LOS ANGELES, CA- Only a handful of artists are brave enough to be upfront about their sexuality from the get go, one of them is up and coming singer/songwriter Michael Blume.

Born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey Michael excelled in school and attended Yale to study in Latin American studies. Music was always part of his life and while studying at Yale, he became a part of the Whiffenpoofs, an all male accapella group founded in 1909 and is known as one of the best groups in the Collegiate accapella circle. After his time with the Whiffenpoofs, Michael moved to New York City to pursue his passion for music while making ends meet by tutoring for the SATs.

On July 2015, he released first his single “Manufactured Love” on Soundcloud. It spread like wildfire, and shortly thereafter A&R from Apple Music reached out to him and got the singer to distribute his song through their platform while having the single be used on the cover of iTunes. The song’s popularity continued growing, and it ended up finding its way to a multitude of digital playlists, including, Spotify’s “Fresh Finds” (“Manufactured Love” currently has over 1,900,000 plays on Spotify). He did all of this … and he did it all on his own without the help of a manager.

Fast forward to 2018 and I find myself in Blume’s presence as he opened for the brother sister act ‘Lawrence’ at the Teragram Ballroom L.A. Backed by his band, which consisted of a guitar, drums, horns and bass, Blume strutted on stage and serenaded us with his trap-like tones among the venue’s heavy purple lights.

Blume definitely knows how to get the crowd going, and there were hardly a moments when crowd was either shuffling their feet to the rhythm or waving their hands in the air. The house was packed with people singing along to his songs, and the crowd fervor his a sweet spot during Michael’s soulfully, amazing performance of his emotional song “Lifting You” — a song that he penned for someone he watched drown in a constant search for validation from other people instead of find love in themselves. The cheers that erupted when Michael finished the singing the final lyrics “You’ve got to love yourself first” stirred the soul.

He also made the crowd erupt in church like accapella singing with his song “I Am Not a Trend (No Rules)”. It is a head bopping, soul infused jam about self- empowerment wherein the Blume talks about loving who he loves, finding pride in who is and how no one can tell him who he needs to be in order to succeed in the industry. A powerful message that resonates not only with the LGBTQ community, but society as a whole.

Blume is still in the early stages his career but I can tell that he is already doing a hell of a good job. With his amazing vocals, his out of this world stage presence and his charisma, I wouldn’t be surprised if I see him win a few “Best New Artist” awards in the near future.

Michael Blume’s new his EP cynicism & sincerity drop June 8th , so be sure you peep the new tunes when it drops!

Follow Michael Blume on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.
Michael Blume @ Teragram Ballroom 5/24/18. Photo by Derrick K. Lee, Esq. (@Methodman13) for www.BlurredCulture.com.

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