Micah Sheveloff is a meticulous songwriter with a diverse musical background that spans from intense classical piano to supporting roles in studio tracking for rock and metal artists. He has released “Someone There For Me,” the first single from his upcoming album, *Don’t You Wonder*, set for release on January 15, 2027.
The song is rooted in a friendship that began around 1984, when Sheveloff played alongside Extreme frontman Gary Cherone in Boston. The two maintained their connection over the decades, and in the fall of 2024, Cherone reached out to Sheveloff with an idea for an American Songbook-style track that swings. This song had been a demo Cherone held onto for years, and he wanted to finally record it. Although the plan was to cut the track with jazz musicians Sheveloff had previously worked with, Cherone’s touring schedule behind Extreme’s album *SIX* delayed the session. During this time, Sheveloff fell in love with the song and created his own arrangement, which Cherone also adored.
“Someone There For Me” was co-written by Cherone and Benny Golbin, a respected jazz composer and teacher from Los Angeles who tragically lost his life in a road racing incident. In honor of Golbin, his family established the Benny Golbin Foundation, which raises funds for providing musical instruments and instruction to children.
Sheveloff reshaped the song significantly to make it his own, changing the tempo and adjusting the vocal melody to suit his singing style. He also added a bridge featuring lush harmonies. The resulting blend of classic jazz chord progressions with the pop sensibility he has developed over the years features contributions from jazz guitarist Nate Najar, further enhancing the recording.
Sheveloff is careful about how this collaboration is framed. “I want to be mindful that we talk about my relationship with Gary for what it truly is: a friendship developed through creative commonalities that later led to a collaboration in life,” he explains. When previously asked about their friendship, he noted, “I was young and had much more exposure to classical piano and choir than to rock and roll at the time. However, Gary has a genuine appreciation for a wide range of styles and genres, which helped dismantle any preconceived barriers for me, allowing me to write freely without feeling constrained by artificial lanes or boundaries.”
“Someone There For Me” is part of a 12-track album, *Don’t You Wonder*, which draws from an unusually broad range of influences. Alongside songs like “City Bus” and “Tranquility,” the album traverses a diverse landscape of inspirations, including Lyle Lovett, Herbie Hancock, David Baerwald, Cheap Trick, and Brian Wilson.
Raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, and now based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Sheveloff is a classically trained pianist with a background that includes extensive classical study and studio sessions across various genres such as country, pop, rock, and metal. Early in his career, he shared stages around Boston with bands like The Detours, Gary Cherone, Something Outside, and The Voodoo Jets. Describing his own writing, Sheveloff states, “My songs are like a breakfast hash made from memories of Bartók and The Beatles, ’70s pop songs, and a touch of Stravinsky. I write songs to be accessible, but with subtle complexities and compelling dark tones.”
Sheveloff’s musicianship and songwriting have received consistent acclaim. Guitarist Marc Shulman from New York City called him “a natural musician, with deep roots and a huge vocabulary,” while Chelsea Speer from Pop Shifter noted that his voice “elevates his material to something more transporting and otherworldly.” Mark Suppanz from Big Takeover praised his “vivid lyrics” for painting “picturesque, instantly relatable narratives,” and Fair Hedon highlighted his playing as “really something special.”
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Image provided, courtesy of Eric Alper
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