Micah Sheveloff is a musician for whom every song is a meticulously crafted story. Blending classical piano with rock and metal, he creates melodies that captivate from the first notes, with a style that recalls the 70s, but without nostalgia. It’s all about vibrant, dynamic sound. In his music, you’ll find echoes of Bartók, flashes of The Beatles, and unexpected jazz accents. We spoke with Micah about his journey, exploring how spontaneous ideas transform into powerful arrangements, what he calls “capturing lightning in a bottle.
Your music has this unmistakable 70s vibe. What is it about that time that really clicks with you? And how do you keep those influences feeling alive without sounding like a nostalgia act?
At this point, rock and roll is well over 50 years old and I think many songwriters have a broad range of influences and inspirations that have become part of our consciousness…. I definitely do not write or arrange my songs to sound a certain way, but my style embraces the art of surprise, lyrical twists with room for personal interpretation, and huge harmonies…. Those aspects of songwriting are like oxygen to me …..
These days, a lot of artists chase quick hits with catchy hooks, but you’ve mentioned layering “subtle complexities” in your songs. What exactly do you mean by that, and how do you sneak those details in without losing listeners?
To be honest, maybe I do lose listeners …. I’ve had other songwriters yell at me for using complex chords and I heard an interview with Cheryl Crow where she referenced NOT using the full extent of her musical vocabulary so she could generate more revenue…. All I’m doing is being true to myself as an artist, and I write musical phrases, sometimes with unusual chord structures, that give me joy…. And then I throw it out into the universe…. I never bend my inclinations to accommodate anyone’s perception of a hit song.
What role does improvisation play when you’re arranging a song with other musicians in the studio? Do you leave space for experimentation, or is everything carefully plotted out?
I like this question! I plot out the song arrangement and I let the bassist and drummer (or programmer depending on the situation) improvise their way to a groove …. And oftentimes other forms of improvisation happen organically in the sessions and the song becomes what it becomes and it’s a beautiful thing !! The key there is to enlist great players with magic in their hearts ….
Your track “SMILE” is filled with contrasting emotions—sadness and happiness. How do you approach capturing those dualities in your songwriting, and is there a particular moment that inspired this theme?
My life and my journey are the inspirational moments as you put it ….SMILE was meant to symbolize embracing the light, the joy of the present but with full recollection of darker days…. And I sought to capture that duality using a rather classic pop song framework of brooding verses and bursting choruses…. And then I sewed in a bridge with some swing… but all the real magic happens in the fade …. It’s a lustful appreciation for conveying pain and beauty with melody and harmony in the span of roughly 4 minutes…!!!
‘SMILE’ has both a dark, ominous tone and a soaring, uplifting chorus. How do you balance these contrasts within your songwriting?
some of answer 4 applies here, but it has been my experience that, from Gershwin and American Songbook to the Beatles to Billie Eilish and everything in between, great songs must transport the listener to outer space and back or what’s the point !?! I sit at the piano determined to be that pilot for a brief moment…. It is quite an honor when a listener hops in and goes for the ride !
In talking about “SMILE,” you mention ‘a bridge that swings and sways.’ Is there something about that looseness or unpredictability that mirrors your overall artistic style?
I just enjoy a degree of unpredictability as part of my style … and that bridge is a perfect example…. Having left the soaring harmonies of the chorus and suddenly there’s some swing and a walking bass line and hey… is that almost jazz piano… and then it’s gone ….
What role does storytelling play in a track like “SMILE”? Are there specific narratives you want listeners to pick up on, or is it more about emotional resonance?
There are different ways to share a story…. Some songs include finite detail and you take the listener to very specific places …. SMILE intends to leave wide berths … big spaces for the listener to make the journey their own.
You’ve played with a wide range of musicians over the years. How did your experiences with rock and metal acts shape the energy and dynamics of “SMILE”?
Actually, much more so than many might imagine! I sung classical choir and went to see ballet and symphony as a child before finding pop and rock …. And those influences are absolutely all in there. The bridge and the coda (outro) of SMILE are perfect examples of that …. Teasing jazz influences next to metal influences in the span of a few seconds …. I totally dig that !
Your work blends different genres and emotional tones, but is there a central theme or message you feel consistently runs through all your music?
The consistency is the inconsistency and the unpredictability…. I just sink my teeth into an idea and develop it in my own way … I suppose it’s fair to say that I consistently pay close attention to production values too…. I work with a brilliant producer named Jason Pennock who brings his own ideas to the party but also interprets my sensibilities almost like we are bandmates … and I feel incredibly fortunate that we are able to work together….
Looking ahead, where do you see your music heading next? Are there any styles or themes you haven’t tapped into yet that you’re itching to explore in your upcoming work?
I just keep writing and welcome where it takes me. I will say that I’ve always had an itch to write a part for a children’s choir like the one I grew up singing in …. But it’s an impractical idea and unlikely to happen though never say never ! I have a song (and video) called City Bus dropping on November 22 that’s just piano and voice and recalls when I first began to explore the city of Boston on my own as a young person ….and more on the way after that! Wheels always turning !! 
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