Meet Michael Cleland

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Cleland.

Michael, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised in a suburb of Detroit, I grew up near the soul of Motown – a soundtrack to my adolescence interspersed with Christina Aguilera, Vivaldi, Ella Fitzgerald, Fiona Apple, The Chordettes, Destiny’s Child, No Doubt, Michael Jackson, and Queen.

I admire artists from different eras and at a young age would cover tracks at the piano with my cat next to me on the bench. An audience of one was enough – I just needed to play and sing. I remember asking one of my best buds to act as a judge while I would perform for him in my basement on a microphone we had from an old karaoke machine. I created a character and he would rank each performance. He would applaud or heckle, we would laugh, he would head home.

Then I would go back to that basement alone and perform as others for hours until ultimately writing music as myself. Sometimes it’s funny like that. Exploring life through other lenses became a mechanism to help me discover who I was, informing my identity, musical style, and self-worth. I trained at Michigan State University and moved west to LA.

Five years later and I am an art-pop entertainer. I explore themes as queer culture, spirituality, equality and representation, body positivity, animalistic behavior, space and time while examining the corporeal relationship between the soul and body. My work is about empathy… and my four Fs: fashion, fortune, f*cking, fate.

A kinetic Sagittarian, I love climbing trees and getting my feet in the dirt where they belong. Nothing is more unifying than a chant. I laugh as much as possible. Nature and Time are my muses. Thoughtful is my favorite word. Consideration of others is the goal and to be full of thought, well consciousness is one of the greatest gifts and curses as humans – to be full of it is a powerfully wonderful and incredibly dangerous thing.

Let’s explore, let’s share, let’s listen, let’s love. Find me ’round the rainbow.

Has it been a smooth road?
There are always challenges – the ups would not be as high if there weren’t some lows and I love a good high. I find my struggles are common, but as I age the questions evolve.

How authentic is my work speaking to me? Is my opinion valuable and do I have something unique or worthy to share? How do I balance work and play? Are my actions living up to my mantras? Am I maintaining relationships? How is my ego? Am I managing my resources and time? What opportunities am I seeking and how do I achieve them? Am I approaching this with kindness? Is fear stifling thought?

As a queer artist today, I want to showcase progressive thoughtfulness through empathy. My release Order Up is a political protest anthem demanding new legislation for LGBTQ/women’s/minority equality.

I struggle at times creating these pieces as I do not, nor wish to, represent private personal hardships on behalf of others. I hope however to share, listen, create and shed light on issues regarding human rights, forming relationships to assist in overcoming these obstacles together.

We’d love to hear more about what you do.
Musician. I sing art-pop, soul, electronic, jazz and rock. I am soulful as hell with a wide range, strong falsetto, and bright, bold baritone belt. I have trained in various styles of dance, yet primarily incorporate modern, jazz, vogue and animalistic movements while whipping my curls on stage.

My recent track and video release Order Up is a political protest march anthem demanding new legislation for LGBTQ/women’s/minority equality incorporating live audio from LAX Muslim March and Women’s March LA. The video features notable LA drag queens, Maebe A. Girl and Foxy Wolfe directed by Kirsten Knisely.

Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
LA is a city of dreamers making it happen. As Hollywood evolves, LA is the epicenter for entertainment and cinematic magic. Everyone I meet has an opinion on each film nominated for an Oscar, a suggestion to listen to an emerging artist I haven’t heard of yet and a place to grab the greatest avocado toast. I have found a home where individuals assemble to make a career out of their favorite hobby.

The sprawling city feels small as each neighborhood has a distinctive flair and nature is dispersed throughout. We may be late to a meeting because of traffic, but whether it be marijuana or just drunk on the sun – we’re understanding.

The glamour is cool and all, but there’s nothing like standing in line at a taco truck and seeing the variety of Los Angelenos – one in heels, one in sneakers, one in work boots and one barefoot from the beach. (None gender-specific may I add.) You may be in front of a celebrity, you may be behind a pet walker with twenty dogs, you may BE a pet walker about to have your big break and become a celebrity. This city is Oz, and we’re all on the brink of being the wizard.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.welcometocleland.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.cleland/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welcometocleland/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y32YkPoZqrQ

Image Credit:
Casey James Knight

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