We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mike Green. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mike below.
Mike, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Thank you for connecting. My purpose is to soothe and heal others. I believe it is through music, but I do enjoy telling a joke or two. I knew from an early age what I wanted to devote my life to. Passion and desire breed purpose, but I also believe purpose is simply an idea we attach ourselves and our identity to. As much as music is a part of who I am, I am not defined by it. I lose purpose often, just as one may lose their car keys. Is it meaningless to aimlessly drive around without a destination or a purpose? I don’t think so. It’s important to observe and sponge life up and try to not let any downfalls define you along the way.
There is no roadmap, or calvary coming to help me or other music artists build our dream, so, if we fail in the process, as an independent artist you must get yourself back up and avoid thinking “what’s the point.” I’ll fail as many times as I need to get it right.
Ironically, there are times that I get it right and lose purpose all over again, solely because I did not see the result I desired. Loyalty is best kept in your back pocket. It’s important to stay true to your vision no matter how long it takes. Go at your own pace, rest if you need to, and don’t compare. Purpose is a malleable concept. Maybe yesterday your purpose can be to help your family, today it could be making a new album, tomorrow it could be just staying alive.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a music artist, first and foremost, but I believe deeply in the healing power of music, so I’d also define myself as a healer. I’ve been performing since I was eight years old. I’ve performed in over thirty countries entertaining entertainers and have had music placed in both television and film. I’ve worked as a session musician for a while, but I get my kicks pushing air in front of a live audience. My original music explores emotions of angst, love, hope, as well as hopelessness. Music is my therapy, so my creations often serve as method of personal healing first, so if I choose to publish that work, it’s always with hope that listeners will feel less alone, and realize we are in this hallucination of a life together.
I have finished writing for my sophomore album, to follow my debut album “Restart,” and plan to begin recording this summer. I feel proud about this next batch of songs. In the meantime, check out the album Restart and give it some love, there’s at least one song on that album for everyone.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Listen, adapt, and don’t be afraid to bend the rules. If you believe in things that have yet to exist, you truly have a beautiful gift that no one can take away from you. Draw your inspiration from your personal experiences, you have a unique life. If you do this, there is no competition. I have honed in on my craft using the three skills I listed above, trial and error, and countless performances. It is in your best interest to be studious early on in your career, because when things hit, you won’t have as much time to prepare. You will never know where the crossroads of luck and opportunity meet, so you just got to be ready.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The ever-changing economic landscape for music creation and convenience. My creative expression has always been an inward spiritual journey which requires a lot of reflection and patience, and that does not bode well for the algorithmic gods. I do not dish out the same sounds over and over, there is evolution to my artistry. Systems in place make it difficult for your efforts to be seen, even to those who already follow you. Our media culture seems to ride on “to enrage is to engage” as a motto rather than something like “to uplift is a gift.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikegreenmusic.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/ilikemikegreen
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ilikemikegreen
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/mikegreenmusic
Image Credits
Jacklyn Greenberg – JAG Studios Photography – www.jagstudios.net
