Michelle Lockey
Updated: Jul 21, 2022
Michelle is a multi-award-winning recording artist and performing singer-songwriter/producer from Maryland. She is a three-time Washington Area Music Award Nominee. Michelle's CD Courageous Me was released in September 2019. This is her fifth album release. She also has multiple single releases, including two singles released by Black Toast Records. One of her most notable accomplishments is winning the Grand Prize in the Folk Category of the 2014 John Lennon Song Contest for her song, "Your Footprints," written by fellow songwriter Paul Otten. Michelle's music has also been heard in Film & TV. Her music was used for the theme song for Gear Heads, prominent placement in Amazon Video's Good Girls Revolt & Young Sheldon, songs in Reign, a song in the John Travolta movie Speed Kills, Hallmark's Hope at Christmas, The Path, ABC Family's The Fosters, USA's Benched, Longmire, CBS Inside the PGA, No Tomorrow & More! Michelle's Indie/Alternative Folk sound is influenced by Ingrid Michaelson, Sheryl Crow, Tristan Prettyman, Meiko, Birdy, The Lumineers, The Head & The Heart, Warpaint, Florence and the Machine, Hope Sandoval, London Grammar, The XX, Daughter, The Civil Wars, Colbie Caillat, and Oh Honey.
For fans who have never heard your music, can you pick three words to describe it?! If three words just aren't enough, then tell us more!!
My music can range from dark to happy, from Indie to singer-songwriter to straight-up pop. It just depends on what is happening in my life at the time. I write in a variety of styles, so there are plenty of songs to satisfy a listener's taste. I usually gear toward the darker side, because it helps me process my feelings and emotions and I hope helps others too. But I do like to write some heartwarming songs as well, and sometimes some extremely happy upbeat songs!
A lot of my music has also appeared in Film & TV- including a song in a movie with John Travolta!
What is your favorite part about being an artist? Is it songwriting, performing, recording, something else?) Tell us why.
Honestly, I like the finished product! I do enjoy the creative part of it, from the writing, and singing to the recording, but sometimes that is more frustrating because I am so close to it, I judge it as I go along, trying to make it perfect. Since I produce, I work the technical and creative side which can be intense. It is nice to see the works come together, come to life. The song may end up totally different from when it started, so I always like to keep the first drafts. But once complete, I can sit back, relax and enjoy what I've created!
Can you tell us what being in the recording studio is like for you?
I have my own home studio, which I mainly work out of, so I wear many hats. Being able to juggle the technical side of recording and producing while still giving the best performance can be challenging to juggle. When I go to a professional studio, it is nice to let the tech part go and just work on the creative. I also get another perspective on the song. That lets me be a little more free.
Okay, this a fun question. When you are not doing music, what else do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy going to different wineries and breweries, walks with my dog and hubby, going on little mini-weekend vacations, canning & cooking with the veggies in our garden, AND nights by a fire pit listening to music!
Who do you admire most in the music scene today and why?
Eddie Vedder- I love his music with Pearl Jam as well as his newer music. The soundtrack he did for Into the Wild was fantastic. I like his candidness and that he raises awareness for world issues and he is not afraid to speak his mind.
Can you tell us what song you've written that is the most emotional and describe the meaning behind it?
My song "Dust and Ashes," is probably the most emotional. I wrote it during the pandemic, and for a while, I had been feeling hopeless and lost; then the pandemic hit, my dogs died, I had two aunts die and had knee surgery. I wasn't sure that I wanted to continue in music. I felt lost and hopeless. This song describes that journey. I also created a music video for it, and my other goal was to produce, mix and master the song and then get it signed to a publisher, which I did. It felt good to do that, and I truly love the song.
Here is the video link:
Are you working on any new material right now or what's in the works for the upcoming year?
Yep! I am working on a very personal album that will come out sometime next year. This album works through all sorts of things from my life, including low self-esteem and things I regret. I also want to deal with Imposter syndrome in one of the songs, which I tend to suffer from. There will be a happy song in there, though, I promise! I plan to do music videos and hopefully release the first single this fall.
Tell us where fans can access your music.
Here are three links. People can also google me, and I will pop up!
My website: https://www.michellelockey.com/
#MichelleLockey #BEHINDTHESONG