Cleaver grew up in Clarksville, Ohio, the son of a factory worker who had very eclectic musical tastes ranging from Manu Dibango to Dave and Ansell Collins.

[3] He and Wussy bandmate Lisa Walker both used to be record traders before their musical careers began.

"[1] In an interview with the Portland Mercury, Cleaver said that he originally enlisted Walker to sing with him when he was asked to perform solo for a Cincinnati awards show.

[8] Cleaver has stated that he prefers music that has "something a little messed up with it," and gives Sparklehorse and Tom Waits as examples of his favorite artists.

"[11] Additionally, Neil Strauss has described Cleaver's vocal style as "a cracking, tuneful drawl somewhere between that of Michael Stipe of R.E.M.