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Combining the ancient with the technological and futuristic to explore the depths of the ambient genre, Blisswave creates lush and trippy ambient electronic music which evokes a sense of mystery and otherworldly, often cinematic soundscapes to take listeners on a journey into the far reaches of the imagination. Blisswave is the creation of electronic music composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Michele Leonard.

Based in the outskirts of Lansing, Michigan, Michele became fascinated with music and sound from an early age, and the power it has to transform consciousness. The ability of certain music to open up a window into the human spirit and the deepest aspects of the self has driven her to embark upon a lifelong journey of creative self- realization.

Starting on piano at the age of six, Michele studied music for ten years, and went on to learn how to write and compose in the 1980’s, working on piano and hammered dulcimer. In the mid 1990’s, while still living in the Metro Detroit area, she established a home project studio based around the Kurzweil K2500XS and the Yamaha MD8, becoming familiar with sequencing and multi-tracking as she worked on material for an album. The project was originally intended to be an indie-alternative set of tracks inspired by the likes of Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, old 4AD and post-punk dream pop, ethereal goth, shoegazer sounds from the 80’s and 90’s, Kate Bush, the Church, and a myriad of world music influences.

In 2001, life threw out a hardball when Michele became life-threateningly ill while traveling through Mexico, and her musical journey became a journey of healing. Despite this setback, she never gave up on her music, continuing to write and record while hatching the idea for what would eventually become Blisswave.

Several years later, she decided to go back to school, enrolling in an online music program to learn how to mix and produce and earning a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Music Production. Delving deeply into various genres of electronic music, and inspired by artists such as Solar Fields, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Ott, Stellardrone, and Entheogenic, she fell in love with ambient music and realized it was the style of music she wanted to create.

Michele plays piano/keys/synthesizer, hammered dulcimer, djembe/hand drums, and assorted percussion instruments. She has played in a couple of loosely organized world music bands, hosts and facilitates a weekly community drum circle, and has recorded three CD’s: Journey Through Laniakea, which was released in 2017, and Manvantara, released in 2019.

Her latest set of tracks, Resonant Frequencies, is set for release in 2024.