans
- Who plays on the EP: a roll call of notable collaborators
- How the title track grew: from a birthday piece to a studio improvisation
- From gallery performance to EP: the loudspeaker choreography
- Track list: what’s on the EP and who appears where
- Sound and style: what to expect musically
- Where this sits in Mouse on Mars’ orbit
- How fans can listen and what to watch for
Jan St. Werner is back with a new EP and a lineup that reads like an indie supergroup. The Berlin-based producer, known as one half of Mouse on Mars, has assembled a cast of celebrated collaborators for Squares Will Fall, a release that reunites avant‑electronic textures with folk and brass voices.
Release details and why it matters for indie and electronic fans
Squares Will Fall arrives on November 13. The EP positions Jan St. Werner at the intersection of electronic experimentation and singer‑songwriter intimacy. For listeners who follow Mouse on Mars or the evolving work of Justin Vernon and Sufjan Stevens, this project is a must‑hear.
Kris Jenner’s fall boots: the quiet-luxury must-have this season
Love is Blind season 11 reunion: Morrey Eglin claps back after clash with John Shannon
Who plays on the EP: a roll call of notable collaborators
The record features a string of high‑profile guests who each bring a distinct voice.
- Justin Vernon / Bon Iver — lead vocal contributions and creative interplay with Werner.
- Sufjan Stevens — adding rhythmic textures via drum machine and his unmistakable touch.
- Zach Condon / Beirut — trumpet lines that add warmth and vintage flair.
- Ben Lanz — trombone and bass duties, tying brass elements to the electronic bedrock.
- Kid Millions — live drums and a history of previous collaboration with Werner.
- Rosanne Rubino — featured vocalist on one of the B‑side tracks.
- Andi Toma — Werner’s Mouse on Mars partner, contributing bass on the title piece.
How the title track grew: from a birthday piece to a studio improvisation
The title composition began as a long electronic piece created for a 30th birthday. It was originally an extended, exploratory work. Over years it was reshaped, cut, and reimagined.
During sessions around the Mouse on Mars Dimensional People era, the track became a platform for improvisation. Justin Vernon and Jan St. Werner developed new vocal and sonic layers together. Those moments in the studio shifted the piece from a private experiment into a collaborative song.
From gallery performance to EP: the loudspeaker choreography
In 2021, the piece took on a spatial, performative life at the Ural Industrial Biennial. Werner turned sound into movement by suspending loudspeakers and letting performers reposition them. The result was an evolving acoustic landscape.
- Three independent layers of sound were transmitted.
- Speakers were hung from long ropes and moved during the performance.
- The audience roamed the space and experienced changing mixes.
Each listener’s experience was unique. The installation emphasized how physical placement changes perception of an electronic composition.
Track list: what’s on the EP and who appears where
The release pairs the title piece with two B‑side tracks. Each offers a different configuration of contributors.
- Squares Will Fall — the lead track featuring Justin Vernon on lead vocals, contributions from Ben Lanz and Zach Condon, and Andi Toma on bass.
- Swamp Brains — a more intimate piece built around Rosanne Rubino’s vocals.
- Flötotto — an ensemble arrangement including Sufjan Stevens on drum machine, Kid Millions on drums, and Ben Lanz on trombone and bass.
Sound and style: what to expect musically
Listeners should expect a hybrid approach. Electronic production, live brass, and human voices weave together. The EP shifts between dense textures and open, spacious passages.
Squares Will Fall emphasizes improvisation and collaboration over predictable pop structures. That gives the music an unpredictable, living quality.
Where this sits in Mouse on Mars’ orbit
Jan St. Werner’s solo EP is part of a broader creative path that includes Mouse on Mars. The duo, formed in 1993 with Andi Toma, has a history of blending genres and using live instruments alongside electronics.
Earlier in the year, Mouse on Mars released Spatial, No Problem with Lee “Scratch” Perry. Werner’s EP extends that spirit of cross‑genre partnership, but centers his voice and curatorial choices.
How fans can listen and what to watch for
Previews and singles are likely to surface before the full EP drops on November 13. Expect attention from indie and electronic outlets, given the high‑profile guests. Live or installation performances could follow, echoing the loudspeaker experiments from the Biennial.
