Oakland University student Skyler Janiszewski, known around campus as the on-campus Elvis Presley tribute artist, opened up about his journey as a performer and how it has shaped the person he is today.

Janiszewski said when the Austin Butler-starring biopic “Elvis” was released in 2022, he was at a crossroads in his creative life, unsure of what direction to take as an actor and entertainer.

“It just transformed me,” he said of the film. Though he had admired Elvis before seeing the film, watching it gave him a newfound confidence in his creative vision for the future.

Presently, Janiszewski wears many hats – actor, singer, musician and model – carrying the King’s influence into each of his creative pursuits. While much of his musical inspiration comes from Presley, he also looks up to artists such as Michael Jackson, James Brown and Louis Armstrong.

February saw the release of his debut single, an original song entitled “Shot Through The Heart.” The song channels a retro sound reminiscent of his idols while introducing his own rockabilly-inflected vocal style.

His second original single “That Ain’t My Baby,” was released in September. The song leans further on classic rockabilly lyrics and instrumentation, and the listener could easily mistake Janiszewski’s strikingly faithful vocal performance for that of Elvis’ own.

He said performing has always been a part of who he is. Throughout grade school, he was known as the class clown, always trying to brighten someone’s day. It wasn’t until high school that he began taking performance seriously, honing his acting chops by performing in local theater productions and, recently, a minor television role.

Elvis’ image is a major inspiration for both Janiszewski’s sound and his look. Though he dresses for himself, many of his personal style and clothing choices overlap with Presley’s.

“I like a lot of his fashion choices,” he said.

Janiszewski said he never sets out to “dress up” as Elvis on campus but sometimes leans into the look when the mood strikes. He enjoys dressing well and believes style is a reflection of identity – an expression both of who he is and who he hopes to be.

He describes his look as “superstar fashion,” dressing for the future he envisions for himself. His wardrobe, he said, is one way he expresses his personality and ambition.

Now, Janiszewski believes he is stepping into the purpose God has planned for him: “to entertain people and to bring people joy.” He hopes to become a positive role model through his music, acting and storytelling.

“My main thing is, I want to bring people joy,” he said.

He plans to do so through both acting and musical performance, creating entertainment that uplifts and connects with audiences.

His ultimate goal is to perform live with a band of his own, leaving audiences feeling inspired and happier than when they arrived.

The way Janiszewski has drawn inspiration from Elvis to guide his own life, he said, is something he hopes to pass on to others.

“I love just trying to get people into a better spot,” he said.