Mike Williams is a Raleigh, NC based singer / songwriter. His influences include the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Klaatu, Collective Soul and many other bands and artists. He has been writing music since the late 1970s. During the 1980s Mike was marketing his music to secure a recording contract and/or publishing deal. In the 1990s, after becoming disenchanted with the formulaic approach record labels were insisting on, he and his brother, wrote and recorded original music at his brother’s home based 4 track studio. After a 10 year break from recording, Mike decided in 2011 to record his debut album Leaving Dystopia. Dystopia was released in February 2013 and is still widely listened to throughout the world.

Mike’s new album, Hollow Moon, is scheduled for world wide release On February 27, 2018. The album contains 8 brand new songs. The single from Hollow Moon, Black Sheep, was released on January 19th and available now on iTunes, Amazon and many other stores.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Mike about motivations, challenges, the latest project and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)

I was born and raised on Long Island, NY but relocated to the Raleigh area in early 1994 and have been here ever since. Growing up as a kid I was infatuated with the Beatles. I remember very clearly my father taking me and my brother when I was 9 years old to go see Yellow Submarine at the local movie theater. I was disappointed because I didn’t realize it was animated and then at the very end the Beatles made a cameo appearance.

My father had a cheap acoustic guitar and I began teaching myself how to play by buying Beatle sheet music for easy guitar so I could learn chords. Because of the Beatle influence my music has always had a Beatle sound to it which many people have commented on – especially with my first album Leaving Dystopia (2013). I’m often asked if it bothers me when people say the music is very Beatle-like and my answer is always “no”. I don’t try to sound like the Beatles but since they were a huge influence, my music will have that sound to some extent, along with other influences. For example, I learned lead guitar by listening to Jimi Hendrix.

I have been writing music since the late 1970s. During the 1980s I was marketing my music to try and secure a recording contract or publishing deal. In the 1990s, I became disenchanted with the formulaic approach record labels were insisting on and that lead me and my brother to step out of the rat race and record whatever we felt like recording. We did this at my brother’s 4 track home studio. Then after a 10 year break from recording, I decided in 2011 to record the album Leaving Dystopia which was released in February 2013 and is still listened to throughout the world.

My new album, Hollow Moon, was released worldwide on February 27, 2018. The album contains 8 brand new songs.

My overall style is rock but I like to think it’s not the same formula from song to song. I strive to create songs which are distinct from each other much like the Beatles did.

What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?

Music is fun for me. It’s a creative process where your imagination allows you to put your thoughts and feelings into a tangible format. It’s a message in the format of sound that captures you or you at the moment in time when you wrote the song. The listener gets a peek into your world through the lens of the music or they can take your music and interpret a meaning that resonates with them personally. The motivational aspect comes from the fact that music is big part of who I am. If I’m not writing and recording, I’m listening, going to a show or collecting and building guitars. Music is in my soul.

How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?

My first album, Leaving Dystopia, was probably a little more direct overall with the message of having to collectively work to change the world and make it a better place. With Hollow Moon, the songs also relay that message but I tried to do it in a more indirect way by applying the lyrics metaphorically although the songs The Machine and If You Try are fairly direct and reflect my view of how most people interact within their existence.

In my opinion, humanity is at a crossroads. Some might even say in crisis. We need to leave the dysfunction behind us and move in a direction where truth, peace and love prevail. But to break away from the paradigm of fear we need to awaken. There are many ways each of us can help raise awareness and awaken to make this shift; for me that vehicle is through my music which I view as a personal commitment to my fellow humans to do my part to bring about change. We can either continue to live a life of struggle or we can unshackle and be who we truly are – divine souls with infinite potential.

Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?

The biggest challenge as an indie musician is getting your music heard. Social media, blogs and websites are a huge help but without the marketing and money from a major label, exposure at a large level is very difficult. Sites such as TuneCore, who is my publisher, and the advent of online mastering services like LandR, the indie product has at least a fighting chance to be distributed and heard to a larger audience. The good news is many people are tired of the corporate music formula and are seeking out artists who bring a different sound and message to the table.

The recording technology available today has made it both affordable and easier to turn out an excellent product. I record on a Tascam 2488neo which is a 24 track digital recorder that fits on a drafting table in my home studio. Gone are the days of paying hundreds and in most cases thousands of dollars to record even one song because you had to head off to a studio and pay the hourly rate. Sites like LandR (who I use) have brought affordable mastering into the indie musicians world. Mastering alone could cost a musician or band $100 or more per song and you need to make sure it’s the mix you are happy with otherwise a remix means another $100 for another turn of the mastering crank.

Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?

The best place to connect with me is through Reverbnation, SoundCloud and my website http://laboroflovemusic.com/  and I do respond to all the emails that come my way.

Anything else before we sign off?

Live in truth and serve Creation.