By Sandy Meier
Charleston Live Music

Charleston’s own Michael Martin Band—a recurring Country / Americana Band of the Year winner—is back with a brand-new single that feels less like a polished studio production and more like a rowdy, front-porch picking party.

The new track, "When Karma Comes Around," is available now across all major streaming platforms, delivering a dusty mid-tempo groove anchored by Martin's gravel-and-grits vocals and an impressive double-banjo arrangement.

Editor's Take

"What makes 'When Karma Comes Around' hit so right is how effortlessly it captures the raw, unpolished magic of live picking. Hearing those driving banjos and that gravelly, front-porch vocal delivery instantly took me back to my teenage years spent sitting on a blanket at bluegrass festivals in Virginia—soaking in the music as real musicians jammed out in the open air. It doesn't try to smooth over its edges, and that grit is precisely why it feels so authentic to the Lowcountry sound. Best of all? You'll be smiling through the entire song—it is just that much fun."

A Stacked Lineup of Local & National Talent

While tracked partially between Folly Beach and his studio in Indiana, the record is packed with Lowcountry talent:

• Double Banjo Power: Features intricate banjo work from Grammy-winner Graham Sharp (Steep Canyon Rangers) alongside Breezy Peyton (Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band).
• Charleston Vocal Harmonies: Backing vocals provided by local favorites Dallas Baker and Erin Haggerty.
• Local Mixing & Mastery: Mastered right here in Charleston by Will Evans of Sexbruise?, with structural guidance from Slaton Glover (The Travelin' Kine).

"Will told me that the mix was 'raw,' and that's why he liked it," Martin shared in a recent interview with Charleston City Paper. "He said, 'I feel like I'm sitting in the room with you guys, or I'm at a front porch picking party,' even though it was all tracked separately."

From Colorado Ganja to Lowcountry Karma

The origin of "When Karma Comes Around" goes back nearly 15 years to Colorado. A dispensary called Karmaceuticals reached out for a custom theme song, prompting Martin to write the initial draft. His only request for payment? An ounce of premium strain when he passed through Denver.

Now, a decade and a half later, Martin has reworked the tune into an infectious, barn-burning anthem about patience, perseverance, and hoping the universe returns the love after years of grinding on the road.

"When Karma Comes Around" by the Michael Martin Band is streaming now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and Pandora.