Sphere

Michael Rider

"Sphere," the acoustic, companion piece to Michael's fourth studio album "Cycle" (May, 2022) is set to release on January 6, 2023. The album features the tracks from "Cycle," stripped to only piano and a vocal, usually of a single take, in reverse order from the original record's track listing. The album was recorded in New York City in Michael's
"Sphere," the acoustic, companion piece to Michael's fourth studio album "Cycle" (May, 2022) is set to release on January 6, 2023. The album features the tracks from "Cycle," stripped to only piano and a vocal, usually of a single take, in reverse order from the original record's track listing. The album was recorded in New York City in Michael's home studio during the fall of 2022. The recordings were produced, mixed and mastered by collaborator M The Myth (producer, music artist) from their studio in Fresno, California.

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Before I Disappear (Acoustic)

Michael Rider

The song was recorded in New York City in Michael's home studio during the fall of 2022. The recording was produced, mixed and mastered by collaborator M The Myth (producer, music artist) from their studio in Fresno, California.
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Cycle

Michael Rider

May 13, 2022: Michael Rider (they/them) is a dream pop singer-songwriter and they release their fourth studio album Cycle. The album is partially inspired by their first album Lighthouse passing its ten year anniversary, which was originally released in 2011.

After years of working with several producers to create their last full-length album
May 13, 2022: Michael Rider (they/them) is a dream pop singer-songwriter and they release their fourth studio album Cycle. The album is partially inspired by their first album Lighthouse passing its ten year anniversary, which was originally released in 2011.

After years of working with several producers to create their last full-length album Temptation, Rider decided to take the creative process in a different direction, opting to work in- depth with three collaborators: Brooklyn-based pop artist M the Myth, Voyager Sound Studio’s Nathan Feler, and multi-instrumentalist Richard L. Entrup. Although the majority of the album was made over Zoom, Rider described the process as being “intuitive, seamless, and fun” and calls the record one that made itself.

The album revisits of themes discussed in their previous works, namely their pursuit of healthy relationships, both romantically and with themself. Rider reflects on why they find themself stuck in a cycle of toxicity where they fall into the same kind of destructive love time and time again. The lyrics also delve into the duality present in the different phases of life one encounters and how one must embrace its dialect in order to find balance both internally and externally. “Looking at both sides of the coin gives me the insight to challenge myself and hopefully make a positive personal change.” The track list is a response to itself, with the topics in the first half of the album being reversed in the back half.

The opener Tower is about feeling disconnected from others, while the closer Battle of Heart, is about the discomfort that comes when finally faced with intimacy and vulnerability. This back and forth continues through discussion of the desires and fears that come with love and accepting them. The introspective nature of the project mirrors both Rider’s personal growth and artistic maturity over the past decade, responding to the anger and confusion of their debut work.

Michael Rider (they/them) was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia, Rider migrated to New York City on a visual art scholarship in 2013. They played open mics at the Sidewalk Cafe, the birthplace of anti-folk, amongst contemporaries such as Brett Gleason, Siv Disa, and Prince Johnny. Inspired by the work of Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Rider sings of the anxieties of life while mixing the traditional piano of their past with innovative electronic production, creating an ethereal pop experience.
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Me Over All Temptation

Michael Rider

"Me Over All Temptation" is the acoustic version of Michael's third studio album "Temptation." Michael decided to release this "counter-piece" to showcase their songwriting abilities instead of production. All the songs were recorded by Nathan Feler in Voyager Sound studios in Brooklyn, New York in October of 2020.
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Dance With You

Michael Rider

Very excited to announce that in light of Netflix’s film “The Prom” being nominated for a Golden Globe, I covered “Dance With You,” from the show. This project has been on my mind since my friend Maurice Ross recommended I watch the film back and cover the song back in December. The story tells of two girls, Emma and Alyssa, fighting to be allowed
Very excited to announce that in light of Netflix’s film “The Prom” being nominated for a Golden Globe, I covered “Dance With You,” from the show. This project has been on my mind since my friend Maurice Ross recommended I watch the film back and cover the song back in December. The story tells of two girls, Emma and Alyssa, fighting to be allowed to attend their small town, high school prom as an openly gay couple. As a non-binary person, not being comfortable in my skin during this time, I never went to prom. However, I hope my rendition of this beautiful song can inspire you to always follow the path of love: to be proud to love yourself and the one you love.
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