POP | SPACEROCK | AMBIENT | EXPERIMENTAL

the PERSON, the SOUND : Michael Ash Sharbaugh is a composer of music and poetry, a lead vocalist and synthesist who hails from Philadelphia, PA. Since 1985, Michael has released hundreds of recordings, but known primarily for his atmospheric pop ("Give Yourself Completely"), jarring spacerock ("Dying in the Killing Jar"), and ambient-experimental works ("Infrastructure," "point65c," "Three Aimless Clouds").

Michael's sound is a synergy of 'darkwave-y' electronica and 'trip-hop-y' psychedelia: bass-laden rhythms form the gravity for his own breathy vocals and his soundscapes of dizzying synths and 'found sounds.' His ambient and experimental musics are soothing, and somewhat 'alien' to the ear: they float and shimmer, meander, and -- more often than not -- haunt.

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the INFLUENCES : Duran Duran, The Weeknd, Blondie, Depeche Mode, Billy Idol + Steve Stevens, Stone Temple Pilots, Dead Can Dance, Siouxsie & The Banshees, This Mortal Coil, Air, Naked Eyes, Tears for Fears, Alice in Chains, John Barry, Leslie Bricusse, The Chameleons [UK], Brian Eno, The Cocteau Twins, ABBA, The Bee Gees, Claude Debussy, Frederick Chopin, Guillaume de Machaut, Early Music, Renaissance music, Baroque music, and Joe Meek.

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duranduran #theweeknd #blondie #depechemode #billyidol #stevestevens #deadcandance #siouxsieandthebanshees #air #tearsforfears #johnbarry #lesliebricusse #claudedebussy #mauriceravel #frederickchopin #eriksatie #brianeno #thecocteautwins #abba #beegees #joemeek #chameleons #octoberproject #patbenatar #haroldbudd #lindseybuckingham #nakedeyes #aha #ceefarrow #omd #thismortalcoil #stonetemplepilots #aliceinchains #baroque #renaissance #earlymusic #theweeknd