It’s very hard to discuss Mo Troper without bringing up his whirlwind past couple of years. It is perhaps too convoluted to retell here, but in short: Troper faced allegations of abuse from his ex-partner which were later recanted. He lost connections with his former record label, and collaborators turned their backs on him. He admitted himself to the hospital out of fear for his own mental health. But now, in the summer of 2026, he’s ready to say: “Let’s get back to music.”
Of course, such a feat is easier said than done. But in troublesome times, those with the power to make art must do so, out of necessity for their survival. When in 2024 Lame-O Records announced they would not release Troper’s seventh album Svengali after allegations against him dropped, Troper released the record himself. And although he has not had much musical output since, his new single “Let’s Get Back To Music” is at least a sign that Troper hasn’t lost his stuff.
The new song is partially a response to Kitty (of Kitty Pryde and Teen Suicide) who challenged Troper to write a yacht rock song when he was at his absolute lowest. It is also a spin on a phrase uttered by the head of his former record label, who attempted to remove Troper’s producer credit from another band’s record. A member of that band protested, and the label head said, “We really need to stop talking about this and just get back to the music.”
And so the resulting single sounds like The Beach Boys, ABBA, Warren Zevon, and the Doobie Brothers got together for a jam session. There is a certain weightlessness to the new song, perhaps showcasing that while Troper hasn’t broken free of all the pain and suffering from his recent troubles, he’s starting to see a little light break through. And if that light gives him the inspiration to “get back to music”, then things surely have to be looking up.
“Let’s Get Back To Music” is the third and final single from his upcoming record Today I Played My Guitar And Sang, a collection of songs that Troper has worked on since Svengali. Also featuring are previous singles “The Best Seat In The House” and “When She Says My Name”, as well as titles such as “Jack of Charades” and “Moscow To The Ground” which pique the curiosity. The full album drops on July 10th.
SPIN Magazine did a full write-up of Troper’s saga which you can read here. Otherwise, take a listen to “Let’s Get Back To Music” below.
Written by Will Sisskind
