An Interview with MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS!! 5.10.09 by HolleyHall, 10 May 2009 05:19 AM

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Michael David Lewis - guitars, vocals, bass, percussion

 EZ Folk profile Link: http://ezfolk.com/audio/MichaelDavidLewis

EZ folk Radio Station Link: http://ezfolk.com/audio/index.php?mode=player&type=radio&id=819

I met Michael David Lewis ezfolk several years ago here on EZFolk. I have really enjoyed his musical style. it will truly lift your spirits!! He has since become an icon here on EZ folk and one of the most played artists! He recently has been in process remixing his songs (more on this below)

 If you haven't checked out his music I highly recommend all of his songs which are fantastic, but some I would like to note here are Heading North, Walking Tall, It's Coming Up and Halfway Home just to name a few.

Thank you Michael for the honor and opportunity of this interview!  

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: Thank you Holley, it's a pleasure to be here talking to you. I am currently a solo performer. Live, I do the singer-songwriter thing on acoustic guitar. In the studio I am a multi-instrumentalist and I play it all - guitar (acoustic and electric), bass, and I do all my own vocals. Tracks that feature drums are all programmed by me. Previously I have played in rock bands but lately I've been performing solo on acoustic guitar and have found this to be most satisfying.

HOLLEY: Do you prefer to play music as a profession or a hobby?

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: I prefer it as a hobby, it is really enjoyable to me to be able to work at my own pace and for my own satisfaction. Though I take making music seriously, doing it for a living would to me make it more job-like and less enjoyable. I try to stay focused on my personal artistic goals, this keeps it fun and allows me to focus on the music itself.
 
HOLLEY: When and how did you first become interested in music? How long have you been playing music? What instruments do you play?

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS:I've been interested in music my whole life. As a child in elementary school I loved the Jackson 5 and fantasized about being in a singing group like that. I became interested in guitar around 13 years old as a fan of the rock band KISS. I taught myself how to play guitar using the old Mel Bay books. I learned how to play on acoustic and electric guitar, and later I learned electric bass. In the 80s I played in a few local (San Diego, CA) rock bands, "The Radical Molesters", "The USSR" and "NEIN". We played a lot of covers with some originals sprinkled in. Back then I was writing songs but I rarely got an opportunity to play them because I was too shy to show them to anybody. In the 90s I took some time off from music, but in 2001 I started up again and by 2004 I gave up the rock band life and began playing live solo on acoustic guitar, finally confident enough in my compositions to perform them live. It was during this timeframe that I began recording my own material from home and soon found ezFolk.com, where I began posting all of my recordings.

HOLLEY:What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: I cover a lot of ground in my themes, some are spiritual in nature like "It's Coming Up" and "Light of Day". In other cases I write about specific events - "August 16, 1977" is about the day Elvis Presley died. A few of them are autobiographical and are retrospective of my life's travels in general - "Halfway Home", "The Long Road" "mikelewismusic" and "Adam (Beautiful Boy)" are examples of these. And some are fictional narratives, such as "Headin' North".

HOLLEY: Do you write your own songs? Do you have any particular songs you consider your favorites?

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: I write my own songs. I usually start with a lyrical hook and go from there. I'll craft a chord progression for the hook, then start fleshing out the remainder of the lyrics. I'll put in a bridge in most cases, and sometimes if the song calls for it I'll modulate. I find in many cases these songs write themselves - I'll get a good idea or inspiration, and 30 minutes later it's written. "Adam (Beautiful Boy)" was written while I was practicing guitar with my infant son Adam at my feet. I was struck by the beautiful moment of my son playing obliviously with his toys while I was playing my music. One idea led to the next and very quickly the song was written, all while Adam was sitting there playing.

HOLLEY: Who are your musical influences?

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: My songwriting influences are Pete Townshend, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Woody Guthrie. To me, these guys are the Mt. Rushmore of songwriting. The themes they explore and the way they go about telling their stories via their songs are pure genius.

HOLLEY: What live performance experience have you had?

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: I have played in many local venues around San Diego, my biggest gig so far was a 4th of July performance at the San Diego County Fair back in 2006. It's the biggest fair in Southern California and I was fortunate to get this gig. I occassionally play at local coffeehouses in San Diego, and once a year I play at my kids school festival. Over my life I have played in many venues, big and small (mostly small) as a member of many rock bands.

HOLLEY: What are your musical goals?

MICHAEL DAVID LEWIS: My main goal these days is to just have fun and please myself. I love playing and recording my own tunes, and the process of writing, recording, and performing is very satisfying.