I didn’t plan on sending this today, but something pretty wild is happening.

In the last 48 hours, my Spotify monthly listeners have jumped from around 1,600 to over 69,000. I don’t have a clear explanation for it—most of the new listeners are coming from algorithmic playlists like Radio and Shuffle—but it feels like something is starting to move.

I’ve been really intentional this year about building things here, focusing on community instead of chasing streams—but this feels like one of those rare moments where a little momentum on the outside could meaningfully lift what we’re building together here.

If you’re up for it, one of the biggest ways you can help right now is by going back and listening to the songs that are already out, and following my artist profile on Spotify. That kind of activity tells the algorithm to keep pushing the music, and it could make a real difference heading into the EP release next week.

At the same time, I wanted you to know that "Among the Stars" has officially landed inside The Journey.

If you’re already there, you can now access:

• the full studio version of "Among the Stars"
• the full “story behind the song” video
• the original iPhone work tape I brought into the studio

This is the most complete picture of the song I’ve shared anywhere, and it felt right to put it in your hands before the release.

If you’re not in The Journey yet, this is the week I’d join. Everything is live now, and you’ll get to experience the full arc of this song—and the EP—before it goes out into the world on June 5.

We’re really close now.

I’m proud of this project, and I have a feeling this next week could matter more than I expected.

Thanks for being here and being part of this with me.

-Michael

Revisit my Spotify artist profile HERE

I’ve been a little quieter here these past few weeks.

Between the EP release shows, life at home, and getting everything ready for the June 5 release of “Among the Stars”, I’ve found myself doing a lot of reflecting on this whole journey.

Those three listening room shows are something I won’t forget. Getting to bring these songs into rooms like that—with that trio, and with you there—was everything I hoped it would be, and more.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and shared that space with us — I'll be posting some videos from these shows on socials just in case you missed them.

June 5 is right around the corner, and the EP will finally be out in the world. But before that, there are a few things I wanted to share with you here first.

The exclusive acoustic session of "Among the Stars” is now live inside The First Step, along with the official video for “Try” in  The Journey.

This Friday, May 29, I’ll be sharing the full “story behind the song” video and early versions inside The Journey, ahead of the public release on June 5.

We’re coming up on the final stretch of this chapter now. I’m really proud of what this has become, and even more excited for what’s waiting on the other side of it.

Thank you for being here and for walking this road with me.

P.S. - Pre-Save the EP by clicking below to get notified on release day:

I’ve been waiting 5 years to share "Try"—but I had to make sure it was ready. This is the rawest song I’ve ever written, and it’s only fitting that you, walking alongside me on this journey, get to hear it first. 

Tomorrow’s the day. Early access drops May 8 for those in The Journey, with the exclusive acoustic performance dropping in The First Step.

If you haven’t yet, you can still join to hear it before the world does—and to get everything that comes after.

Thank you for being here. Tomorrow, I’ll see you on the other side.

I wrote “Try” five years ago, while we were waiting for the arrival of our first child.

At the time, I wasn’t sure I’d ever share it. It carried too much—the weight of that season, and the life we almost missed.

I tried recording it twice back then. Neither version felt right — So I let it sit.

I’m releasing “Try” for the first time in five years—but not on streaming.

I’m sharing it first, exclusively inside The Journey on May 8.

There’s a preview waiting for you in The First Step as well—but the full song will live inside The Journey, along with the full story, and the earlier versions I never released.

This song means a lot to me. Not just because of where it came from, but because of what I saw the first time I played it live.

If you’ve ever waited for the right time… this one’s for you.

Step into The Journey, hear “Try” first:

I'll be sharing theses songs with you live at these upcoming shows; if you're in Texas, I'd love to see you.

• April 29 — New Braunfels — The Sideman Song Swap at The Redbird Listening Room
• *May 15 — New Braunfels  —  The Redbird Listening Room
• *May 16 — Denton  —  Dan's Silverleaf
• *May 21 — Galveston  —  Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe

You can find all the details here:  Shows
*These shows will intimate trio performances, and your first opportunity to get my new EP “Among the Stars” on CD

Over the past week, I’ve been listening.

Some of you have shared things that honestly stopped me in my tracks—messages carrying your own stories, your own grief, your own reflections back through Song for Madeline. I don’t take that lightly. Thank you for trusting me with it.

It feels like we’ve opened something together.

And there’s more to come.

We’re still at the beginning of this road, and the next piece of the story is on its way. For now, I’ve just been sitting with your words—letting it shape what comes next.

If you want to go a little deeper into this moment, I’ve shared a few things inside The Journey:

• the full story behind the song
• a stipped-back acoustic session
• the original iPhone worktape I brought into the studio 
• and a small surprise download for those walking along with me 

If you’re in The First Step, the same stripped-back acoustic session is now yours—just me, my guitar, and this song in its rawest form.

P.S. I’ll be in Texas next month playing a few of my favorite listening rooms—with Paul Brunner on violin and Keith Davis on guitar. These are small, quiet shows, with only ~60 seats; built for actually listening.

• May 15 — New Braunfels  —  The Redbird Listening Room
• May 16 — Denton  —  Dan's Silverleaf
• May 21 — Galveston  —  Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe

You can find all the details here:  Shows
These shows will be your first opportunity to get my new EP “Among the Stars” on CD

This one was hard to finish… not because of the music, but because of what it carries. There were moments I almost couldn’t put into words—but somehow, they found their way into this song.

And now it’s yours to hear.

You can listen to “Song for Madeline” right now, before it’s released anywhere else.

If you’re here in The First Step, you’ll get the full song.

And if you step into The Journey, you’ll find everything around it too—the full story, the acoustic session, and an early look at the music video that hasn’t been shared publicly yet.

But for now… just press play.

Take it in. Sit with it. 

And if it means something to you, I’d love to hear what you feel.

— Michael

Releasing this song has been one of the hardest things I’ve done. But before I tell you why, I need to say something important:

Thank you.

“Don’t Look Back" hit streaming platforms this past Friday, but what means more to me is that you’re here. So today, I want to show my gratitude in a way that’s more than words.

Right now, just for being part of this community, you have access to The First Step. That means:

• Regular Updates with Full Archive
• Sneak Peeks of New Music & Videos
• Acoustic Sessions
• Exclusive Merch
• Personal Reflections I rarely share elsewhere

But if you want to get even closer, The Journey is where I bring you deeper into every song, every moment:

• Full Stories Behind Every Track 
• Early Access to New Releases 
• Raw Versions from the Writing Sessions 
• A Space for Conversations—Just Us 
• Exclusive Live Performance Streams 

If “Don’t Look Back” resonated with you, this is where you can feel even more connected—not just to the music, but to the heart behind it.

So… Why Has This Release Been So Hard?

Because I made a choice this year.

Most artists chase numbers, feeds, and playlists. It’s tempting. I used to do the same. It feels safer seeing high Spotify numbers—even if those streams never lead to real connection.

But I’m done with that.

Instead of paying third-party agencies, I’m putting my energy into something quieter… something more honest. I’m building a space where music is more than a transaction. Where I can reach people like you—who care enough to listen beyond the noise.

Yes, it’s tough to watch my old metrics crumble. It’s vulnerable sharing songs this personal, in this way. But I believe the future of music is deeper. It’s about real connection. That’s what I’m working towards—because that’s where I’ve always wanted to find you.

“Don’t Look Back” opened the door. You’ve already stepped inside by being here.

There’s so much more waiting in The Journey, and I’d love for you to continue with me—at whatever pace feels right for you.

Thank you for listening. 

Thank you even more for staying.

With gratitude, 

— Michael

For the first time one of my songs got 50K streams last year, and I want to tell you what I learned.

— But first a few updates —

-Exclusive Merch landed on my site today for both email and paid subscribers

-Tickets for the Sideman Song Swap w/ special guest Katie Shore on 3/18 are now on sale HERE

-A sneak peak of the official music video for “Don’t Look Back”(official premiere 3/20) and discussion forum are now live for paid subscribers

Back to the story…

Last year my songs reached over 85K people, and I should be happy about it…but I’m not.

After working with music marketing agencies and shattering my personal streaming records, I realized something. At the end of the day all those streams make for a great vanity metric, but the truth is I have no way to connect with the people that are connecting with those songs. That’s why this year I revamped my website, created a space to connect, and took digital marketing into my own hands.

Although I’m grateful a bunch of folks are enjoying my music, I’m not here for the streams. The music I’m making these days wasn’t written to go viral, created with AI, or produced to appeal to the masses. It’s for you and me.

If you’re reading this, you mean more to me than any number of streams ever will, and to thank you I’m doing my best to provide as much value as possible. Just by sharing your email you already have access to The First Step with early samples of unreleased songs, acoustic sessions, and personal insight into my public catalog - all for free.

If you enjoy this space and want to connect on a deeper level I invite you to join The Journey, where you get full access to songs before they’re release, the full story behind the song, alternate versions from the writing and recording process, exclusive livestream performances, a forum to connect and communicate, and deeper dives into the music. By joining The Jouney you're not just getting closer to the music, you're directly supporting its creation.

Thank you for being a part of my greatest musical journey yet.

I experienced it this weekend, and I’ll tell you about it.

But first, an update for those of you who subscribe to The Journey:

Alternate Versions of “Don’t Look Back” just went live over the weekend, including:

• The first draft: an iPhone voice memo, which had a different title and hook
• The final iPhone worktape I took into the studio
• An early studio version featuring the classical guitar instead of the violin

The Jourey is filling out quite nicely and I can't wait to continue to grow this shared space.

— Back to the magic —

I have fallen deeply in love with listening rooms. The honest connection and raw emotion shared in that setting is second to none. Over my thirty plus years performing live music I’ve played every conceivable type of venue; from dive bars and dancehalls, arenas and stadiums, to rodeos in France and Mexico, birthday parties in Cabo and Aspen, assisted living communities and black tie galas. Still…nothing compares to experiencing music in this setting among deeply engaged music lovers bonding over every lyric and every emotion.

Friday night I opened up for one of my favorite bands, The Wilder Blue, at the Armadillo Ranch in Azle, TX. I’ve never had so many people open up about how the songs touched them, shedding light on, and sharing their own life experiences. I can't rightfully say if it exists, but Friday night felt like magic to me.

I will be diving head first into performing my songs in these settings and invite you to join me.

Thanks again for being here, the journey has just begun.

First off, the journey to “Don’t Look Back” has begun.

Exclusive content has already landed in The Journey, which is why I’m tearing up.

Before I get to that, here’s what’s happening right now:

• PreSave link is live  —  CLICK HERE
• A live acoustic performance dropped in The First Step
• A deep dive behind the song went live in The Journey
• I’ll be performing this song (among others) this month — See All Shows HERE

Okay, so here’s the deal…

When I write an extremely personal song, sometimes it takes a while for me to be able to get through it without breaking up a little.  With time I overcome this and can play it for an audience.  But the last few days have added a new layer to this.

As I’m starting to generate exclusive content for The Journey, I’m realizing that I’m gathering and vocalizing, for the first time, every emotion and detail that led up to and went into writing these songs. Digging up old photographs, faded memories, and buried feelings has served me up a stout cocktail I didn’t realize I had ordered.

The deep dive into “Don’t Look Back” has mostly brought gratitude for the blessings in my life, but moving beyond this first single is gonna be tough.

The (not so)big ask…

By clicking the link above and PreSaving “Don’t Look Back” you’re doing the following:

• Automatically adding it to your library on release day - March 13th
• Boosting my release day numbers
• Placing the song “higher on the shelf” metaphorically speaking, giving it a better shot at reaching more ears

This costs you 10 seconds of your time, but means the world to me.

I appreciate you being here and can’t wait to continue this journey with you.

I'm building something small but meaningful…

…and if you're reading this you're already a part of it.

I've spent the last six months working on my next EP Among the Stars, but something has changed. I'm staying up later and waking up earlier, trying new things and learning new skills. I've been quietly releasing music for four years, but this is different.

I feel like I've found my voice within these songs and I'm jumping in; here's how:

It all starts with my new website. Social media is loud and I wanted to create a quiet space to build true connection around these songs. Along with all the regular dates, music, etc. there's a section called The Journey where I invite you to walk with me. If you're reading this you already have access to the first step - with updates, early listens, and insight into my entire public catalog.

If you want to do more than listen from afar, The Journey offers a way to support me directly, opening up early demos, alternate versions, private livestreams, exclusive merch, and moments where your voice can help shape what comes next.

The next chapter starts soon, thank you for being here.

~Michael