Massachusetts Police Officer Is Quietly Building an R&B Music Career

Most of us wear one hat to work. Mike Wyche wears two, and they're about as different as they come. By day, he's a Massachusetts police officer. By night, he's R&B singer-songwriter EightyEight, an artist whose soulful sound is beginning to reach listeners far beyond the Bay State.

Wyche, who grew up in Cambridge, said music has always been part of his life. What started as writing songs with a friend in college eventually turned into something much bigger after the duo won a campus talent show and pocketed $500 in prize money. By 2015, he decided to fully commit to developing his sound and building a career as an artist under the name EightyEight.

Inspired by artists like Sade, classic R&B and even '80s rock, EightyEight has carved out a style that blends smooth, contemporary R&B with retro influences. Rather than chase trends, he focuses on creating music that feels authentic to who he is, drawing inspiration from his own life experiences, the stories of others, and sometimes even his biggest fears.

A Badge by Day, a Microphone by Night

While many artists spend their days in recording studios, Wyche's career has taken a different path. He's been a police officer on the SouthCoast for nearly four years, a profession he chose because he genuinely enjoys helping people. Growing up, he said positive interactions with officers during his childhood inspired him to give back in the same way.

Massachusetts Police Officer Is Quietly Building an R&B Music Career as EightyEight

That same compassion extends into his music. Whether he's writing about personal struggles, relationships or faith, Wyche hopes listeners find something they can relate to. One of his most meaningful songs, "Save Me," led strangers to reach out and tell him it helped them navigate grief and strengthen their relationship with God. "Those moments are probably my favorite," he said.

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Family also remains at the center of everything he does. His six-year-old daughter is his biggest inspiration, and despite balancing law enforcement with music, he makes it a priority to spend as much time with his family as possible.

Building a Career One Song at a Time

Unlike many artists who rely on outside producers, Wyche records, mixes and masters nearly everything himself in his home studio. He admits writer's block happens from time to time, but refuses to force creativity. "If I'm not feeling it, I can't do it," he said. "I'm not going to force the vibe."

That patience appears to be paying off. After signing with OneLand Music Group last October, a label focused on artist development, his streaming numbers have skyrocketed. He said he has grown from roughly 60 monthly Spotify listeners to more than 55,000, while also seeing significant growth on Apple Music and Pandora.

Massachusetts Police Officer Is Quietly Building an R&B Music Career as EightyEight

Wyche credits that success not simply to marketing, but to creating music people genuinely connect with. "You can put money behind an artist all day," he said. "It doesn't mean anyone's going to listen." Although music remains his ultimate goal, Wyche hasn't forgotten his roots in law enforcement. Even if his career as EightyEight reaches another level, he hopes to continue supporting police officers through wellness initiatives and men's support groups, something he has already been passionate about outside of music.

Dreaming Bigger Than the Stage

As for dream collaborations, his answers perfectly reflected his musical influences. If he could work with any artist from the past, he chose Prince. Looking toward today's music scene, he'd love to create something with Future, whose versatility and production style he deeply admires.

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Whether he's wearing a badge or standing behind a microphone, Mike Wyche approaches both with sincerity and purpose. If his recent momentum is any indication, don't be surprised if the name EightyEight becomes much more familiar.