Michael Haze

As a budding artist only beginning to explore his musical potential, Michael Haze’s music is a reflection of himself and his experiences, evolving and adapting his sound as he himself grows as a person. Drawing on the diverse influences in his upbringing, Michael as singer, songwriter and producer, draws inspiration from an array of genres as he diversifies is ever evolving sound.

Michael Haze was introduced to the choir and to music at a young age, learning the piano, saxophone and violin through his early teens. Specifically, Michael was introduced to the church choir and gospel music. Concurrently, Haze underwent several moves, changing locations as a result of his mother’s work. Growing up in countries such as Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Nigeria as well as France, Canada and the United States provided a stark contrast that served as the backdrop for Michael’s music. The young artist was exposed to afro-beat, soul music, gospel, R&B house, electronic, indie rock. This melting pot of cultures is what Michael Haze draws on to create what he refers to as a combination of electro-soul and R&B. Yes, his debut project MICKEY is an ode to R&B, but Haze warns us that the next project will be “completely unexpected” and “entirely uncalled for”. The artist himself says his music is about the “duality of vulnerability and strength”.

One thing the 21-year-old is adamant about is that “all these sounds, I can’t showcase them all in a five track EP. I just hope however many people listen to this project stay long enough to capture the entirety of my sound.”

For now though, the public is only privy to this first initial Extended Project. The compilation, all written, recorded, and produced in the early hours of the morning (a fact Michael Haze insists is vital) presents moments of the vulnerability and strength that Haze refers to earlier. This is also justification for the numerous vocal samples typical of Haze’s production. By his own definition, the vocal chops act as a defibrillator does to one in need. They breathe life into otherwise downtrodden tracks, the bridge or link between Haze’s mellow and uptempo side. On “waves” the artist boasts of usually being “the one that does the breaking”. One track earlier, “3AM” is characterized by pain, heartbreak and separation. Michael Haze lives in the contrasting nature of relationships; the warmth and confidence they provide juxtaposed with the longing and hurt they can traffic. MICKEY serves as a reminder that love possesses both a light and a dark side and it is easy to forget which side we inhabit. “My dream would be to have people mosh pitting to the saddest song ever, you know? Just to show it’s okay to be sad or upset.” The singer, songwriter lives in this temperate zone between uptempo and downtempo. Haze’s third track on his debut “withdrawal” is indicative of this balancing game between trap music, soul and R&B.

The young creative explains his quiet resume so far as patience, biding his time for the right opportunity. MICKEY, he clarifies, is the product of creating for the love of it. Actually, he describes the project as a “coping mechanism”, rather than therapy. Perhaps that presents the underlying notion of the project, that we can be our own therapists.