Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I am from Austin, TX for over a decade now but grew up in Boynton Beach, Florida. I think I always loved the idea of having a career as an artist or entertainer whether that was as an actor, musician or even a radio personality.
My father played piano a bit and growing up we had one in our house. I fiddled around with it from time to time but back then I was way more in to guitar. When I was 14 I got my first real electric guitar and at 15 or 16 I got my first real acoustic with my older brother Christopher who also played guitar. I also have 2 other older siblings who were musically inclined who also played a part in my music mojo. Around the middle of high school I was part of theatre group. I used to have jams with theatre students playing many 90s hits I learned. I certainly gained more confidence to sing through my theatre group. In my junior and senior year they had me audition for the high school musical and I was cast in multiple leading roles. I really enjoyed performing and singing but after highschool I tried broadcast journalism school and some theatre classes. Eventually I started to work on-air as a DJ for an alt rock radio station in West Palm Beach. It was then I got the bug to start forming my own band and got the idea that it would be cool if radio stations played my music one day. From then on I always knew music would be a big part of my life and my career.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: Pretty much self-taught. I had a few lessons for music and guitar but not many at all. Most of my lessons we’re sharing riffs, and chords with other guitar players or musicians I met along the way.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences?
A: Pearl Jam without a doubt had to be the strongest in my early teens and of course other 90s bands like Nirvanna, Green Day, Chili Peppers, Blink 182, Sublime, Ben Harper, etc… Later on it became all about The Beatles, Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley and all kinds of classic rock.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Future With You’. Is there a story behind it?
A: Many stories and relationships inspire this song. This song is dedicated to my wife, my friends and family and my dad who passed away last year. The more I started to played it I started to realize just how many more people it was about or inspired from. It’s like the meaning of “you” went from singular to plural. When I recorded the song and heard it back for the first time the song made me realize just how many ways the lyrics of this song could be taken. I think it even changes for me slightly with every performance. I can’t say that about many of my songs so this one is special to me for that reason. I also chose to release this song on April 5, my dad’s heavenly birthday.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: You can certainly expect more singles this year and possible an EP. Lately, and as an independent artist, I think I enjoy releasing singles more. It gives much more to look forward to and focus on when it’s one song at a time.
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: Soulful melodies and harmonies mixed with different elements of instrumentation for each song. One instrument that I sneak into many recordings as an element or sound texture is ukulele. In some cases I write the song on ukulele and then learn it on guitar too. Sometimes those songs will evolve into a full band recording and I’ll still put some uke on the track in some way. I like to pay tribute to the ukulele when it’s the original writing tool of the song and find new ways to add it into the mix.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Sometimes it can swing both ways but overall I often look at the big picture and feel lucky to be overall ahead with fulfillment.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Overall I’m usually a progression and melody first kind-of-writer but I think each song I write has it’s own unique process. Sometimes certain words or sounds fall into place to help dictate what the lyrics or melody should be. Sometimes songs can take years before I feel happy enough to try to record a version. In some cases it can be right away. Sometimes I use the recording process to finish the writing process especially when an idea is fresh and flexible and you’re not set on one way it must be.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: March 2020 -2021 The Pandemic pretty much sums it up for many live musicians. The majority of my music income as many live musicians came from gigging. When the world shut down and all gigs were cancelled, that was tough. I remember trying some live streams and that was fun a few times but definitely not something I was ready to transition to all the time.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: February 2020 – Right before the Pandemic I was so proud to put out my first EP record and put on a heck of a release show right before the whole world shutdown.
LISTEN TO THE ARTIST:
Follow Mike Donello:
Spotify – YouTube – SoundCloud – Facebook – Instagram – Website