“I refuse to pick…” It’s a mantra Mike Bauer has lived by and you’ll hear him often repeat. A Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County by day and a Singer/Songwriter by night, he has found a way to balance two incredibly demanding careers without sacrificing one for the other. Ask him which he would prefer and he will throw his mantra back as his answer with a coy grin. Noted for his distinctive voice and versatile writing, he comes from a musically influenced household. His grandfather tapped and sang on “The Lawrence Welk Show” throughout the 1950s (Larry Dean), his father was a big band singer (David Bauer), and his sister is a professional cellist (Alisha Bauer). Growing up mostly in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Mike was often dragged to smoke-filled clubs and retirement homes to perform standards with jazz trios and quartets. While in his last year of law school in 2012, he released his first EP entitled “Financial Aid, Vol. 1.” 2013 and 2014 brought the release of his first full-length LP “Financial Aid, Vol. 2,” several music videos and singles, live performances throughout Los Angeles at renowned venues like “Hotel Café” and “The Mint,” and earned him his first music award at the 2014 Hollywood Music and Media Awards for Best Male Vocal Performance – “One Piece at a Time." Additionally, Music Connection Magazine named him and his band one of their “Hot 100 Live Performers.” In early 2014, he also began working on "Financial Aid, Vol. 3," the final LP in the three-part series, however, after the death of his mother in February of 2014 he took a step back while he coped with the loss. Citing it as the most difficult period of his life, he rarely performed live and focused more on his work with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office. Regardless, the Akademia Music Awards named “Sugar” the Best R&B Song of 2015, citing that “[e]ven as Mike Bauer strives to end his relationship, his flawless vocals, and seductive musical ensemble seem sure to undermine the effort.” Presently, he has resumed production on the final LP of the “Financial Aid” series and gotten back to writing and recording. In March of 2017, he released the song and music video for “Mother of Exiles” which he co-wrote with Adam Berg and was a clear artistic response to the political climate and immigration orders issued by the Trump Administration in the United States. He also stated that all download proceeds for the song would be donated to UNICEF in an effort to assist the Syrian Refugee crisis. All while working and trying cases at the Clara Foltz Shortridge Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles. No release date has yet been set for the final “Financial Aid” LP, however, it appears it will be an extensive release of approximately 13-15 new songs.