INTERVIEW: New music from Micah Sheveloff

Micah Sheveloff stands at the crossroads of musical diversity, a songwriter with an eclectic background that weaves together a tapestry of influences ranging from classical piano to studio collaborations with rock and metal acts. Raised in a musical family, with a father who is a Boston University music professor, Sheveloff’s artistic journey was an immersion in various genres, from ballet to choir and even the irresistible allure of pop icons like The Monkees and The Partridge Family.

This early exposure naturally led him down the path of exploring legendary acts like The Beatles, ultimately shaping his identity as a pop rock songwriter. Today, his solo creations are a fusion of infectious 70s-inspired piano-based compositions, with echoes of Nashville’s twang and New York’s vibrant music scene.

With his latest release, “Stand Me Up Again,” Sheveloff delivers a heartfelt pop rock ballad that resonates with timeless sentiment. The song’s delicate arrangement, woven with the warmth of piano, soft guitar and gentle drums, serves as the canvas for Sheveloff’s smooth and emotive vocal delivery. The lyrics reveal his prowess as a storyteller, crafting narratives that touch the heart and etch in the mind. This intricate interplay of elements culminates in a sonic experience that’s immersive and memorable.

Sheveloff’s artistic lens captures the resilience of individuals who, despite grappling with challenges, manage to extract rays of sunshine from each passing day. The song becomes a conduit for their plea to the vast expanse of the universe, embodying their yearning for renewal and a fresh start. This profound theme is interwoven with the song’s arrangement, creating a beautiful relationship between lyrical content and musical composition.

Micah Sheveloff’s ability to infuse his music with intricate layers of emotion and storytelling is a hallmark of his artistic output. “Stand Me Up Again” stands as a showcase of this approach, a ballad that captures the resilience of the human spirit while paying homage to the power of musical collaboration.

As the latest entry in his musical catalogue, “Stand Me Up Again” shines a light on Micah Sheveloff’s capacity to craft melodies that stand the test of time. Just as he draws inspiration from a diverse array of influences, his music possesses the rare ability to resonate with a broad spectrum of listeners, making “Stand Me Up Again” a shining example of the enduring power of well-crafted pop rock storytelling.

We caught up with Micah Sheveloff to find out more about his musical journey, his new single “Stand Me Up Again” and what he’s got lined up for the future. Check out our interview with Micah Sheveloff below.

What’s your earliest memory of making music?

I was very small, maybe three or four years old, when I was playing back the melody of Come Ye Sons of Art by Henry Purcell on my Ukelele. My parents were both classical musicians and that piece of music stuck in my head. In first grade, other kids asked me to play popular TV themes like Batman or Brady Bunch on the piano in music class.

Which artists do you draw most inspiration from today?

I think my inspiration comes from an amalgamation of my musical journey combined with events or people who touch me in a good or bad way. Authenticity is magnetic for me, and I feel like I got that from so many artists—Rick Berlin from the Boston scene I grew up in wrote songs that were so real, they slapped you in the face, Brian Wilson’s many gorgeous, pained compositions to Billie Eilish and her brother, who touched people with art that was genuine and meaningful in the moment.

How else do you find inspiration for your music?

I find the art of film is a great source of inspiration—I am a visual person, and I like to construct songs from tiny moments extracted from film. I recently penned a lyric that goes, “someone killed my friend today, it happens all the time…” because I was touched by a movie called The Swimmers. The human condition never lacks for joy, grief, and everything in between.

What do you love about your local music scene?

In fairness, I am not currently playing live where I live. But I did have such amazing, life-changing experiences playing rock & roll in the sheer mayhem of the 1980s Boston scene. I got to watch up close as so many gifted young performers developed their craft and embedded a sense of art, style, and passion into the fibre of who I have become as an artist.

What would you say is the perfect setting for listeners to enjoy your sound?

Great question! I am an artist that cares deeply about sound quality, so I plead with people to listen on something that provides enough resolution to appreciate the detail that went into the recording process. There’s nothing like a drive in the country while cranking a car stereo to create a vibe…

How has your own style and sound evolved since you started out?

My evolution as an artist has been a roller coaster ride and then some…from a childhood filled with classical music to a love affair with 70s pop, Beatles, Beach Boys, Cheap Trick—and then a passion for gifted singer/songwriters like David Baerwald and Lyle Lovett…and my music comes from the piano, not guitar, so the resulting style is different and unpredictable and always changing.

How did you find making your new single “Stand Me Up Again”?

I have a killer producer named Jason Pennock who is a pleasure to work with—I cherish every aspect of the process.

What message did you want to get across with this release?

I think the song says it pretty directly—I have been side-by-side with beautiful humans as they rise above real pain, torment, strife, incarceration, addiction. That takes genuine heart and courage, and not everyone makes it. So the song acknowledges both struggle and triumph…

What artist have you been listening to most recently?

I can’t delve too deeply into other music while I’m in the creative process, so not a ton lately. I watched the WHAM documentary recently, and though I wasn’t a fan of the band in the 80s, I love their talent and mourn George Michael’s premature departure.

What’s the main thing you want people to get out of listening to your music?

An honest connection to the music, or not. One thing about the streaming era, there are so many promotional engines at work behind the scenes, and as much as all artists want to be visible, I don’t want any part of anything fake. One thing I suck at is writing happy-fun music…my songs are meant to capture an emotion, paint a picture, stimulate some feeling. It just wasn’t meant to be foot-tapping background for idle dialogue. I would rather fail to sell streams and self-combust…

What’s been your favourite live performance so far?

I used to play a West Village (New York) little venue that’s gone now called Caffe Vivaldi as a duet with Marc Shulman. Loved that! I played a tiny venue in Boston called The Lilypad with Shulman and vocalist Beth Patella that was super intimate and great fun. My days in noisy rocks bands featured bigger venues and all sorts of excitement, but the smaller intimate gigs standout for me.

Do you have any advice for a new artist wanting to follow your footsteps?

I always tell young artists to write from the heart and leave it all out there, and succeed or fail based on the true you. I’ve seen the makeup and outfits of the 80s, the grunge of the 90s, and singer/songwriters in jeans and a t-shirt. Bottom line is, if the art speaks, nothing else matters. And the industry myth about putting in your 10,000 hours makes a good point—the more you play, the better you become at your craft.

Finally, what do you have lined up for the rest of 2023?

I have several songs in various states of completion, and they will find their way out into the world as fast as I can sand and polish the edges. I’d really like people to experience my YouTube Channel

Listen to Stand Me Up Again below