Spotlight: ‘Curious’ by Mike Taveira
Taveira's second single celebrates romantic and sexual exploration
Mike Taveira’s musical career started as the result of a breakup. “I got heartbroken, like really bad,” he says. “It was rough.” To make himself feel better, he began to sing to himself. “Every day, I would just keep singing and singing and singing.” Eventually, the melodies congealed into actual songwriting, and the songwriting into actual singles.
Taveira has had two such singles so far. The first, “Heart,” dropped in October of last year, while the second, “Curious,” produced by Skyler Cocco and written by Taveira with Cocco, Evangelia Psarakis, Zachary Williama Miller, and Stolar, is available as of today on all major streaming services.
The song, which features an infectious melodic riff set against neatly minimalist backing, celebrates the idea of romantic and sexual exploration.
Its infinitely watchable companion video features the striking, bearded Taveira in a variety of sensual situations and co-stars several high profile show business friends, including Monét X Change and Sonique from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and George Todd McLachlan, who plays Quincy on Showtime’s Shameless.
Taveira’s ultimate mission — and yes, he is a musician with a cause — is to bring to light the idea that some people are more than just one thing.
“I never had a male figure growing up that would vocally express ‘I’m into women, I’m into men, I’m into trans women, I’m into trans men,'” says the 25-year-old. “No one has ever said those words to me. And it’s actually the reason why I am doing this. I hope I could be an example for somebody who’s younger — a girl, guy, trans woman, trans man, non-binary — who could just watch the video and be like, ‘Hey, that’s me.'”
Taveira, who bartends at the popular Manhattan gay nightspots Hardware and Pieces, is disdainful of labels, but when pressed, he’ll gladly accept the mantle of pansexual.
“I like identifying as pansexual because it includes everyone. Growing up, it was hard because everyone would be like, ‘Oh, you’re straight, you’re just confused.’ And then, ‘You’re gay — you don’t know it yet.’ Then I got older and I’m still the same! I still like women, men, trans women, trans men. It doesn’t matter to me.
“Maybe the world will be pansexual one day,” he concludes. “Maybe labels just won’t matter at all.”
Stream “Curious” now on most major streaming platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Follow Mike Taveira on Instagram, @miketaveira.
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