MusicsWeek: Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music and how have those influences shaped your sound?
Mikey's In The Mustang: At 75 I was encouraged by my family to record songs I wrote back in college. What started as a legacy project has grown into not only personal recording, but building a project that includes a film under preproduction.
MusicsWeek: Can you walk us through your songwriting process? Do you start with lyrics, melodies or a specific concept?
Mikey's In The Mustang: I usually start with a lyric or statement then work towards developing a story out of the lyrics. The melody is usually simple and I then work with my arranger and producer to make the song resonate.
MusicsWeek: What can you tell us about your upcoming projects? Are there any themes or elements that you’re particularly excited about?
Mikey's In The Mustang: My initial recordings “On The Road” were a collection of old songs from my college days along with a couple of new ones. They were varied in style and covered a large area of interest. My project song “We Were Golden” which was strictly written as a tribute song to Brian Wilson ended up being so good that I was encouraged to not only write more songs relating to the era but to develop a storyline for a film which now is near finished.
MusicsWeek: Have you collaborated with other artists and if so, how did those experiences impact your music or creativity?
Mikey's In The Mustang: At my age I know my limitations so I developed “Mikey’s in the Mustang’ to be a cover name for various artists that I bring in to record my material. This has proven to be a great way to expand my musical horizon.
MusicsWeek: What do you enjoy most about performing live and how do you connect with your audience during shows?
Mikey's In The Mustang: I do not perform live as I’m too old and my range is limited.
MusicsWeek: What challenges have you faced in the music industry and how have you overcome them?
Mikey's In The Mustang: Having over 50 years of being an entrepreneur in several businesses I know how to promote projects, to be realistic as to what is reasonable and also to have the funds to make It happen.
MusicsWeek: How do you think your music has evolved since your first release? Are there specific elements you feel you’ve improved or changed over time?
Mikey's In The Mustang: My songwriting has moved from pure romance to more substantial topics and with better hooks.
MusicsWeek: Is there a particular song in your catalog that holds special meaning for you? What’s the story behind it?
Mikey's In The Mustang: We Were Golden, is a very special project and song to me. First because it has gotten so much play and support. Plus it is a look back at being young in Southern California in the 1960’s which I had the privilege of experiencing
MusicsWeek: What advice would you give to aspiring musicians trying to make their mark in the industry?
Mikey's In The Mustang: Keep it simple, tell people what they “need” to hear, not what you want to tell them. Make it more about them than you and your life experiences.
MusicsWeek: Looking ahead, what are your goals for the next few years? Are there any specific milestones or projects you hope to achieve?
Mikey's In The Mustang: At my age (77) I just try to enjoy each day. I love to listen to music from the past as well as new, as long as it has a good melody.
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