INTERVIEW WITH EJ MICHELS

Vessel: Thank you for spending some time with us today. Let's get to know who you are. Let's start with your quick bio.

EJ: I'm 32 years old. I'm a singer-songwriter who grew up in the suburbs around Draper, Utah. I started playing music when I was 7 years old, learning classical piano music… and I’ve been writing songs since high school. I started a pop-rock band after high school and have been doing music, full time, since 2014. It's been a whirlwind.

Vessel: I love that for you. So have you always known that you love music? 

EJ: Yes and no, because a lot of people were like, “I've always dreamed of being a rock star and being this hit songwriter, singer or pop star.” I grew up wanting to be a dentist and … having a life. Like “Can I be a doctor of some sorts?” I'm going to help people. I'm going to make all this money. But then it's like getting into music. That's not the case. When you first start, no one is gonna decide, “I'm gonna go into music so I can make a lot of money.” People do it because they love it and they're passionate about it. But not until after high school did I decide to pursue music.

Vessel: When did you officially start singing?

EJ: I would say 10th grade. Officially, 10th grade summer I started taking professional voice lessons and became obsessed with it. Yeah, obsessed!

Vessel: Now… This brings me to my next question. We have to ask: Blake and chance both turned for you, so why did you choose Blake? Aside from his wonderful looks. 

EJ: I know, it is shocking. And it's his last season. It really was based upon what they both said in the moment as I was standing there after my performance. Chance being like, “Hey, I'll have you sing some R&B Music” by these artists that I wasn't really familiar with. And then Blake, I just thought your voice was so raw and authentic and America needs to hear more of that. And I was like, “Yes!”, because really, at the end of the day, I want someone just like my authenticity and just push that forward, rather than, “Let's have you sing all these types of songs and push you into this category”. So that's what I thought Chance was going to do. And I was like, well, Blake seems like he just let me do what I want.

Vessel: Out of all of your songs, which one means the most to you and why? 

EJ: I love that. If I was to talk about a song that I've put out it would probably be my first song under my solo project, “If It's a Sin to Love You”. That song was kind of the catalyst for me pursuing my solo project outside of my band. Just because I realized I wanted to talk on more queer topics and just more personal experiences that I've gone through in love and in my life. And I felt like that song didn't necessarily jive with the sound and the ethos that my band was doing at the time. So it was kind of the first song I put out with my very first relationship with a guy that ever had that had this tug and pull between shame and authenticity and coming out and being in the closet and kind of his Romeo and Juliet thing. This unrequited love story. And the melody is so poppin’ – just emotional – and that song means a lot to me because it's kind of my stab at choosing to pursue my career, by myself and having the courage to be. I can do this on my own and start pursuing it without a band.

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Singer/Songwriter: EJ Michels

@ejmichelsmusic