Meet Michael Armstrong | Singer/Songwriter & Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Armstrong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what role has risk played in your life or career?
With a lot of creative professions, the biggest risk you run into is your own anxiety and fear of failure. But when you stop to asses the potential outcomes of those failures, you realize you’re not risking much at all. I personally come back to the mantra that the process of making the art is the unwavering reward for putting yourself out there.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I grew up as a jazz and classical trombone player obsessed with singer/songwriters like Jeff Tweedy, Neil Young, Sufjan Stevens, etc., So I had a unique perspective approaching the music I loved with more of a nuts and bolts understanding than I would have had otherwise. I think it’s this dual approach that’s fueled my obsession with music throughout the course of my life and kept me inspired even during my most discouraging moments. The opportunities I’ve had so far in my career, whether that’s putting out records, touring with bands, or getting music placed in TV shows are all just icing on the cake, and I’m not just saying that. I learned — maybe later than I would have liked — that if I focus on those milestones for inspiration I will lose the reason I wanted to work in this industry in the first place. Every time I make music, it must be about the songs and recordings themselves, otherwise I’ll lose the thread.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well naturally I would show them all the famous spots on day one just to get them out of the way: Hollywood, Santa Monica Pier, maybe end the day in Manhattan Beach and the bar scene down there. But I’m a proud Eagle Rock resident and I would do my best to show off NELA. There are so many good spots on York like Joy, Donut Friend, Highland Cafe. Swork on Colorado has great coffee and the Italian Bakery up the street from there is to die for. There are also some great hiking trails throughout the neighborhood and up on Scholl Canyon!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Wow, in every segment of my life I can pinpoint at least one mentor who’s helped guide me creatively or technically. From my elementary school band teacher, Deb O’Neille, to my college mentor, Sean Holt. I’d love to dedicate this shoutout to the two of them, they were the start and end of my musical academic journey and I couldn’t have imagined a career in this industry without their wisdom and encouragement.

Website: https://www.simonxomusic.com/

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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfwXKnAnu1voDaiZi70mz9Q

Image Credits
Lexi Martin