Michelle Held is a singer-songwriter whose music is heart-centered and deeply resonant. With a singular voice, she weaves poetic lyrics with soulful, genuine storytelling that captures the human experience. Her songs invite listeners into a space of warmth and authenticity, creating a timeless connection.
Tom Paxton said, “Two years ago, I told Michelle that I thought she had the gift. I am changing ‘thought’ to ‘know.’” And Caryn Rose of Detroit Metro Times writes, “Where Held emerges above the fray is not just the unique technical qualities of her vocal instrument, multi-textured and commanding, but also her emotional approach to the songs.” A three-time Honorable Mention recipient in the prestigious Telluride Troubadour Contest, Held continues to garner recognition for her artistry.
Held’s self-written and -produced debut single The World Moves On, is an evocative and hopeful folk song that realizes the fragility of life. The subject is personal; Held’s childhood was marked by great tragedy with the unexpected loss of her father. This is a reflective piece about those moments when everything unalterably changes forever and yet, somehow the world keeps spinning as if nothing has changed at all.
“Two years ago, I told Michelle that I thought she had the gift. I am changing ‘thought’ to ‘know.’”
“There are thousands of folk singers who say they’re influenced by the likes of Dylan but where they fall to the wayside is that they offer nothing new or noteworthy to the culture. Where Held emerges above the fray is not just the unique technical qualities of her vocal instrument, multi-textured and commanding, but also her emotional approach to the songs.”
“‘The World Moves On’ is a thoughtful contemporary folk song, ruminating deeply on the passage of time, the passing of heroes, the steady relentlessness of it all... This song presents a few opportunities for Michelle to share her memorably one-of-a-kind warble, a vocal texture that helps secure a spot in the listener’s memory and sets her apart from other singer-songwriters in and beyond the folk genre.”
“That is a beautiful song. That is Detroit’s own Michelle Held on 101.9 WDET… so this is the debut single from Michelle Held, who has been a part of the Detroit music scene for better than a decade. So, the next time you see somebody working away in a notebook in a coffeeshop someplace, you have no idea what they might be working on.” ”
“Held plays gentle folk with oft-scathing lyrics. It’s her voice that adds the X-Factor; that little bit of welcome strange.”
“I met Michelle when she came to my music club, the Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe, in Galveston. I was first drawn to her voice with the beautiful Joan Baez-ish vibrato. Then I noticed her writing and started focusing on the stories coming from that voice. A unique and beautiful musician.”
“Cut from the cloth woven by Carole King and Bob Dylan...As Michelle drew us into her world, I was reminded of the magnetic pull that a guitar paired with lyrical vocals can have on us.”
“The theme of confidence runs through Held’s lyrics. She has a unique vibrato voice, a distinct warble, that only adds to her charm. Like her heroes (Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, et al.), her voice is instantly recognizable..”
“Lines like “We are frightened by things we don’t understand/Like where the soul does meet the earth or the color of a man/A hero paved us a better way and handed over the baton/Ain’t it funny the way the world moves on” dig deep into her thoughts and leave listeners with something to ponder on.”
“Michelle: Hummingbird with a raven’s heart, you are stronger than you know. You are a warrior, explorer, finding your way through this decade of uncertainty. You bring true Spirit to a shaking place, with a voice we have not heard in a long, long time. Keep circling the song. It is important.”
