Backstage Pass with

Backstage Pass with... Michael Tolcher

A Conversation with Michael Tolcher--
Insights and Advice from the ever-humble artist

By: Kiki Alexander

Michael Tolcher’s future was sailing in the direction of professional athlete when an injury forced him to reassess his plans. In hindsight this was the best thing that could have happened to both Tolcher, and those of us growing bored and idle with the negatively charged musicians that are growing so popular these days. Just last year the singer/songwriter released his debut album “I Am”, a diverse blend of sounds and emotions conveyed through pop-rock, soul, and even some hints of R&B to produce the witty, bouncy sound that is consistent with the album. It is a truly unique and innovative endeavor. Think the infectiously carefree quality of pop albeit the shallowness of a puddle during a ten-year-drought. The Georgia native breathes new life into the scene with positive, influential lyrics inspired by everything from misery to nature, set against equally uplifting melodies, creating an atmospheric edge that shines instead of drags down the listener.

Since the release, Tolcher has pulled together an intense following of devotees, however to be honest I’d never even heard of Michael Tolcher until just recently when I was given the opportunity to interview him. As we began the interview I was caught off guard by the humble coolness that emulated from his end in a sleepy southern drawl. It didn’t feel like two professionals playing off organized comments and questions to attain the information needed to reach the goal and move on but his immediate down-to-earth nature put me at ease and gave off more of the vibe you’d get casually checking in on an old friend to see what was up. That same vibrant yet peaceful demeanor that’s thrown off in his music proved his authenticity as both a musician and human being.

Though he grew up on rap music and now is into artists like Prince and Kellis, his songs seem to have more of a beginning-middle-ending thing going on than that of which he entertains himself with. There is a story-with-a-moral factor to each of his songs yet it is evident, especially on tracks like the buoyantly, almost sexy “Taxi Ride Kinda Night” that dance-worthy beats are of importance in his music. Ironically enough, Tolcher’s been receiving much exposure on television where his music has carved it’s own little niche, being featured on hits like NBC’s family show “American Dreams” in which he had a small guest spot, as well as the WB’s ‘Summerland’. Also, his contagiously catchy “Mission Responsible” has been used in campaigning for The American Lung Association.

I ask him to enlighten me on exactly what “Sooner or Later,” the gorgeously insightful and playful tongue-in-cheek tune which found a place as the theme song for ABC’s teen dramady “Life As We Know It,“ is all about. “I learn about that song everyday. I really do,“ he admits. While explaining, he begins to sing the chorus so that I might get the picture. On a side-note, Tolcher sounds just as lovely if not more so outside of the studio as he does in-studio, and proves that he does not rely on the aide of obsessive studio-tweaking to sound great.

“You gotta seize your own truth. You’re not gonna hear it from me, you’re not gonna hear it from anyone else,” he states quite gracefully of the song. You would think that with all of this newfound fame his head might be slightly swelled. Not even a bit, it’s as if he doesn’t recognize his budding star-status but instead carries it in with stride, enjoying all of the tiny moments and pit stops with the exuberance of a child. Although hardly a recluse I sense a loner side to the singer, an introverted independent, almost self-entertained aspect and I wonder if it is either nurtured or suffocated while on a rigorous touring schedule on which he shares the stage with other brilliant acts like Gavin DeGraw, Howie Day, Jem, and Collective Soul. “I sleep. If I ever get a chance- which is very rarely- I go for a walk in the woods, but other than that I am eating, sleeping, or playing a show. Not much free time. Every now and then we go bowling or something…” When I ask him what he would tell his teenage self knowing what he knows now he inadvertently gives me the greatest advice I could have ever received-“I would’ve told my teenage self that nothing is so serious or important to get really disappointed if it doesn't work out the way you planned it and there were many times where I would’ve told myself to lighten up.”

“O.k., so what do you think your teenage self would say to your present self?” I ask. “WHERE DID YOU GET THAT FROM!?” He laughs warmly, “My teenage self would say to myself right now…” Tolcher’s voice grows ecstatic, “It would say ‘holy shit dude you are a singer! You are the guy in the band!’ That's what he would say. He'd be shocked, he'd be AGH you're the dude on stage. He’d be like where'd you learn to play the guitar?!”

He’s right. Let me tell you, Tolcher is so beautifully human, it makes me thankful that there are actual humans left out there in the swamped industry. He even comes clean to the fact that he picks on himself and criticizes his own music, “I'm constantly listening to myself going oooh ooh don't do that.” Intriguing, because all I’ve heard are wonderful things about his work but it’s just further proof of his genuine character although he seems like the no-regrets type, especially with his career decisions. “…Those moments of regret are fleeting and don't come very often but I’ve had them.”

Tolcher seems to be particularly driven by the imminent moment and what it has to offer, rather than dwelling on what has or what should be. Each moment is worth it to him, every bit of it, that’s obvious. He doesn’t even have to say it for me to catch on. “I Am” is Michael Tolcher in every single sense, from each brooding chorus to the finest of details. He is so in love and so ensconced within his art. This is more than just an album he’s handed over to the people…it is his soul. “I hope it's been thought provoking. I hope it's helping them get in touch with their philosophical selves and inspired them.” The raillery presses on, this time in the direction of spirituality. “[I’m] definitely a spiritual person,” he says. Tolcher started out singing in his Church choir as a kid so I’m once again taken aback and shocked at his unexpectedness when he states, “I’m not religious, I’m not a Christian…“ This leads me to wonder if his spirituality has in any way affected him musically. “I would like to think that my songs are influenced by spirits and maybe-maybe other entities that want to like, insert a message into this world. I would hope that some of those spirits would use my mind and my voice.”

The time between when our awkward conversation first set sail and this place where we’re going off, passing opinions and thoughts back and forth like old friends, has grown and the thought that he’s a guy with a life-a very busy one at that-creeps back in and I decide it’s time to wind things up. But first, the question that everyone seems to be acutely curious about. I take a breath and ask it. Impromptu and uncalculated, I had chosen not to pop what seemed like such a trivial question on someone so poetic. The thing is, after talking with Tolcher I’d come to the point where I was so comfortable that I barely thought twice about explaining to him that his fans are dying to know… “Since your fame have you bought anything big for yourself?”

“Tell my fans that I have zero dollars and zero cents.” He pauses, rethinks everything and then says, “Tell them I’ve bought myself a good meal everyday, that’s about it.” Another pause, and then with both the endearing eminence I have come to recognize as his sincere nature, and a tone of which I cannot decipher if from question or revelation, he chuckles, “My fame…”

For more info on Michael Tolcher, tour schedules, purchasing ‘I Am’ and just about everything else Tolcher check out www.MichaelTolcher.com