Worth more than five dollars

Ever wonder what dorm guards do in their spare time? Ever walk into Carman and hear some chill beats and velveteen vocals in the background? Bwog had Daily Editor Finn Klauber capture the romantic essence contained in the mixtape, The Master of Love, of Carman security guard Michael Layne.

It’s easy to find yourself tapping along to Sir Mike’s new mixtape. It’s a mixture of downtempo love songs, reggae, and classic R&B, paired with Mike’s dulcet vocals. For someone so soft spoken, normally offering fist bumps as greetings to Carman residents, the vocal range in The Master of Love demonstrates Mike’s musical ability.

Mike first establishes his signature romantic sound with his R&B cover of “Love Won’t Let Me Wait.” The passionate vocals carry between genres, with the classic soul hit “If You Don’t Know Me by Now” complementing his R&B tracks. Both songs convey genuine romance, whether of the raunchy kind or of a more passionate love.

 “I’m Stone in Love with You,” though short, might be the most impressive track on The Master of Love. Mike emulates Russell Thompkins, Jr.’s signature falsetto, matching the upbeat tone of the song stride for stride. His lengthy rendition of “Close the Door” makes up for the brevity of “I’m Stone in Love with You,” returning The Master of Love’s romantic sound to the idea of making love instead of simply expressing it.

Switching styles in “One Summer Night,” Mike adapts the vocal harmony of classic doo-wop to his own satiny style, incorporating his own personal twist to a song which took a quintet to originally perform. In “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)” as well as “It’s the Same Old Song,” Mike attunes the original Holland-Dozier-Holland vocals to a softer tone, adding a signature musical touch to classic Motown soul.

It’s at this point Mike switches from classic R&B and soul to reggae, covering in succession Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier,” “Let’s Get Together (and Feel Alright),” and “Waiting in Vain.” Although both Mike and Marley share informal vocal training, the similarities stop there. Mike’s more subdued vocals meld with Marley’s music to create a unique musical style more relaxing in nature than Marley’s powerful vocals.

The final portion of The Master of Love swings away from reggae and toward Latin pop and salsa, where Mike adapts “Entre Tu y Yo” and “A Puro Dolor.” Mike sings fully in Spanish, first matching the Puerto Rican stylistics of “Entre Tu y Yo.” In “A Puro Dolor” Mike lends a ballad-like tone to the classic salsa instrumentation, creating a hybrid sound worth listening to.

Overall, Mike’s mixtape highlights his vocal skill above all else. From 50’s doo-wop to modern Latin, Mike seems to thread his own personal sound throughout classic hits, almost always to the betterment of the song. You can listen to the first seven tracks below.