We recently connected with Mike Villines and have shared our conversation below.

Mike, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

For many years before I moved to Nashville I made a living as a road musician. After moving here I did take some other jobs, and started an embroidery business, but I’ve always made music my main thing. I’ve done some road work here, but i felt that it was important to be where the decisions are made. But now I’m back to music full time. I play solo shows all over the state, do some studio work as a bass player, and also work as a freelance bass player. The key is to diversify and take every opportunity that’s presented. And BMI Live is a great way for songwriters to make some income by playing your songs out live. It makes it worth it to play the writers nights in town. Nashville is the center of the universe to anyone trying to make a career as a songwriter. But it is also one of the hardest places in the country to make a living as a performing musician. The competition is off the charts, and many performers are willing to play for free to get themselves heard. So you have to be very persistent and creative when it comes to finding work that pays. It’s a road town, and the farther from town you go the more you can make. But if you don’t want to travel all the time and want to play local you have your work cut out for you. It is a challenge to be a working musician in Nashville, but also very rewarding when you can make it work.

Mike, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a singer/songwriter based in the Nashville area. I started in music as a bass player in my teens and went on the road right after high school with various bands out of Ohio, most notably Goin’ Home and Columbus Fargo. I wanted to be a songwriter so I started making trips to Nashville. Moved out west to Los Angeles and made a living playing music full time while still trying to write songs. I spent three years in L.A., and then four years in Bakersfield, where I developed a deep love and respect for country music. But Nashville is the place to be if you want to be part of the songwriting community so I moved here permanently. I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to work with some incredible artists over the years, some of which include Jeannie C. Riley, Roy Head, Billy Joe Royal, Larry Henley, Red Simpson, and many more. Several years ago I made the decision to quit being a sideman and try to step out on my own. I released an EP in 2019 called “It’s Lost In Time”. Released my first single “Things That Hurt” last year, and just released a new single called “Pull Away” in May of this year. I have a new single coming out very soon called “Texas Size Heart” that is very country and I hope people like it. My music is a mix of country, southern rock, and folk rock. I grew up loving the sounds of groups like The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Eagles. With some Merle Haggard thrown in to give it the edge. And I hope people hear those influences in my music. My goal is to keep writing, recording, and playing gigs and try to get radio play for my music, to work as much as I can and build a fanbase.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to be the best songwriter I can possible become. And learn how to express that and bring it across to people and audiences in a way that when they hear me they know who I am. I fell in love with music at a very early age, and in a large way I lived through the songs and records that I grew up with. It became the way I saw the world. Still do. And I would like to think that I could be that to someone else, that they would find something in my music that would give meaning to life, and make them feel better about themselves. The way it always has for me. As an entertainer I think our main purpose is to give people and escape from their everyday lives, a few minutes or hours of forgetting about the problems and worries and just have fun. Or see life in a different way. That’s what keeps me going and make me want to do this. I would like to be remembered for my songs.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

The best way for society to support artists and creatives is to actually buy the product. We live in a time when it’s so easy to just get music for free. The most meaningful thing for me is when someone buys my cd, or pays for a download. It helps to support what I do and allows me to earn a living from my music. I make the majority of my income from live shows, so coming out and supporting live music is extremely important. We don’t want to lose creativity in our society. Life would be so boring without music and entertainment.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mikevillinesmusic.com
• Instagram: @villinesmike
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikevillinesItsLostInTime
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikevillines
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5ibLmsJ7I45WHwlliOznN2?si=9r7CILelTxqIQ9chDuoyLA