LMF: Why don't we start off with you introducing yourself.
BM: Brett Michael here. I'm a 20 year old Urban Pop Artist from Glen Cove, Long Island. Following laying low after bringing my music online when I was 16, I've been working with producers and songwriters to develop a sound that is all my own. Naturally, inspired by what's out there, I'd like to say my voice is raw, powerful, and something different coming from a guy. I very much enjoy the element of surprise, and if my voice can do that - mission accomplished.
LMF: When did you know you wanted to become a singer?
BM: Better, when didn't I know! My mother always told me from the second I was born I had a yearning to be in the spotlight and that is extremely evident when watching home videos of me when I was younger. I enjoyed singing from a very young age (I'd say around 4). I can remember just singin' plain old nursery rhymes and jazzin' them up with held out notes and the riffs I was capable of doing at that age. Singing has always been a part of my life and I cannot imagine involving myself with anything that isn't music related. It's what I live for.
LMF: Describe your music to someone who has never heard it before.
BM: I am in the process of recording as we speak and I'm hoping the new material brings the vocal rawness that I love to create to the table. My music is undoubtedly pop but I would like to bring a more urban, rough edge to it. From my first track "Used To Be" to my latest offering, the R&B Ballad "Serious"... you can hear vocal progression, and that's really all I aim for: To out-do myself with something better each and every time. I can't say that I can tell you what to expect because I don't know what direction my music will take me yet. I think it's safe to say however, that I'm doing my best to bring out something catchy and something I'm proud of.
LMF: Who are your biggest musical influences?
BM: Growing up in Glen Cove, which is extremely culturally diverse, I was brought up listening to many different genres of music such as pop, rock, r&b, latin, jazz, and a hip-hop. I believe the artists that I have drawn much inspiration from are artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, and more recent souful voices such as Brian McKnight, Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera and Joss Stone. I'm a huge fan of singer/songwriters and anyone with enough courage to put their words out there and create music, black and white, and offer it to the public is really something commendable in my eyes.
LMF: If you could sing with any artist out there right now, who would it be and why?
BM: Very hard question. I would like to sing with so many artists. Out of everyone however RIGHT NOW, I would have to say I would love to do a duet with JoJo. She's 13 and that girl has got a set of pipes that are far beyond her years. I think she has been blessed with an incredible gift and I think in the future we will see great things from her.
LMF: If you could plan your own tour, which artists would you take out on the road with you?
BM: If I were planning something mellow and very soulful, I would love to do a tour with Joss Stone. I think her music is essentially the type of sound that I would like to play around with myself and I could only imagine it would be a very raw performance. I'm not a huge fan of overly-produced studio voices. I like real offerings and I believe she is just that. If I were to do an enormous performance with dancers and such, I would LOVE to do a show with Destinys Child or Usher. I dont think it's gets better than them.
LMF: There are a lot of artists out right now. What sets you apart from the rest?
BM: For one thing, I call myself a singer because I sing. I don't lip-sink because I feel like that would be robbing people of what they came to see. Nothing against anyone in particular, I just dont feel like I could go to bed at night, feeling right with myself if I offered something that wasn't true. My voice is very strong and I believe my range is something that's really unheard of from a guy in the industry right now.
LMF: What was your first on stage experience like?
BM: Great! I would love to say it was disastrous for the sake of being funny, but it was rather good. I was offered a solo in my chorus in 4th grade and I sang the chorus of "The Greatest Love Of All" by Whitney Houston, up the octave because my voice hadn't changed yet. I was a boy soprano till about the age of 13. Needless to say, it was quite an experience! Let's hope those tapes never get released to VH1 or anything... [Laughs].
LMF: Do you ever get nervous or stage fright?
BM: Interesting. I used to never get stage fright, as I did a lot of theatre and stepping onstage was never an obstacle for me. Lately, however, performing music that is personal to me because I am writing it, I do find myself getting a little nervous from time to time. I think it takes a couple seconds for me to feel out the space, but once I'm there... I try to bring the audience to the level in which I am at!
LMF: Do you have any pre-show rituals that you do before a performance?
BM: I don't do anything out of the ordinary. I wear a cross and a silver microphone that my mother bought me when I was younger around my neck. I guess you could say I think of them as good luck charms. I breathe deep and say a small prayer, asking for everything to go the best it can possibly go.
LMF: For a fan that is going to see you in concert, what can they expect from your show?
BM: Live vocals and a lot of energy! I don't yet have dancers, as I haven't put on a performance that has encorporated much dancing, but I would love to soon. I would love for the fans who come to my performances to walk out with the knowlege that they just saw something really great and be really happy with it.
LMF: Do you have any embarrassing moments on stage you would like to share?
BM: [Laughs]. When I was about 17, I did a summer-stock performance of "Pal Joey" at the school district next door to Glen Cove. I was playing the lead of "Joey" and it was opening night. The theatre had just cleaned and buffed the new wooden stage floor. During a number in Act I, I was doing a turn around one of the girls dancing and my shoes didn't firmly hit the ground. I fell flat on my face. All I remember is looking up at the girls and them looking down at me in utter shock! We got through the rest of the number and ran offstage and laughed like we never had before.
LMF: What is the best part about being a performer?
BM: Everything. I think when you are able to offer people your words and your feelings through music, it's like nothing you can imagine. I can't remember a time singing in front of people when I didn't know how much I loved being there.
LMF: What do you like better, recording in the studio or performing live?
BM: There is nothing like performing live. I very much enjoy being in the studio, given that creative freedom, but performing in front of a live audience, there is just a rush that is indescribable. Seeing familiar faces and new ones, I just try and ground myself, hoping to touch as many people in that performance as possible. If they leave talking about my performance, than my job is done.
LMF: What has been the most memorable moment in your career this far?
BM: I think recording my first track "Used To Be" and being offered a management contract, literally the day after completing it. It was really a great feeling knowing that something I created was being responded to so well. It was a blessing.
LMF: What CD would we find in your CD player right now?
BM: Joss Stone's "Mind, Body, and Soul". I bought it last week and since then it's been on repeat.
LMF: What is the one food you could eat 24/7?
BM: Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips. Hands down...
LMF: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
BM: Given success, I would love to give back. I see myself doing a lot of community work and it’s always been a dream of mine to start a foundation that gives out scholarship money to kids for achievement. I see myself bringing my music worldwide and trying to be the best person I can possibly be. I see hard work up ahead, and that’s not a problem. I’m ready for it.
LMF: If you had a fortune cookie, what would your ideal fortune cookie say?
BM: [Smirks]. “Get ready for your hard work to pay off – Clive Davis is calling tomorrow.”
LMF: If you weren't singing, is there something else you could see yourself doing for a career?
BM: Last resort, if I wasn’t singing the only other thing that I could possibly see myself doing is working as an A&R for a Major Record Label, seeking out talent and helping artists from every walk of life have their voice heard. I think there is so much talent out there and the industry needs to be revamped with some new fresh faces. I see myself helping people, if anything else.
LMF: Is there anything you would like to say to the fans?
BM: I really really appreciate your constant support. I know I’ve taken breaks here and there unannounced to lay low, get into the studio and work on myself and my voice. I get emails from you a lot still and I really am so grateful that I’ve got you guys. You have stuck behind me, waiting for my latest tracks to surface and it really means a lot to me and to say thank you just is not enough. You'll never know how touched I am by you. You are my inspiration. Stay tuned… Thanks again.
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