Rising artist Michael J Woodard performed his latest single “Hope Full” on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. 

“Hope Full’ is a song that encourages you to try and stay optimistic and focused on reaching your goals. Especially when you’re hit with obstacles or when things aren’t going quite as you expected,” Woodard explains of the song, “I’ve had to remind myself to keep moving forward over the years, and as I’m now starting to share my music with the world, I feel like I’ve really began to see the results of that determination.”

Championed by superstar Katy Perry on the hit television series American Idol, Woodard was signed to Unsub Records—an independent label founded by Perry herself. 

“I was dazzled by Michael’s instantly identifiable voice and playful personality since I saw him on the first season of American Idol a few years ago,” Perry describes. “I knew immediately that I wanted to take him under my wing and help him grow into the artist he wanted to be by giving him the tools to hone his writing and recording skills.”

Since signing with Unsub, Woodard has been in the studio nonstop, strengthening his talents as a songwriter which has resulted in him writing over 130 songs in the last 18 months

What’s your story as an artist?

Well I started singing at about the age of 5 years old. I was this little kid who would just belt out a big soul ballad on the spot.

I was raised singing in the Philadelphia church and I’d perform in school plays and Christmas showcases. Then I began to sing at different events across the tri-state area, which resulted in me once singing for President Barack Obama. In high school I went through a time where I wasn’t performing much at all. As a young kid I had been promised a lot of big things from labels and music industry folks that didn’t come to fruition, so I was pretty down.

I spent that time working on my musicianship and eventually moved to LA for college. During that time I began releasing a bunch of bops on Soundcloud and I was approached to audition for a little show called American Idol, where I met a certain someone named Katy Perry. Shortly after the show finished I got signed by Katy to Unsub Records. Two years of being in the studio everyday and I’ve just released my second single. And now i’m interviewing with MUNDANE MAGAZINE.

What do you want your music to communicate? 

I hope my music communicates and inspires joy, happiness and love. I often sing about heartbreak, the beauty and complexities of everyday life, relationships and of God. Even though I’m not singing gospel music and some of my music is about heartbreak and loss, I still want to inspire people. I’d like my music to be able to uplift and potentially heal people. 

What are some sources of inspiration for your storytelling?

I write a lot about challenges I face and things I’m experiencing in my life, but I’m also a big hypothetical story teller. Being as though I haven’t really been in love just yet, at least I think I haven’t. I’ll often let my big imagination create a world that I then write songs about.

Who is an artist that you look up to more than others today?

I’d say Brandy. The beauty in her voice and how no matter the story she’s telling, her voice is able to communicate it flawlessly. Also Sza. Her ability to tell a story musically without sticking to a regular song structure is so inspirational to me. The intricateness of her lyrics is immaculate and her style of songwriting feels so straightforward, almost reminiscent of a conversation, which is awesome.

What’s the record or artist that made you realize you wanted to be an artist?

I don’t think that there was one certain record. I think it was records and music in general. My inexplicable obsession with music was pretty strong from an early age.

Tell us about your latest release and how it came about

Well my latest release is a song called ‘hope full’. It’s an uplifting song that encourages you to stay focussed and positive throughout life’s more challenging times. It reminds you to keep your head to the sky and eyes on the prize.

What inspires your sound?

90’s and early 2000’s R&B and Pop records really inspire me sonically and I’m also heavily inspired by classic Rock  artists like Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles. I definitely pull inspiration from a lot of the music I was exposed to as a kid and that excited me as a teenager. Where I think I can bring something new and uniquely myself to my music is through my songwriting and my voice, which I like to bend and play with control and pitch in interesting ways. My dream is that over the course of my career I’ll be able to grow and experiment with different sounds and break genre barriers. Wish me luck!

What’s your favorite tune of yours?

I’d say right now it’s a song called ‘Concrete’. It’s a mid-tempo song that kind of invokes the nostalgia of early pop music, though not in a cheesy bubblegum way. You’ll get the point when you hear it soon.

Favorite lyric you ever wrote?

“But nobody’s watching

Do you wanna fall?

Because I’m still dreaming”

Was there ever a moment when you felt like giving up?

I would say never. Never giving up is kind of what ‘Hope Full’ is about.

What is the best advice you’ve ever gotten?

KEEP GOD FIRST ALWAYS.