Emerging R&B singer Michael J Woodard has released his debut EP, MJW1, via Katy Perry’s Unsub Records.
The six-track offering is a seamless blend of R&B and pop stylings, where Woodard navigates love’s pitfalls.
Opening with “Hems,” Woodard creates a sense of urgency that a relationship is on the brink of dissolution. “We fell in love / Now we’re just stuck in a mess,” he croons.
Even though Woodard admits his partner is nothing but “Trouble,” a part of him craves that toxic love. “I think I’m a risk it all / Because your body is way too addictive,” he concedes.
On “Anti You,” a standout produced by KillaGraham, Woodard calls it quits — without remorse. While he’s breaking it off with his partner, he isn’t losing hope for future love. “I’m not anti-love / I’m just anti-you / And I’m anti-us / Look at what you put me through,” he sings.
The acoustic guitar-laden “Ruined” is an honest ballad about the pangs of heartache. The penultimate “Face,” which begins as an acoustic track before adding hip-hop drums, finds Woodard trying to find the words for a potential lover. “It don’t always come out great / But I know it’s on my face,” he croons.
Concluding with “24 Hours,” a dance-pop track that could fit comfortably on Chris Brown’s F.A.M.E. or Fortune albums, Woodard discovers a new love. “Time stops when I’m next to you / I swear I’ll stay the same with you,” Woodard sings on the feel-good bop, which includes writing credit from Ryan Tedder.
Speaking on his new project, Woodard says, “This is the first thing people will hear from me in terms of a body of work. This is what I’m giving to people so they can see where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and who I am. That’s what drove me to call it MJW1 — really, it’s an introduction to me as an artist.”
After winning Majors & Minors, a singing competition show produced by Brandy, in 2012, Woodard returned to TV screens as a contestant in season 16 of American Idol in 2018. The Philadelphia native placed in the top 5.
Stream Michael J Woodard’s new EP MJW1 below.
