"you could be the tallest tree"
Some friends of mine nail me on being too tough on artists, on songwriters who graciously send me their songs as submissions. They know my tendency to want to be surprised, to not want to be able to guess the next chord or next rhyme and, while many whose songs I decide not to include on American Pancake tell me that our interaction still made it worth it, some have told me flat out that I ask too much of them. And, truth be told, in the large scheme of things I am a nobody, just someone who love music and writes about the songs that somehow make a connection with me as tenuous, as fleeting as it might be.
One thing that most people know but some may not is that a song does not have to be all that original to engage me or inspire me. Even though I love to be surprised by songs thematically, musically and lyrically, the end all (for me) is to feel something. Sometimes a song might share other songs chord structures and have common melodies but because of the prose or someones particular voice will hit me in a good way. I have heard songs completely new to me in my capacity as a music writer that have brought me to tears, have inspired me and made me swear to never even try to write another song because what I just heard was so brilliant. I guess what I want to hear more than anything is a fair amount of originality but a whole lot of passion.
Pushing play on Mike Stocksdale's fiery folk song Wishes and Wants I heard passion right away. The folk lines weren't dissimilar to others and the descending keys in the background I have heard dozens of times but Stocksdale's words and, more importantly, the almost breathless passion he coats them with is furious. His first line, "I want to break out of my skin... I am a prisoner of these cells" made me sigh and smile. He has other gems that he casts out with a steely presence while he picks away at his guitar like a madman. His melodies roller-coaster so expertly but feel like they can ride off the rails at any moment.
"You could be the tallest tree
she told me in the doorway
with a suitcase by her feet
and if nobody's around
still the loudest fall
is only silence not a sound"
Wow... well done Mr. Stocksdale, well done.
-Robb Donker Curtius
THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM - PRESS NOTES:
"It's not often that an artist can tell a story so intricately that listeners feel as if they've taken a ride through the songwriter's mind. Mike Stocksdale does just that. His songs, although similar in style, have such wonderful composition and tone that each one can stand alone to showcase his talent. Similar to the cool country stylings of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" and folky carefree feel of Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away," Stocksdale is a modern reminder of what good music sounds like in its simplest form."
-Paula Munoz, Music Connection Magazine
"Mike Stocksdale makes really good folk music. It’s a happy combination of blues, rock, and just enough country to make you kick back and put in a toothpick...it sounds like something you’ve heard before, but that has a sort of rebirth to it."
-Brendon Goldwasser, Groundsounds
BIO
Mike Stocksdale is an artist you've listened to your whole life, or at least it feels that way. There is familiarity in his melodies, and the honest stories he tells hit home. His ability to translate his personal experiences into relatable lyrics is, in a word, captivating.
Los Angeles native Stocksdale embodies all aspects of true musicianship, with a technical education in guitar from the Musician’s Institute in Hollywood, CA, and a past rich with classic influences including Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, and B.B. King. Stocksdale got his start playing lead guitar and writing songs for Three Minute Mile, a band he formed while studying psychology at Indiana University. When the group disbanded, Stocksdale began honing his songwriting and vocal skills, and found new direction as a solo artist.
He has since forged a reputation for himself in the Southern California independent music scene with thoughtful, well-crafted albums that resonate with a diverse range of audiences. His most recent records have been conversational collections of songs melding together the best parts of folk, rock, blues, and country. Stocksdale teaches music in Culver City, CA, and is currently touring in and around California.
CREDITS
Finalist - Rocky Mountain Folks Festival 2018 - Songwriter Showcase
Finalist/Honorable Mention - Unsigned Only Music Competition 2018 (AAA)
Semi-Finalist - Music City SongStar 2017
2nd Place Winner - International Songwriting Competition 2015 (Performance Category)
Multiple TV placements on shows such as New Girl, Quantico, Hart of Dixie, and Happy Endings
Songs reviewed and/or shared by the following music blogs: HITS in the Sticks, Ear to the Ground, SirChillicious, GroundSounds, Wolf in a Suit, Adobe and Teardrops, Somervalley FM, KOR Radio, Pretty in Noise, Savage Thrills
Opened for Cam, Will Hoge, Tinsley Ellis, Eric Gales, Soul of John Black
Featured in viral youtube video by Garance Dore and Tiffany’s
Semi-Finalist - International Songwriting Competition
Semi-Finalist - UK Songwriting Competition
#1 New Music Review - Music Connection Magazine
Honorable Mention - Unsigned Only Music Competition
Daphne’s Restaurant featured artist
Top 100 artists - Music Connection Magazine
Finalist - Independent Music Awards (Folk/Singer Songwriter Album)
Best New Artist Nomination - New Music Awards
Finalist - We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards
3rd Place - 11th Annual Unisong International Song Contest (Acoustic/Folk)
Honorable Mention - 14th Annual Billboard Song Contest
Finalist - We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards
Mike Stocksdale, indie rock, Los Angeles, alt folk, classic folk, singer songwriter
Mike Stocksdale, indie rock, Los Angeles, alt folk, classic folk, singer songwriter
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