Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Dunbar.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Mike. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
There are a lot of chapters in my story, so let me sum them up as best I can: when I was in junior high, I fell in love with music and writing. I got my first guitar around that time and began teaching myself how to play. I also loved English class and found my grades in literature far surpassed my math grades (this was a low bar). I formed my first band in high school at St. Thomas Aquinas in New Hampshire. It was around then that I decided: I wanted to be a rock star. After graduation, I went to Holy Cross in Worcester where I studied English & Music. Here, with the support of my professors, I won two art grants – one of them from the Mellon Foundation – to create and record original music with my band. The second grant took me on an adventure with my friend and bandmate, Collin. The project was called “Suitcase and Guitar in Hand.” The two of us embarked on a grant-funded roadtrip all across the United States in search of historic music meccas like Nashville and the Mississippi Delta, documenting our experiences in photographs and blog posts. When we got home, I wrote an EP, also called Suitcase and Guitar in Hand, about our time on the road. The success of this project eventually propelled me to Berklee College of Music where I spent a semester meeting some of the best musicians in the world. But I knew this was only a waypoint. My destination was Nashville – Music City. Here, 6 months later, I am closer to that dream of rock and roll stardom than ever before. I’ve had the honor of appearing on-screen several times in the CMT show “Nashville,” written a slew of promising songs that I am in the process of pitching to song publishers, recorded in a historic Nashville studio once frequented by Johnny Cash, and had the chance to meet some of musical idols. Now, I have just released my newest EP, Belvidere – a concept album detailing love and loss that was recorded in a remote cabin tucked away in the Vermont Mountains. That’s the story so far, but that sure won’t be where it ends.
Has it been a smooth road?
Let me put it this way – the road is smooth if you’ll let it be. I’ve found that the best way to invite success is with an open heart. When you get cynical about the music industry, the doors slam shut. You get burned out. You forget why you’re doing what you’re doing. But when you approach every day with genuine enthusiasm and kindness towards your peers, opportunity knocks your door off its hinges. It sounds hokey, I know, but it’s so true: staying passionate about what you love, keeping it about the music, and letting God surprise you is the best recipe for success I know. Is it luck? No. People are attracted to joy and contentment wherever they find it. And success in the music industry is all about people. Keep working hard and being happy at the same time – you’ll be better than fine.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Mike Dunbar Music – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m a songwriter and performing artist. My music is inspired by great lyricists like Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Jason Isbell, and so on. But I also love driving rock and pop music, like the Rolling Stones, The Killers, Green Day, etc. The resulting songs are catchy and fun, but are anchored by lyrical depth. My goal has always been to allow listeners the freedom to explore the poetry of the lyrics or simply get lost in the music.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
New England will always have a firm hold on my heart. I love the seasons, I love the cities of Boston and Portmouth, New Hampshire. I love the quiet history in all the unassuming little towns.
I could do with a little less snow, though.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikedunbar.com
- Email: mike@mikedunbar.com
- Instagram: @mikedunbarmusic
- Facebook: facebook.com/mikedunbarmusic
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