Bio

When people meet Michael Witt, they are captivated by the force of creative energy that orbits the artist. Michael’s spirit is both disarming and comforting; intense and easy-going. “I like to think I’m entirely uplifting, but I recognize that I carry a distilled Scorpio energy that can freak people out. I’m equal parts Bob Ross and Game of Thrones,” says Witt of his distinctive vibe. This balance of energies directly impacts the music Michael makes.

Michael's sound is heavily influenced by the timeless, vintage sound of artists like The Grateful Dead and Joni Mitchell, but he also carries the ethereal qualities of artists like Devendra Banhart and Jeff Buckley. The result is a cosmic Americana sound that is wholly unique to Michael, a vibe that carries the tradition of Freak Folk into a new era. 

One of the areas in which Michael Witt truly shines is on stage, where he delivers live performances that are electrifying and inviting. The instant Michael takes the stage, the energy in the room shifts and the currents of music begin to pulse as he prepares to take the audience on a journey of waves. Songs that begin with a whisper might end in blindingly passionate belting. Tunes imbued with humor can turn into Zen mantras on a dime. Michael believes whole-heartedly in the spirit of improvisation, and embraces the spontaneous nature of the Now with every performance. The result is always fun, and always memorable. 

Michael grew up in central Texas and began his musical education early, listening to The Beatles and Fleetwood Mac with his mother in the car. At five years old, he began classical piano lessons from acclaimed international composer Carlos A. Colon. These lessons proved invaluable, and imbued Michael with a sharp sense for musical performance and composition.

When Michael was eleven, his world changed when he heard Paradise City by Guns N’ Roses screaming through his dad’s speaker system. When he heard those arpeggiated chords, he knew he had to learn how to play the guitar. Michael used his knowledge of music theory to begin teaching himself how to play, and soon found himself obsessed with rock and roll music.

This love affair pulled Michael in and propelled his creative spirit, and it didn’t take him long to find the stage. Michael spent his junior high and high school years playing talent shows, first competing as a 12 year old amongst high schoolers and wowing the crowd with a faithful rendition of “Wish You Were Here”, and going on to win two years later with a stellar performance of The Beatles’ “Martha My Dear”.

By the time he got to college, Michael was writing his own original songs and building a reputation amongst the local open mic circuits. Soon, he was sharing the stage with standout acts such as The Happy Fits, Thomas Csorba, and Corey Kilgannon. Michael’s debut single ‘Late Rose’ saw significant acclaim, landing Michael radio coverage on Radio Greensboro and 90.9 KAMU.

Michael went on to release his debut EP ‘As A Brother’, a cinematic indie project co-produced with Dallas-based producer Collin Brewer. This project was followed by a string of singles that expanded on this melancholic folk vibe.

In August 2021, Michael moved to Nashville. Shortly after the move, Michael was struck by the music of The Grateful Dead when he stumbled across “Althea”. This moment changed the trajectory of Michael’s career. “It was such a singular moment. Everything pivoted for me, right then. The way the band pushes and pulls, the way Jerry digs his way into the middle.. It changed me,” Witt says of the experience. From there, Michael’s musical sound and songwriting approach totally changed.

Michael spent the next several months writing new songs, expansive songs that tell epic stories of cowboy wizards and cosmic moments in nature. In April 2022, he launched a live show on TikTok called Michael Witt’s Magical Fam Jam Fantasy hour, where he played music, talked about life lessons, and recorded an album that he hadn’t even finished writing. From these sessions, Rose Smoking Flower Boy was born.

The album is a collection of seven cosmic folk songs that whisper and soar, bringing the listener in to a brand new world of sunshine daydreams, a world that only Michael Witt could create. The project includes softly shimmering freak-folk numbers, sang in the key of Joni Mitchell, as well as expansive jams that rock with the spirits of Jerry Garcia and Paul McCartney alike. Michael’s creative spirit is shining in full force on Rose Smoking Flower Boy, and anyone that hears the music is immediately made a believer.

Michael is currently doing the Nashville hustle; writing songs, booking gigs, and trying to play some damn good music with some damn good people.