Artist Spotlight :: Michael Jennings

Bio

Michael Jennings is a rock/metal musician with 20+ years of experience in the industry. He joined his first band at 17 years of age and has expanded his repertoire in multiple genres, from Industrial to Black Metal and Deathcore/Metalcore. He is currently the rhythm guitarist for the metalcore band Sever The Crown, which is based out of Jackson, MI. Sever The Crown recently released their breakout single, Seeking Solace, and are currently spending late 2024/early 2025 playing multiple shows and tour legs in MI, IN, OH, and KY, and they plan to spend the remainder of 2025 writing and recording their debut EP.

What/Who inspired you to pick up your instrument?

My dad was in a blues band when I was very, very young. I actually have photos from my parent's wedding when I was 4, playing guitar. My dad always inspired me to play. It didn't become very serious until I was around 16, when I finally decided I wanted to make an active effort to play.

What piece of musical advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time to the beginning of your musical journey?

Stop taking breaks and practice more. Also, I learned theory.

What keeps you excited about playing?

Having bandmates who are invested in our future, allow everyone the space to have creative freedom and expression, and are excited about the experience definitely helps. I'm so grateful to have enthusiastic companions in my band.

Desert Island 3 pedal pedalboard (not including tuner)

My Desert Island 3 pedal board would include a Maxon OD 808, a Source Audio Collider, and a Digitech Whammy DT. That covers any and all pitch shifting, and the Maxon is just.....tried and true. There are some overdrives I like better like the Wampler Tumnus or the Pepers Pedals Dirty Tree, but the Maxon fills all niches effectively. I'm definitely cheating a bit with the Source Audio, but I cannot live without high-quality reverb and delay, and it has both.

When you find yourself in a musical rut, what techniques do you use to break out of it?

I usually like to listen to music outside of my wheelhouse, like pop, singer/songwriter, funk, etc. Something that gives me a fresh ear almost instantly gets my creative juices flowing.

Who is your favorite artist/band today? And who was your favorite artist/band ten years ago?

Ten years ago, my favorite artist was Slipknot. I'm not sure exactly certain what changed. I'm sure that as I grew older, I gained an appreciation for different things. I actually have a hard time nailing down who my favorite singular artist is today, so here's a short list: Make Them Suffer, Sleep Token, and Rivers of Nihil. I really live for a variety of music. Dynamics Make such a huge difference, and especially Sleep Token and Rivers of Nihil really know how to incorporate so many different elements into their music.

When you find yourself in a music store - what is your go-to riff when test drive gear?

I actually have never spent much time learning covers. My go-to riff is actually from a song that I have written for years, which my current project will be releasing soon. It's heavy, chunky, and melodic, and it really lets me test all the nuances of a new amp or overdrive pedal

What is your most prized/cherished piece of gear? And why?

Right now, it is a heavily modified 27" baritone from Jericho guitars. It's had the neck pickup deleted and the tone knob and switch deleted. All that is left is the volume knob. I also sanded down the neck to make playing live much easier.

What is the next big musical purchase you're hoping to save for?

I'm honestly hoping some day to acquire the Mesa Boogie Mark VII. I've never had a Mesa amp I didn't love. I had a Mark V that I got rid of a couple of years ago, which I deeply regret and would love to replace with a new and improved version.

Gear Breakdown

Depending on my mood, I have two rigs.

1: I have a Shure wireless guitar unit > Whammy DT > Line 6 Helix that is sent to our IEM rig and piped to FOH. All patch cables in this set up are short 3ft Rattlesnake patch cables. I've used these patch cables because of their tested durability and reliability. I always carry backups, but the backups have been wrapped and unused for 2 years. I do have multiple 25ft Rattlesnake bare cables as backup in case my wireless unit dies as well.

2: I have a full pedalboard that utilizes routing to the front of a PRS Archon 50w and also in/out of its effects loop. For this, I exclusively use a custom ordered 25ft loom from Rattlesnake which has been an incredible asset to cut down on cable mess, setup/teardown time, etc.

Bands / Projects

Listen on Spotify

Social Links

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