39. Michael Lazar Discusses Britney Spears, Blackout

You, Me and An Album

This week, Miami-based recording artist, producer and visual artist Michael Lazar joins me to chat about Britney Spears’ 2007 album, Blackout. Michael talks about his experience of learning to play music using the Suzuki method, why he decided to move on from musical theatre, how he came to be a self-produced recording artist and why Blackout is one of his favorite albums.

You can find the singles Michael has released from his upcoming album, 51/49, on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/michaellazarmusic.

You can also find out more about Michael and his work on Twitter and Instagram at @artbylazar.

Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB and on both Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

1:04 Michael joins the show

1:42 Michael and Al bemoan the commute between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale

4:20 Michael’s path as a musician started with childhood piano lessons in Massachusetts

9:53 Michael started writing songs while in high school

13:01 Michael's difficulty with getting Broadway roles led to him making his first album, 51/49

14:28 51/49 is about love, loss and time

15:34 An explosion in Michael’s childhood home changed his life

17:39 Michael’s musical training, the influence of his favorite artists and his knowledge of his production software combine to create his sound

20:26 If Michael had picked an album to discuss other than Blackout, what would he have picked?

25:02 Dave Matthews gets mentioned on the podcast yet again

25:52 Michael loves Blackout because of its “accidental genius”

30:36 Britney Spears helped to start a revival in music videos

31:47 Michael finds the music, including the vocals, on Blackout to be beautiful

34:09 Michael’s favorite Britney Spears songs are not on Blackout

Breakdown of (nearly) all tracks

38:11 Gimme More

44:52 Piece of Me

49:50 Radar

55:12 Break the Ice

1:01:21 Heaven on Earth

1:08:30 Get Naked (I Got a Plan)

1:10:21 Freakshow

1:12:03 Toy Soldier/Hot as Ice

1:12:57 Ooh Ooh Baby/Why Should I Be Sad

1:18:36 Michael finds Britney Spears’ story compelling — especially as she tells it on Blackout

1:21:39 Michael finds inspiration in great artists who make it onto the Top 40

1:24:21 Michael talks about the singles from 51/49

Outro music is from Few Breaths Away by Michael Lazar.

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