Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Holmes.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Creativity was always a part of who I am. For as long as I can remember, I would write stories and let my imagination run wherever it could. Somewhere around 7th grade, I took an interest in writing poetry and as a shy child with a reserved personality it was a way for me to both process the world and express my feelings. I had continued to write all the way up until college until one day, I randomly stopped. I’m not sure if it was too busy or if I just didn’t realize how important it was to me, but one thing led to another and I found myself feeling empty and depressed. I had dropped out of college, gotten a DUI, and lost any shred of self-confidence I had.
After several visits with therapists and long talks with family nothing seemed to be getting through until one day, I just felt the urge to start writing again. It was like the floodgates opened and I wrote until I started feeling like myself. I had always enjoyed music and had been told I had a good voice so I decided to try my hand at songwriting. I bought a cheap microphone, downloaded free software and recorded my first song. I had no idea what I was doing and it was terribly mixed, but I posted it on SoundCloud (a free music streaming service) anyways. Within a few days, someone sent me a message told me they heard my song and it really resonated with them, and from that moment I was hooked. I finally felt like I knew what I was supposed to be doing.
From there, I took singing lessons, taught myself how to mix vocals, got involved with several music communities and met so many amazing people along the way. Fast forward four years and I’ve learned so much about songwriting, networking, music, and most importantly myself. I’ve never been happier and I’m excited for what these next few years have in store for me.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The major struggle for me has been understanding the way I create and finding the best way to turn an idea into a finished song. My mind really has its own timeline, I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with a line or an idea or think of something cool in the middle of a work shift. I’m also constantly changing my opinion on the direction I want to take so finding a way to corral all this into something people can listen to has been difficult. I actually wrote and recorded “This is Supposed to be Fun” my latest EP in 2-3 days after completely scrapping a project I had been working on for months. In the end, I find the challenge to be part of the fun so I don’t mind it so much.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m a vocalist and more recently a performer. I think the whole point of art is to tell stories and connect human emotion so I always aim to do that with my music. I hope that people who enjoy my music can find something in it that applies to their own lives even if it’s not the way I originally intended when I wrote it. I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far in all aspects of my craft and I’m looking forward to making even more. I’m also incredibly thankful to everyone I’ve met along the way who’s collaborated with me, taught me the ropes, and/or helped me promote my music with no ulterior motives.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I think there are several qualities which help you trend towards success as a musician. The main one is having a growth mindset, there’s so much to learn at all times that you can never settle or rest on your laurels. On the other side of the coin you have to appreciate the small victories and not get caught up with setbacks. I see so many people obsessing over streaming numbers, follows, likes, etc. and it leads them to second guess themselves and their work. I firmly believe if you put your head down, work hard, and make the best version of your music that you can all that other stuff falls into place.
Contact Info:
- Website: supimholmes.com
- Email: contact@supimholmes.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supimholmes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/supimholmes/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Supimholmes
Image Credit:
Oscar Pena, Austin Roberts, Crystal Badu, Adam Lanser
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