Micah Sheveloff On the Making of “Stand Me Up Again”
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Stand Me Up Again?"
I was working with a musician who was battling addiction and when you are side-by-side and in close quarters with such suffering, it leaves an impression. I actually pulled some of the lyrical content from phrases I heard through the haze. It is hard to care for someone in such a state of disrepair. But there was also fight and determination and a will to make tomorrow better. The song intends to portray that battle, that journey.
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for "Stand Me Up Again?"
That’s a tough question because so much of the writing process for me takes place on a nearly subconscious level. Writing any song by nature represents a creative challenge but Stand Me Up Again was born of so much raw human experience, I found my way through the composition without too much struggle. The challenge for me was singing this song, which was originally released as Stand Me Up in 2012. I really wasn’t satisfied with many aspects of the original vocal, hence the remix here in 2023. The new vocal is based on experience I have gained singing my songs—how to use my range and my natural inflections as a strength. Only took me a decade to get there!
Can you talk about the recording and production process for "Stand Me Up Again?"
In 2012, I recorded Stand Me Up with a live band (Bass/drums/guitar) to 2-inch tape at the beautiful Firehouse 12 studio in New Haven, CT. I was fortunate enough to play a very rich sounding and dynamic 9-foot concert Steinway piano there as well. So, the 2023 remix features all of that instrumentation with some very subtle, newer effects and the new lead vocal.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I was drowning in music directly out of the womb, with both parents having attended the School of Music & Art in upper Manhattan, New York City, and my father teaching serious musicians at Boston University for 45 years. Then I got religion when I found the Monkees, the Partridge Family, the Beatles, and Cheap Trick. I got super excited about merging my creative sensibilities within the framework of a pop song, and never looked back.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and connecting with your audience?
I am so envious of my singer/songwriter friends who play guitar…they throw a little package together and off they go! Being a pianist, live gigs require more planning. Can I find a venue with a piano, or do I set up an 88-key rig and play that way? And sound quality matters to me…But to answer your question, there were some gigs I did with guitarist Marc Shulman from New York, who toured with Suzanne Vega and others. His playing was so exceptional, it added another dimension to my songs and to the live experience. That was my favorite live groove, but I haven’t sought to recreate that or do any touring since the pandemic.