SFSU Magazine profiled Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship in a feature celebrating his journey from student to artist-advocate. He reflects on mentorship, music, and building Sticky Thing with purpose.

Sticky Thing created the original score for SFMOMA’s Get in the Game radio campaign — mixing sound, sports, and soul to bring the exhibit to life on air. Featuring vocals by RyanNicole and mixed at Tone11, it’s a track that runs fast and hits deep.

For Living Jazz’s MLK tribute concert, Sticky Thing arranged a sweeping orchestral take on Aretha Franklin’s work, performed by Awesome Orchestra and conducted by Dave Möschler. It was soul, scaled up — with Oakland’s finest delivering the message.

As part of The Recording Academy’s Music Advocacy Day, Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship heads to Capitol Hill to push for protections against AI exploitation and fair pay for musicians. This is what standing with music really looks like.

Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship is now a Governor of the Recording Academy’s San Francisco Chapter, using his seat at the table to advocate for equity, education, and fair industry practices. From side man to leader, it’s a full-circle moment.

Through Sticky Thing’s arts education nonprofit Yeah, Art!, a group of Oakland middle schoolers wrote, produced, and released a mixtape of original songs — and it's fire. With real tools and mentorship, these students found their voice.

Sticky Thing makes its orchestral debut with a soul-stirring arrangement of Stevie Wonder’s “If It’s Magic,” performed live by the Oakland Symphony and vocalist Pher. Mike Blankenship brings cinematic depth to a classic — and it brought the house down.

After a life-changing trip to South Africa, Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship composed “Umkhathizwe (Horizon),” a sweeping original piece premiered at San Jose Jazz’s New Works Fest. The result is a bold sonic tribute to distance, memory, and transformation.

Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship leads a beatmaking workshop with Kingmakers of Oakland, giving young creatives the tools — and confidence — to produce their own music. It’s part of Sticky Thing’s mission to open doors for the next generation.

In response to the 2020 BLM protests, Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship and Dame Drummer hosted a virtual benefit concert to support Black-owned Oakland businesses. The set was soulful, urgent, and rooted in love for their city.

Sticky Thing’s Mike Blankenship shares the highs, lows, and lessons from a life in music on The Indie Takeover Show podcast. From gospel gigs to composing for brands, it’s a real talk session with heart and hustle.