Singer-songwriter Michael Martinez has a unique approach to his catchy and highly personal music in more than one way. His songs resonate with emotions and problems he deals with in his head while giving them melodic vessels. He will be releasing a trilogy of EPs in the upcoming months—starting with Anxious, which will be followed by Insecure and ending with Addicted—that explore his most vulnerable moments. This musical expression has led him to have unique experiences, like playing a wedding after a couple caught one of his Sofar Sounds shows.
Establishing an emotional connection with his fans has been key for Michael, and it all boils down to his songwriting ability. He tells us about being a theater kid in high school leading him to pursue his studies in that direction before realizing he’s a “more of a mover than a dancer.” While switching lanes, he began writing songs in his spare time and even performing them on open mics. “At first I was trying to write catchy ideas and melodies,” he tells Sofar Sounds about his initial experiments. “My songwriting is stronger now because of all of the lived experience I have now. I’d like to think that I play pop music but I’m hesitant to call it that; my music is based on my anxieties, insecurities, and addiction. I try to be very honest and I think that makes it more interesting.” This is key to how listeners become deeply attached to his work, and how that led to one of the highlights of his career so far.
For Michael, playing at a wedding is nothing out of the ordinary. As a working musician, he finds himself at those events constantly. However, in 2022, something entirely different and more profound allowed him to be part of something he considers very special. “It was January 2022 and I was excited that Sofar had me play outside the Bay Area,” he reminisces. “I met the couple in L.A. and we realized we have a lot in common. Jessica, the fianceé at the time, she’s Jewish, a comedian, and pretty neurotic. In my live set, especially in Sofar performances, the audiences are so attentive, you can really talk to them; and it’s not like I’m trying to be funny but the way I talk about what my songs are about ends up sounding funny, I’ve learned to enjoy that part of the song. I think that’s how we connected, her humor is very up my alley, that’s how we became friends. She then came back to another Sofar performance with her fiancé. Eventually, they asked me to play at their wedding, they said ‘we love your music and we love you and having you there would be so special.’ I was very nervous because I had to learn songs for the wedding, like when she walked down the aisle and their first dance and so on. It was special to bring my gifts, I guess. To see her cry because I…I mean, I’m not happy I made her cry [laughs], but the fact that I helped create an atmosphere of love. It was an amazing experience.”
This experience might be a once in a lifetime for both the happy couple and Michael, but there may be plenty more fans who develop a special bond with his music. As he describes it, his shows are opportunities for people to get in touch with deeper and sometimes difficult feelings. He’s grateful his music is a key for fans to get in touch with them and find peace and hope through it. “My favorite feedback from playing shows is when people tell me they felt permission to feel vulnerable, to have these feelings,” Michael says. “Sometimes, people come up to me after the shows to tell me that they found the courage to come out to their dads or that they can talk more openly about their anxiety. When that happens, I feel like I’m doing things right and making a difference.”
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Words by Sofar Editorial Team
