“Like Justin Bieber combined forces with Tori Amos and Fiona Apple.” –Youth Rhythm

Standing at only five foot five, young, talented singer-songwriter Michael Rider conjures armies of melodic spells pulsing in and out of ears during his debut record, Lighthouse (2011), produced by Justin Jaro of the FireStarter Group. With a voice like water and sentiments of care, Michael began writing and recording the album at only age 16, Rider’s ambitions were much larger then anyone could imagine.

Rider started his musical path at the age of ten with voice professional, Allison Stowers who took Rider as her own protégé by the age of fifteen. While learning to belt and sing songs from show tunes to opera, Rider relentlessly worked joints on his upright piano lying to wall in the womb of his house in Richmond, Virginia. But hidden in the deep cracks of journals laid his early workings of songs. During this intimate setting began the workings of a skeleton structure. Years later, this young voice transfigured into Lighthouse (2011).

During the process of early writings, Rider birthed four alter egos; Raine, Joan, Farore, and Abrahamson to aid him in the direction of the record, derived from the pagan elemental directions. With help from St. Raine’s sensuality, Joan’s intellect, Farore’s compassion, and Abrahamson’s rebellion, leader Michael Rider summoned eleven songs from heaven and hell. Lighthouse touches on specific situations of life & death, destruction, rage, deep anger, thought, mystery, humanism, hope, and love that compliment the morals of the story.

Listeners will understand the traditional Tori Amos to the inspirational images of Charlotte Martin and Amanda Palmer. In contrast, Rider brings back memories of Rufus Wainwright’s songwriting and rhythm.

As America’s youngest openly gay male musician to release a debut album worldwide (claiming at age sixteen), Rider will continue on with the title to hand and performing to fist. Michael Rider will embark on his debut American tour during the summer of 2011 through finances of his father’s label Greenane Records, in which also financed 2011’s Lighthouse. For the duration of 2011, Rider plans to release a series of four EPs illuminating the narrative of each of the four personas he had created; St. Raine, St. Joan, St. Farore, and St. Abrahamson.

For the meantime, selecting a copy of 2011’s Lighthouse for midnight of thoughts on life and death would be a smart step forward to your vast adventures into the unknown endless thinking. “This album is in best use when you’re awake at night where no one is around. I want this album to heal them as much as it healed me.” States Rider.

Through the longing Little Spirits to the catacombs of Angel rises the epitome of Michael Rider’s Lighthouse (2011)