Lyrics & The Lab: BlackBuddhaBear

R&B/Blues/Soul singer, songwriter, and visual artist, BlackBuddhaBear

Coordinating CROONER- One singer’s journey from building to riffing the BRIDGE.

Meet Micah “BlackBuddhaBear” Shelton. A local vocal powerhouse of soul and substance. This melodic messenger shares his musical imprint with us brick by brick. Tap into the journey.

South St. Louis native artist Micah Shelton aka “BlackBuddhaBear”, began his career AND musical footprint as a building coordinator in the city. While employed at RAC (Regional Arts Commission), he was approached by local guitarist Joey Ferber of the group/coalition, LOOPRAT. “He was interning there during the time along with his then girlfriend.”, shares Shelton. “He asked me to do a song with him that he was producing after hearing me hum a song while we were working.” That engagement led to another, and eventually with the artist finding his trail and tribe.

After joining LOOPRAT, the Eureka High grad grew traction for his soulful voice and aesthetic. “I’m also a visual artist”, says BlackBuddhaBear. “Being a visual artist and thinker, I imagine not only what aesthetic I want for my visual art, but also my voice and music. It goes together.” The singer/songwriter admires the works of the late Spanish painter, Salvador Dali. “He was a prominent figure in surrealism. His work had a sort of grit and polish to it that I didn’t see a lot from surreal artists while studying art history. I look for that esthetic in what I want my vocals to do.” Shelton also admires the penmanship of Folk singer and songwriter, Cat Stevens, along with the vocals of R&B/Neo-Soul singer, Maxwell. “Til this day, my favorite song in the world is “Woman’s Work.”

BlackBuddhaBear- “Lonely Work”

When coming up with his unique stage name, BlackBuddhaBear had something creative in mind. “I determined what my stage name would be while on the phone with NatKingFlo who’s also a member of LOOPRAT.”, the 37 yr. old artist explains. “They thought my regular name was a good enough stage name. I was like, “nah” lol. “Black” refers to not only my favorite color, but also my mentality. “Buddha” refers to my philosophical disposition. “Bear” is a caricature of myself because I’ve always been a big guy.”

In 2019, BlackBuddhaBear released his first recorded tracks with LOOPRAT and The Belief Cycle. “One track we did with The Belief Cycle is called Never Better.”, says the artist. In June of 2022, the group released the album Locked in the Lab, with several tracks such as Nobody Knows, Lies, and Fire and the Fury featuring BlackBuddhaBear’s vocals. The singer has also been featured on tracks such as LOOPRAT’s Rearview and Life in the Mud, and Davie Napalm’s Anothr Run, BBB, and Same Me. His debut solo R&B/Soul single, Lonely Work was released in February 2024, and his latest single is Broken Road. The songwriter’s subject matter dives into love, mental health, and emotional depth.

Currently, BlackBuddhaBear is performing with the coalition and curating his debut solo album. “Both of my recent singles will be on there.”, he confirms. “There’s probably about eight more tracks as well.” The artist is also focused on building his fanbase based on his authenticity and lyrical storytelling. “I want to make good music that’s rooted in good things.” As this creative builds his catalog and impact, we are stacking anticipation for what’s next from this vibrant vocalist.