Michael Jared

@itsmichaeljared

When most people think of Kentucky I bet their minds conjure up images of horse racing, bourbon and a whole lot of nothing. But Kentucky has a secret and thats Louisville. A blue dot in a red sea Louisville is unassumingly a lot cooler than you think, With a bustling art scene, restaurants making national headlines, up and coming LGBT+ community and of course all that bourbon it can be easy to forget that you are smack dab in the middle of America. Like any city what really makes it shine is the people that live there, and the people in Louisville are no exception. When scrolling through Michael Jareds carefully curated Instagram you immediatly understand his aesthetic, Concrete tones with pops of neutrals and stunning architecture fill his page. People including himself, his boyfriend Jake, and other sleekly dressed friends are captured in an intriguingly ambiguous metropolis that if it wasn’t for the location tags you would never guess it was the streets and structures of Louisville. Raised in Kentucky Michael now 22 like most queer people in a conservative state didn’t have an easy coming out saying “Kentucky has a way of making people uncomfortable around queer identity and i find today, thats really molded my passion for showing people and educating them about queer Identity and why thats important in society”. Currently in charge of social media campaigns for the University Of Louisville LGBT center he’s using his passion for art and change to shape the growing community around him. Drawing before he could talk, The passion to create has always been there for Michael. A visual designer in the modern age of Instagram he uses his keen eye for aesthetics to uplift and encourage creativity in people while at the same time pushing himself saying “ I hope to exude confidence and to show people that no matter where you are or what you’ve done, you can always create a life for yourself because that choice and the realization people have about being in control of their life can be a powerful thing”

Keep It Simple- Michael Jareds Mix

00-3:26 -Sevdaliza-Marliyn Monroe- Opening with The Iranian singers sultry single from her album Hubris, The love for Sevdaliza was one of the first things Michael and I bonded over when i met him that cold afternoon at a coffee shop in Louisville. One of his favorite current singers he said “ I just love Sevadliza’s seductive nature and her style gives me so much inspiration, Marliyn Monroe really puts me in my feelings when i hear it, I almost get in a trance like state when listening”. which makes this enchanting song the perfect start to this mix about style and art.

3:27- 5:50 Kelis- Milkshake (Blaize Remix)- One of my favorite questions i ask these Artist is about their guilty pleasure songs, You know those songs you don’t exactly blast in a car full of people but when you’re alone you just can’t help but get down and dirty to and that song for Michael was Kelis’s most well known hit Milkshake. Using the blaze remix i felt the progressing chords and slowed down verse in this remix was a perfect mix of sass and refinement that echoes Michaels own balance today.

5:51-9:26 - SZA- Broken Clocks- Rounding out some of his favorite artist at the current moment SZA’s album CTRL is one of his favorites in rotation, saying “ her vibe is really resonation with me at the moment” Choosing one of his favorite Broken Clocks SZAs voice effortlessly flows over the beats so seamless that its easy to see why Michael indulges in a chick just as stylish and cool as himself.

9:2911:15- Kali Uchis-Sycamore Tree- A slowed down surprise in a list of songs that Michael said he was bumping at the moment Kali’s stripped down and looped Sycamore Tree is a short soft and sweet treat from her debut album, Much like Michaels Instagram feed sometimes the most intriguing things come from keeping it simple which is why i felt Sycamore Tree was a perfect addition to his mix.

 11:16- 14:05 -Sofi Tukker- My Body Hurts- One of only two songs i chose for Michael Sofi Tukkers My Body Hurts from their grammy nominated album Tree House seemed like a perfect fit after learning about the intense and sometimes on going physical pain Michael has had to endure. Saying “When i was younger I was injured by a nurse at a local hospital and i developed CRPS type 2 which is an extremely rare nerve condition, Thanks to the help of my mom and doctors in boston i was able to make a full recovery only major nerve damage, I am the only recorded case in history of a full remission even though i still have nerve damage from the trauma”. Coming from Lead Singer Sofi’s own health problems which caused her to have multiple surgeries to continue making music and touring.This song is a clarion call for all those who have to endure such immense pain but pushed through it singing “ My body hurts, i’m overwhelmed it feels so good to yell” proving that you can indeed turn your pain into art.

14:05- 16:42  Ella Fitzgerald Someone To Watch Over Me (Franc Orff Remix)- The opposite to pain is always Love which brings me to this next song. A permanent fixture on his feed Michaels boyfriend jake (@liamforshort) is every bit as big of a part of Michaels art as he is his life. The couple can be seen representing love in the most stylish and visually pleasing way through out his instagram bringing us to this song by Ella Fitzgerald with Michael saying “This was the first song jake actually sang to me and literally it was one of those moments you kind of feel like aren't real because it's too good to be true. Definitely will never forget that as long as I live. Makes me happy thinking of that because its his birthday and its the second birthday I've spent with him and I just feel extremely happy” Choosing this remix because just like any good relationship you’ve got to evolve overtime and Keeping Ellas enchanting sweet vocals but mixing them into something new and exciting this remix felt like just that.

. 16:42-21:30 - Kanye West- Cant Tell Me Nothing (Bear Tooth Cover)- Kanye has always been a source of inspiration for Michael stating “Kayne West was really inspirational to me because I really am inspired by people who come from nothing and who've been pushing the envelope in music and fusing fashion and videography together. I think graduation was a golden time for his music and honestly everything on it was golden. Flashing lights and Cant tell me nothing are definitely my favorites. I was definitely in a part of my life where I was coming into my own identity and I really looked to his confidence and boldness. “ Choosing this cover by bear tooth i felt the same confidence that kanye exudes is reflected in this Sleek cover with Kanyes own vocals coming in and out, it sounds like a fresh take on a classic that helped shaped Michael into the artist he is today.

21:39- 25:14- Banks- Brain - “Banks i listen to almost everyday” said Michael the Melancholy and rich nature of Banks song is a common theme in the music that Michael seems to gravitate towards saying “Sadness is such a rich source of inspiration for me and it has helped me get through some really awful parts of my life, to have the mentality of making a situation what it needs to be rather than what it is.” Banks so beautifully crafts the sadness and hope in Brain that its easy to see why its one of his favorite songs by her”

25:15-29:00- End- Nao- In The Morning ( Live Version)- I Always ask what is one of the most beautiful songs that you’ve heard and Michaels answer was Nao’s In The Morning Live Version saying “Just The Power and Softness of her voice is so Enthralling to me” Letting the song speak for itself it truly is Beautiful.

29:01- 33:05 Portishead- Wandering Stars ( Live Version)- The idea of beauty in the darkness of things can be seen not only visually in the content that Michael creates but also in his style and musical choices. When thinking about this perfect mix and Sadness Beauty and Light 90’s Trip Hop Pioneers Portishead Immediately come to mind, Making this the only other song that i picked out for Michael this Live Version of Wandering Stars encompasses the bands unique mysteriously sad and beautiful sound perfectly, from lead singer Beths Wailing vocals and soft coos’s mixed with trip hop beats and dripping guitar this song is every bit as beautiful and mysteriously intriguing as Michaels art.

33:06- 37:24 Young The Giant- Islands (Ark Patrol Remix)- No stranger to the actual struggle of sadness Michael opened up about this next song selection saying “Specific songs like strings and island takes me back to the mountains in Montana, honestly I was in a really terrible part of my life and I was in a really unhealthy relationship so I always go to that beautiful place but it puts me in such a melancholic mood. I find that a lot of my music taste revolves around that same idea, my art and my process are both inspired by sadness, especially since I live with depression I know that I can either just be sad or be inspired by sadness and I choose to be inspired. “ Choosing the Ark Patrol remix because i think it is a remix that takes the beauty and sadness of the original song and elevates the hope and tenderness we here in lead singer Sameers voice to a new level.

37:25- End- Adele- Day Dreamer (Live)- Choosing to end this mix with Adeles Day Dreamer seemed appropriate because at the end of the day thats exactly what Michael is a Dreamer. A dreamer to make the world he lives in and that surrounds him into a more beautiful and refined place, Taken from a list of timeless songs that he gave to me Michael said Adeles album will always have a special place in his heart and just like that album Michael will always have a special place in mine and on my timeline.