Faking Michael

Between late 2010 and early 2011, when fans spoke out against the release of the Cascio tracks, the powers that be behind the scenes tried to silence them. In this episode we hear about the extraordinary lengths that Sony and the Estate went to in an effort to control the narrative, and how two fans found themselves on the wrong side of the law amidst their quest to expose the truth.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

When fans spoke out against the Cascio tracks in late 2010, the powers that be behind the scenes tried to silence them. In this episode we hear about the extraordinary lengths that Sony and the Estate went to in an effort to control the narrative, and how two fans in particular found themselves on the wrong side of the law.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

Forensic evidence can be crucial in identifying whether or not a crime has been committed. In this episode we hear from several top experts regarding the forensic evidence in the case of the Cascio tracks, including a leading forensic musicologist, a veteran forensic audiologist, and a world-renowned vocal coach.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

A connoisseur is someone with expertise in a particular subject, especially an area of art. In this episode we recap the most important testimony we’ve heard from connoisseurs of Michael Jackson’s music, while diving further even down the rabbit hole of expert opinion regarding the vocals on the Cascio tracks. Meanwhile, my research team and I give Eddie Cascio, Jason Malachi and others several opportunities to tell their side of the story.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

In this episode we examine the provenance of the Cascio tracks, tracing them back to their origins by examining a decade’s worth of copyright registrations, handwritten notes and insider testimony before following their evolution into so-called “Michael Jackson” songs to establish whether or not Michael ever recorded the vocals.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

In this episode we go over the build-up to the release of the Cascio tracks again, this time through the actions of Eddie Cascio, James Porte and their team. Then, after their release, the alleged singer of the tracks, Jason Malachi, is confronted by his longtime producer regarding the vocals.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

When Jason Malachi's song “Mamacita” was mistaken for a new Michael Jackson song, Jason shot to fifteen minutes of fame. In this episode we detail Jason’s backstory, and how his career intersected with the life and death of the King of Pop.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

Eddie Cascio and James Porte are the creators of the Cascio tracks. In this episode we break down each of their stories, including how they ended up working together on songs for Michael Jackson.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

Eddie Cascio and James Porte are asked to explain the issues with the vocals on the Cascio tracks, but their response raises more questions than answers. Despite this, the Estate and Sony each issue statements asserting the authenticity of the vocals.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.

After questions are raised over the authenticity of the Cascio tracks, several of Michael Jackson’s former collaborators attend a listening session and offer their opinion on the vocals.

DISCLAIMER: Faking Michael is an investigative true crime podcast series co-produced by Damien Shields and Dan Villalobos, and published by Oath! Media. Research, writing and narration by Damien Shields. Original score, sound design and mixing by Dan Villalobos. Additional research by James Alay and Jamon Bull, and the teams at The MJCast and A Truth Untold. Artwork by Stephen Ward with creative direction from Samar Habib. Faking Michael is an independent piece of investigative reporting. All source material is used in a limited and transformative way, for the purpose of commentary, criticism, demonstration and education in accordance with Fair Use guidelines. Some of that material has been edited for clarity and time. If you’d like to contact the Oath! Media team, support our cause, or register your interest in the upcoming book edition of Faking Michael, please visit fakingmichael.com.