Hosted and Produced by Widian Nicola, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, the Lived Experience Project explores unique and evocative narratives rarely heard in mainstream media. Each season focuses on a lesser known and marginalized population and how these individual oral histories unveil the often complex nature of the shared human experience. 

Visit www.livedexperienceproject.org for more info.

Muddy Waters once said that “the Blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll.” However, what Muddy didn’t mention was that the Blues had more than one baby, and that they named the middle children Howlin’ Poets.

Howlin’ Poets are a funk-blues/rock band borne out of a merger between two local bands, The Disciples and Orange Jam. The Howlin’ Poets rely on a strong rhythmic groove while hinting at influences of soul, rock, jazz, and rhythm and blues. Based in the Oranges area of Essex County, NJ, Howlin Poets are a band to watch with their high energy performances of soulful, rockin’, funky covers and original songs. The band features:

Kyle Dorian (lead vocals, rhythm guitar, percussion) A native of Newark, NJ, Kyle Dorian was trained in jazz performance on the tenor and baritone saxophones, as well as trombone at Newark Arts High School, where he also sang with Renaissance Singers. Known for his incredible ear, he developed skills in composing and orchestration co-leading The Chromatics Jazz Combo with Claude Washington while studying under Billy Phipps of the renowned Phipps Family. Kyle has written and produced music in several genres including hip hop, R&B, alternative rock and pop. He lives purposefully with a passion to impact lives as an artist and educator.

Sheldon Senek (lead vocals, keys) Sheldon has been loving the piano since he sat down for his first lesson in second grade. Most of his career, he has been moonlighting in theatre as an award-winning playwright for titles that no one has heard of, but occasionally, royalty checks come in and the family goes out for ice cream. Sheldon also plays keyboards for Alden Street, a classic rock band. Lately, he has been writing original music for podcasts (which he can now justify buying all of those instruments in his basement studio).

Will Walsh (bass) Will’s professional music career began at the young age of 15, performing in clubs and outdoor concerts as a guitarist. Will would start playing bass a year later, and would continue expanding his knowledge of the instrument studying a variety of styles, playing with many different local artists, and even opening for national acts.Will has worn many hats in his musical career, instrumentalist, recording and live engineer, promoter, producer, and manager, but his real musical passion is laying down the groove on the bass with his bandmates and putting on a great show! 

DanO (lead guitar, vocals) DanO has been playing guitar in bands since his adolescence in 1980's Manhattan in genres as diverse as hardcore/punk (Expletive Deleted), rock (Phat Buddha), R&B (Ronda Clark band), prog rock/jam rock (MKyD Experiment, Three, Transcendent) and has sat in on countless open mics and performance jams, occasionally to the chagrin of organizers who did not realize he also LOVES guitar effects and gadgetry as much as actually playing guitar. Dan also enjoys long walks on the beach, the color turquoise, and werewolf movies, and wants you to know that he takes himself VERY seriously, so you don't have to.

Charles Michelet (drums) Charles’ first drum ever lesson fell on Ringo’s birthday and although the coincidence went largely unnoticed by the Beatles themselves, he considered it an auspicious beginning. He has continued playing and learning ever since - studying at The Collective in NYC and sitting in with artists around Brooklyn. Over the years he also added guitar and ukulele to his instrument repertoire and played and recorded with the Brooklyn based group, The Dad Beats and performed with Glenn Branca’s Guitar Orchestra in Montclair, NJ; Los Angeles; London; and Paris.

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