Singer-songwriter Lori Michaels is excited for her album to drop on Dec. 4 and to introduce a whole new audience to her music.
"I am re-releasing a fully reloaded, essential Lori Michaels music compilation," Michaels said.
The album, Lori Michaels Now, includes 18 of her favorite tracks that have been previously released or performed, including her Billboard chart topper "Rebound."
The out performer released her first full-length album, Living My Life Out Loud, in 2008, and hit the music scene hard, playing in clubs, at Pride celebrations and a slew of other events and venues.
She quickly gained the crown of "dyke diva" from Bravo TV mogul Andy Cohen, and made headlines alongside now-former Real Housewife of New Jersey star Danielle Staub, as tongues wagged over whether their musical partnership was also romantic.
Michaels said that more recently she decided she needed to pull back a little from performing and working on her own music to focus on her many other ventures, which include a nonprofit, a dance studio and a record label, where she manages other artists.
Michaels is the founder and president of Reach Out, Inc., which she started in 1989 while still a high school student, and co-owner of The ViBE Dance Center. Both are located in her home state of New Jersey.
"I think at this point in my life it's become a little bit more of a balancing act," she said.
However, with this new release she is gearing up once again and hoping to engage with a whole new group of fans.
She said that looking back at her music was a bit of a bittersweet process.
"It was an interesting process for me to revisit songs from about five years ago up until current [songs] and to exclude a few of my recent ones," she said. "We kept it at 18, I could have kept going, but I figured I'd stop while I was ahead."
The album will be available on iTunes and she will also have CDs available during her upcoming performances.
Michaels will continue to devote her time to Reach Out and The ViBE Dance Center, and spoke about how important her role as a mentor to young people is to her own fulfillment.
"I really wanted to have that room in my life to not only do what I love, but to give back to others, especially young people who grew up just like me, loving music, loving dance and just appreciating those few mentors in your life that gave you the time and taught you much more than just an hour dance class or a half hour piano lesson or a vocal lesson," she said.
"I had a few people in my life who I could never thank enough who provided me with valuable lessons and gifts and I always remember that and I always keep that in the front of what I do moving forward. To be around kids so much and to be in the schools and to have a center and a charity, I take being there and showing up and being a part of their lives very seriously, because I knew and I know how important it was for me to have those few people."
Michaels recently had a full circle type of moment this summer with one of her mentors.
"Over the summer I released a song called "Lady of the Harbor," which was a tribute to the reopening of the Statue of Liberty, and that song was written, music and lyrics, by my piano teacher," she explained.
When asked about goals that she'd still like to achieve in her career, Michaels said that over the years she's whittled her wish list down to one thing—happiness.
"Simply, if I'm happy that's a good day for me," she said.
Find out more about Lori Michaels at www.lorimichaelsmusic.com .
Lori Michaels unveils
CD compilation
BY CHARLSIE DEWEY
Singer-songwriter Lori Michaels is excited for her album to drop on Dec. 4 and to introduce a whole new audience to her music.
"I am re-releasing a fully reloaded, essential Lori Michaels music compilation," Michaels said.
The album, Lori Michaels Now, includes 18 of her favorite tracks that have been previously released or performed, including her Billboard chart topper "Rebound."
The out performer released her first full-length album, Living My Life Out Loud, in 2008, and hit the music scene hard, playing in clubs, at Pride celebrations and a slew of other events and venues.
She quickly gained the crown of "dyke diva" from Bravo TV mogul Andy Cohen, and made headlines alongside now-former Real Housewife of New Jersey star Danielle Staub, as tongues wagged over whether their musical partnership was also romantic.
Michaels said that more recently she decided she needed to pull back a little from performing and working on her own music to focus on her many other ventures, which include a nonprofit, a dance studio and a record label, where she manages other artists.
Michaels is the founder and president of Reach Out, Inc., which she started in 1989 while still a high school student, and co-owner of The ViBE Dance Center. Both are located in her home state of New Jersey.
"I think at this point in my life it's become a little bit more of a balancing act," she said.
However, with this new release she is gearing up once again and hoping to engage with a whole new group of fans.
She said that looking back at her music was a bit of a bittersweet process.
"It was an interesting process for me to revisit songs from about five years ago up until current [songs] and to exclude a few of my recent ones," she said. "We kept it at 18, I could have kept going, but I figured I'd stop while I was ahead."
The album will be available on iTunes and she will also have CDs available during her upcoming performances.
Michaels will continue to devote her time to Reach Out and The ViBE Dance Center, and spoke about how important her role as a mentor to young people is to her own fulfillment.
"I really wanted to have that room in my life to not only do what I love, but to give back to others, especially young people who grew up just like me, loving music, loving dance and just appreciating those few mentors in your life that gave you the time and taught you much more than just an hour dance class or a half hour piano lesson or a vocal lesson," she said.
"I had a few people in my life who I could never thank enough who provided me with valuable lessons and gifts and I always remember that and I always keep that in the front of what I do moving forward. To be around kids so much and to be in the schools and to have a center and a charity, I take being there and showing up and being a part of their lives very seriously, because I knew and I know how important it was for me to have those few people."
Michaels recently had a full circle type of moment this summer with one of her mentors.
"Over the summer I released a song called "Lady of the Harbor," which was a tribute to the reopening of the Statue of Liberty, and that song was written, music and lyrics, by my piano teacher," she explained.
When asked about goals that she'd still like to achieve in her career, Michaels said that over the years she's whittled her wish list down to one thing—happiness.
"Simply, if I'm happy that's a good day for me," she said.
Find out more about Lori Michaels at www.lorimichaelsmusic.com/ .
