I'm a Semi-Finalist in the Unsigned Only Music Competition

My song Rare Bird was chosen out of 5,000 songwriters to be a semi-finalist in this year’s Unsigned Only Music Competition.

https://www.unsignedonly.com

This is a rather prestigious honor, given the nature of the people judging the event, which include Aimee Mann, LeAnn Rimes, Robert Smith (of The Cure), Jill Scott, Chris Curlos of OAR, Arty, Nicholas Petricca from Walk the Moon, Janiva Magness, The Devil Makes Three, Masa Takumi, Sanctus Real, Rodney Atkins, Ruthie Foster, as well as music editors from publications such as Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine, and executives from talent management and consulting. 

Rare Bird was entered into the Folk and Singer-Songwriter category. I’m thankful that some people out there dig my music. I’m appreciative.

This song sent me to the Kerrville Folk Festival again this year and I’m stoked about the connections this tune has helped me to garner this year amongst my peers and music aficionados or fans or whatever might be the best nomenclature for someone who digs my creativity.

An acoustic version of the song is available on the streaming services too, right meow. Here is a link to that: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/rare-bird

And the actual recording that I submitted, as well as the one on streaming services, was filmed live in front of a camera. Right here:

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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The River Down Beneath

I wrote this from a dream I had on 5.14.25, while traveling around Oklahoma and Texas the past few weeks.

It’s called “The River Down Beneath”. I found some really lovely artwork for it this morning, and will release it to streaming services Friday June 20th 2025. Thanks for listening to me.

GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/14b2d1a6

Streaming: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/the-river-down-beneath

Purchase Now: https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com/track/the-river-down-beneath

Directly Support of Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

THE RIVER DOWN BENEATH

words and music by me and my Unconscious

Dr. Miller speaks

Some sort of pedagogic speech

Singing praises of days and endless music

And I’m transported to a vestibule

With a river down beneath

There’s a man hanging there across the door

Like some old Christmas wreath

When suddenly the man

falls from the door

Into the darkness of a chasm

That I’ve never seen before

I can’t help but think

To replace this human wreath

Dr. Miller thinks

Therefore she lays a desert Sphinx

Watching over the Giza’s threefold structures

And here I am back at a vestibule

With with my dreams and my health

Rummaging through these kitchen cupboards

Perched up on a shelf

The cupboards are facing towards the ceiling

And I’m lifting lids to look inside

I never find what it is my thoughts are seeking

But I break a hinge as I try

And as I step down from the countertop

Behind me there’s a man smiling on a bed

Who am I who thinks?

Is it this consciousness that links

The field of love and light and eternal structure

Because here I am crying in a world of hurt

With homelessness and regret

Waking from successive nights of slumber to a world of mounting debt

I feel my connection to the folks I meet as travel this world alone

I give my thanks to the nourishment from food I eat

As I make my own efforts to grow

And as I live a life of meager means

There’s a purpose that I wish to know

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Welcome Home and The Kerrville Folk Festival

I’m getting packed up to leave the Kerrville Folk Festival this morning, for Houston, Texas to visit a few friends and play a show, before I head back to California.

This has been my second year in a row having the opportunity to attend the New Folk Songwriting Competition, and I’ve been doing my best to be present while I’m here—so I’m writing this from a Starbucks, with some A/C and internet before I start my drive to Houston.

I wrote this song called “Home” a long while back. It’s about how home isn’t a place: it’s people. You don’t have to agree with me on that notion: it’s my own personal belief system—and I don’t want to push that agenda on others. Moreover—I hope for it.

I open up my heart for others.

Some people wipe their shoes on it (and that’s okay).

Others yet still, pick it up off the floor, dust it off and put it back where it belongs (thank you my lovelies).

And then there are those few who have this perplexing perpetual gift of bouncing my heart on a chair like a Jewish Wedding. 99.9% of the time, they are artists. You know who you are you.

“Love is eternal sacred light, free from the shackles of time.”

“Welcome Home” will never grow old on these tired ears, so it will remain the music of my soul, having it said to me, and I too, will say it in return.

Thank you my friends.

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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The Puzzle (Acoustic)

I’m a deeply curious person. I look at the world around me, and I see endless mystery.

Potential quantum fields, where you as an observer have just as much importance in the creation of reality, as a particle within that quantum field, that seemingly chooses one state once you observe it.

Wow.

And you’re living in this. What I just said a second ago is how a quantum computer works with a qubit. That qubit exists in a superposition until it is utilized for computation.

I mention all this, because that’s what this song is about. It’s about reality and life here on Earth. It’s about mathematics and religion and science and whether these are things we discover or if they are human inventions.

I’m reading this book by Carl Gustav Jung right now called “Answer to Job”. It’s about the Book of Job from the Torah or the Old Testament.

YHWH. Jung made this speculation: what if God is Unconscious?

I can only shrug my shoulders—but what I can say is that I’m immensely thankful that I am conscious and I get to ask questions and be curious and read books and write songs that celebrate this mystery that we live in. We take it for granted; I take it for granted.

The Puzzle. That’s what this song is called. It’s on an album I just put out called Desert Dogs.

You can stream it. You can buy it. I’m gonna go for a walk and appreciate all this natural splendor today and be thankful. If you like this tune, it's also available to listen to in its original form, here:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/desert-dogs

A Recipe for Kooky's: https://linktr.ee/mikevitale

Bob Loblaw's Law Blog: https://mikevitalemusic.com

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Desert Dogs Now Available on All Streaming Platforms

My New Album DESERT DOGS released today, Friday May 9th.

It should be live on Spotify and Apple Music and will continue to aggregate to all the streaming services throughout today.

This has been a unique release for me, as I treated every song on the album as a single. I’m happy to finally have it out to the world. My very last single is SILVER LINING. That will be live on the streaming services as well.

I gave Spotify about two weeks to mull over that track, in terms of Playlist Placement. I’m not holding my breath, but always hope for the best. I also manually pitched it to playlists for Spotify this morning. It's about $80 to do that, and I'm happy to give it a go, because I believe in this song and I believe in this album.

The Album Cover: I took this shot at the Natural History Museum in Manhattan in 2021 while I was out on tour supporting my previous album Φ.  They are desert dogs. Unique. Unlike and unrelated to wolves and coyotes. They are their own special variety, and the last of their kind. That is why I chose them: Wild African Dogs.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to its creation:

Frank Reina - Drums

Evan Stone - Drums

Tamir Barzilay - Drums

Brad Cummings - Bass

Paul Jones - Bass

Dave Gonzalez - Bass (R.I.P. my friend)

Cory Hunter - Bass

Chris Halopoff - Guitar

Molly Miller - Guitar

Cory Clark - Guitar

Scott Dibble - Keys

Jesse Nason - Keys

Anastasia Flionis - Background Vocals

Geoff Pearlman - keys, drums, guitars, bass, shakers, percussion

Ryan Lipman - Mixing Engineer

Andre De Santanna - Mixing Engineer

Barrett Slagle - Mixing Engineer

Jon O’Brien - Mixing Engineer

Geoff Pearlman - Mixing Engineer

Mark Alan Miller - Mastering

Thank you for being incredible at what you do and for making this with me.

Link to Stream:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/desert-dogs

Link to Purchase Album:

https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com/album/desert-dogs

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Take It Easy | The Eagles

Here’s a one mic take of one Mike playing a take of Take It Easy by The Eagles (but mostly Jackson Browne?)

Recorded into an AT4033 on a Martin D3R

GoFundMe (help me get to the Kerrville Folk Festival and back on Tour) https://gofund.me/b15baea8

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Killer Queen

This was around this time in 2023. May, I mean. I mean May. Maypoles? That’s a thing still, right?

Thoughts on me in 2023:

• I feel that 2025 me, has mastered the detail of not covering my face with a microphone. Perhaps I lack attention to detail when I’m doing things in haste? (that’s probably all of us?). I don’t know; I’ve never been all of us?

• This is Killer Queen, by Queen. An acquaintance of mine said he felt they were very underrated as a band. I think so too. They are brilliant.

• I’m not sure if I would have written this very statement in 2023. I’m going to lean towards a no, but my head is in the grow category.

I think that about covers a bunch of stuff that has little to do with this song, and everything to do with me. Narcissist!

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Bandcamp Friday May 2nd 2025 (that's now, for now)

Today is Bandcamp Friday and I have a new album called DESERT DOGS, that is available exclusively for sale on Bandcamp. I spent two years releasing this album one single at a time.

It comes to streaming platforms as a full length album, next week on Friday May 9th, however, you can purchase the album today on Bandcamp and all proceeds go to me for today only.

Thanks for listening to the stories I tell. I hear them from all sorts of folks, and I write songs about those stories, as well as my own on occassion. At heart, I am a storyteller and a creator. I absolutely adore producing music like this and performing it for folks.

I’ll put a link below if you’re interested in bending an ear. People tell me the first track is really great. It’s called Silver Lining.

Bandcamp Friday Link:

https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com/album/desert-dogs

Bob Loblaw's Law Blog

https://www.mikevitalemusic.com

A Recipe for Kooky's:

https://linktr.ee/mikevitale

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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May Single Release Schedule | Rare Bird is LIVE on Streaming Platforms

This year and the end of last year has been a trip. However, as I’ve been getting older, I am learning to focus on the positive as much as humanly possible. I’m thankful to have you here if you fancy. 

Here is the release schedule for singles in MAY as well as my last song for the month of April, which came out today; it’s called RARE BIRD (video above), and I’m working on the full arrangement right now with my friend Geoff Pearlman producing this song. It’s beautiful. I watched and listened to him work on the song on my birthday, Monday.

In the meanwhile, this acoustic arrangement is available now on all the streaming services at the link below:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/rare-bird

For the month of MAY, I’m once again aiming to release one new song every week:

MAY 2nd - If I Only Had a Brain 

MAY 9th - Silver Lining and the complete album DESERT DOGS

MAY 16th - The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain

MAY 23rd - Jambalaya (On The Bayou)

MAY 30th - Karma Police

Please consider becoming a paid patron as every one of these uploads costs me money, on a yearly basis. I have to pay to keep them on streaming services. Covers cost me $12.99 per song every year, because they are not my song that I wrote. An original song, is $1 per year if I do the lowest tier, which I do:

https://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

Alternatively, I have recently set up a GoFundMe account to help repair my car for a short tour that I am doing in Texas in May. Everything and anything helps. Believe that. All contributions get me to where I need to be as an artist and creator:

https://gofund.me/f6189a80

As of this morning, $850 has been raised to help me fix my car, re-up on merchandise, as I can’t sell music as easily anymore (vinyl is expensive y’all, it’s fragile, it’s sensitive to heat, and it takes a long time to make), dental work, and other assorted odds and ends that I put aside because I’m poor and no one wants to pay money for music. This is how you help an artist you love. Do it directly.

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Silver Lining Now Available for Purchase | Streaming on May 9th 2025

This song is called “Silver Lining.” I wrote it and produced this with my friends. It’s a lot of work making stuff like this. I’m proud of all of our work, and hope that this reaches your eyes and ears in 2025.

It’s available for purchase exclusively on Bandcamp and comes to streaming services Friday May 9th. Link in profile to buy.

Thank you again to everyone who leant their expertise to this song. It meant the world to me. It still does now.

Vocals, Baritone Guitars, and Moog Mini Synthesizer - Mike Vitale

Electric Guitars and Bass - Chris Halopoff

Drums - Frank Reina

Produced by Mike Vitale and Chris Halopoff

Engineered by Mike Vitale, Frank Reina, and Chris Halopoff

Recorded at Studio 333 in Cerritos, CA and at my home studio in Los Angeles, CA.

Purchase it here:

https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com/track/silver-lining

Mixed by Ryan Lipman

Mastered by Mark Alan Miller

Thank you to everyone who has been contributing to my GoFundMe. I don’t have the words, but hope that these will suffice, until I do. We reached $830 in the past day. Wow! I’m so deeply appreciative. You can learn more about this in the link below:

https://gofund.me/f6189a80

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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New GoFundMe Campaign Launched

I am working on raising money for a few efforts, most notably getting to the Kerrville Folk Festival in May. My car needs quite a bit of maintenance revolving around a timing belt, a tensioner, idler pulleys, water pump, serpentine belt, a set of brake pads, and a few other bells and whistles. The cost of parts has gone up on these things as well as the cost of labor. If you feel up to helping out a bit, I would be so honored. I’m also trying to refresh my merchandise as I have sold out of most everything I have, and get caught up on a power bill that is pretty out of control:

https://gofund.me/16929c3a

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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And It Stoned Me Available Now on Streaming Platforms

I first heard this song from two girls I had an early morning class with in high school. I think I was a sophomore at the time. They were smoking a joint in their parked car, as I was passing by, minding my own business, killing some time before Pre-First.

They invited me in, and this was the song they were listening to. I’ve loved Van Morrison ever since. Thanks ladies. This is available on all the streaming platforms today as well as Youtube, where I performed live in front of a Camera:

Find it on your favorite Streaming Platform:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/and-it-stoned-me-live-in-2025

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/zQbTDOaOLzY

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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New Songs for the Month of April and The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith

I find that taking the time to talk about things that are going to be done, or have already been done, is something I would one day love to delegate to someone else. It could be my cat—but more likely a bi-pedal human with an awesome brain, sense of humor, and kindness, and an aptitude and pension for music business.

If that’s you and you like my art, please reach out.

I’m doing the juggle.

Speaking of juggles, I wanted to drop you a quick line—so I am, to let you know about all the new singles I am releasing in April.

One of the new singles, has brought me good fortune—but I can’t announce it until later in the week. This is the release schedule fort April though.

April 5th - Mess It Up

April 11th - Graceland

April 18th - And It Stoned Me

April 25th - Rare Bird

My goal is to be releasing one song a week, so I have been since February.

On a side tangent that also is not a side tangent: I’m concerned about the economics of musicians. Having been a professional musician for a number of years, I have continuously watched musicians be mistreated in a myriad of ways: whether it be as a gigging musician or even within the realm of selling the art (as an album or singles).

I posted yesterday about reading “The Wealth of Nations” by Adam Smith. I am trying to solve the problem of musicians being taken advantage of.

If it wasn't a record label in 1996, it is Spotify and Apple Music now.

Musicians should not have to invest $10,000 in an album, only to essentially provide it as an expected service to be consumed for free. Sure, someone pays Spotify $11 a month, but we as the creator of the art being consumed, do not see that distribution of wealth. That doesn’t feel right to me. It feels queer, in the traditional sense of the word. We even do it with words: take them and repurpose them without thought of how that effects others around us.

So, I consult the book that fashioned the use of what Smith referred to as “Commercial Society” but what we now call “Capitalism.”

Self interest was of huge concern to Adam Smith. He devoted chapters to it in the “Wealth of Nations” as pointed out by Prasannah Parthasarathi in the introduction of the edition I purchased yesterday. Wisely so. Look at how musicians have been getting fucked for years.

My solution came from a friend I made in Photo Club named Matt Sloggy. He is an Economist based out of Riverside, California. He spoke to me about Reciprocating Economics. What does that look like? Allow me to show you.

A company like Spotify or Apple Music or Deezer, could have a department devoted to publishing Songwriter and Full Band Material to Television, Netflix, HBO, Movies, Commercials. We flood their service with art: they could be reciprocating by doing the work of getting high paying placements for us. It’s a lot of work making music: thank you for being selfish and not paying attention to how musicians are literally dying from suicide overworking themselves. If new companies in America are going to be subsidized with Tax Payer Money, pay it forward to those who are from those taxpayers, who are directly providing the service you are offering. What you have done Spotify, is shoved your service between the musician and the audience with a shoe horn: a shoe that has no damn sole.

People make the argument that humans are innately selfish. Even if that is true, Smith mitigates this notion in the following manner:

“It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interests. We address ourselves, not to their humanity, but to their self-love, and never to talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.”

We have value, brothers and sisters. It is time we take our value back rather than give it away. Adam Smith was a wise and intelligent person. We should listen to wise and intelligent people who take the time to write a treatise of Economic Theory. Because holy shit, have we not lost sight of the beginnings of “Commercial Society” in favor of what we now call in modern nomenclature, repurposed: “Capitalism.”

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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New Music Being Released Every Week

Hey! I just wanted to drop everyone a quick set of thoughts in regards to my plans for 2025. I have been attempting to release a new song to streaming services every week; this endeavor of mine began in February of this year. I don’t exactly know how long this will last. What I can say is that I adore creating music.

I would write out all of the songs that I will be releasing, but since there are so many, I would just be stoked if you pulled open your preferred streaming app from time to time and found something you like.

May this find you all in high spirits. Many blessings and positive vibes to you all!

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Graceland and a Dream of Mine, Analyzed

I had a dream a few years back where I was at The House of Blues. It looked a bit like the one I used to perform at in Anaheim, California. Near Disneyland. But certainly not identical.

Paul Simon was in that dream. I was sitting at a table with him and two other musically inclined gentlemen. You might call us skeezy musicians: I lean towards storyteller, with a pension towards taking liberties.

I needed to use the restroom. I got up from the table and headed towards a set of binary doors, one to the left, and one to the right.

I took the door to the right, and was immediately greeted by a person trying to squeeze by me with a backpack brimming with who knows what. I don’t even know—and I’m the one slow cooking this chili con carne of a dream.

Ironically, he was exiting, just as I was entering. It was an awkward exchange between a doorway.

What I found on the other side of that doorway was a bustling kitchen of people—chefs and other assorted folks working in tandem.

I appreciated seeing this for a moment, but also didn’t find the bathroom.

I head back to the table I was sitting at with Paul Simon. He wasn’t alone either. There was a drummer I knew from living in Long Beach, as well as the bass player from the band Weezer, that left the group after the success of their first album. Matt Sharp.

I make some sort of snide crack about the restroom being cursed and that I couldn’t find it to begin with.

Paul replied, we all feel that way from time to time.

Everyone chuckles.

The drummer and bass player and Paul all have a short chat of sorts, before the bass player and drummer politely bid fair-well and leave.

I once again feel the urgency of the restroom—and as I rise, Paul showers me with kind compliment and I reply the pleasure being mine.

And as I stand, I notice that Paul is sitting on my coat.

As much as I would love to think that image in my dream was Paul Simon—all of those people are me.

We find Grace on the inside, in a house of blues. Not always what we anticipate either—especially when trying to get there urgently.

It’s not as hard as you think to analyze a dream. It’s all symbolic. Metaphors. The cast of my craft and poets alike.

I found grace hearing what my friend Rory sent me today. It was his second guitar part for this arrangement.

Wow, music is magic and casting spells—and dreams? They are wild. Primal. Older than your language. When symbols ruled for communication in a young monad’s dream.

This is Graceland by Paul Simon.

It’ll be available on all the streaming services April 11th.

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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Want and the Stories of Mike and Julie | My Neighbors

On an economic level, I share more in common with an individual who is homeless than I do with that of a person who is upper middle class or upper class.

I am a professional musician trying to make a living on the music I write. I am lower class.

The first song I ever wrote was about a young girl in Visalia who tried to commit suicide off of the side of a highway overpass, into oncoming traffic on the 198 freeway. She survived. I only showed this song to one friend: Elizabeth Rosenberg. I was around 20 years old at the time.

This song above, is so many years far removed from that first song. I am going to be 46 years old in April.

This song is not just about homelessness; it is about recognizing the value of each other. It is about recognizing that which makes us similar, instead of focusing on that which makes us different.

I talk to people. Sometimes it's on my own time. Sometimes it's on theirs. I had four or five people call me on the phone the other day and I talked to everyone, and showed my love by listening and being engaged, being present, and enjoying their company for as long as I could, before needing to get back to work.

This includes friends I have made who are homeless.

Rather than share the lyrics of this song, I will share their stories as best as I know.

MIKE

I met Mike when I first moved to Eagle Rock in Los Angeles. Mike has been homeless for approximately 40 years. He grew up in Chicago. Sometimes, I would bring a cup of coffee from my house to him, and we would sit and talk about his life. He left Chicago in his late teens out of fear. He said he witnessed something that he shouldn't have, and left Chicago because there was a person trying to eliminate him as a witness.

I listened. His story—it's hard to know whether there is reality to it or not. What I could do though, is ask him if he had family in Chicago who would take his call. He said yes. I asked if he knew their number. He said yes. So, I offered him my phone, and encouraged him to reach out. I also said, that whoever wanted him dead, has long forgotten about him and that his family would most certainly be happy to hear his voice. He refused.

One day as I was passing by, he said hi to me, and said, "hey you're a musician right?" I said yes. He told me that he always wanted to learn guitar. I told him, that I would be happy to gift him a guitar and teach him how to play. All that he needed to do was to show up at 11am in front of the mini mart by my house, and I would bring materials to teach him. He didn't show up and that's okay.

One day I passed by him in front of that same mini mart, and he was excited to be the recipient of 12 brand new pairs of socks. He asked if I needed any socks, and offered me a few pair of socks. I told him that I have plenty of socks, and that I would feel better about it, if he kept them and used them for himself.

I haven't seen Mike in a few years, but I love him.

JULIE

I don't know Julie nearly as well. She has her good days, and she has her bad days. She is schizophrenic. She has not told me that, but I am fairly certain this is the case.

She often speaks to people I can not see, but not always consistently. Sometimes she is more lucid than on other occasions.

She screams in terror at 4am in the morning at invisible entities that I do not see. However, she is terrified of them. Genuinely terrified. I will hear her banging on road signs, screaming for these entities to leave her alone. Begging them at times. Ordering them on other occasions, with words of authority and conviction and profanity.

I have gone out to check on her in the early hours of the morning, to make sure she is okay, when I can hear her pleas and banging to be left alone. It is on those occasions that she has shared with me that one of the entities is covered in blood and repeatedly tries to molest her.

She does not remember my name, and I don't mind. She often does not make eye contact with me. Sometimes she does.

She has upset my neighbors on a few occasions using our shared garden house for the yard to clean her clothes. I found her doing this once, and merely asked that she would approach me beforehand, before using the hose.

----------

I do what I do, because it makes me happy. It is humble work. I have traveled all over the United States sharing my stories and the stories of others, with people, such as yourselves. I have met many of you and connected with many of you, from this pursuit.

I am incapable of fixing the issue of homeless by myself. I need help. I need your help. We elevate each other. That is what we do. That is what we can do. Like anything, it starts at a thought—but manifests to reality by action.

I manifest my life. You do too. It is not our responsibility to judge what is impossible or possible. It is our purpose to pursue what makes us happy and to attempt to elevate each other.

I have spent my lifetime devoting myself to story and song. I know I am good at it. I have watched myself win over entire rooms full of people that did not show up to see me play, and I have done this in rooms all over the country.

This is just a song. It does not change anything, immediately. I hesitate to sell this one. I would prefer for people just to listen, as I have listened to the stories of Mike and Julie, and countless other friends.

It can easily be ignored as well. The choice is yours. It always has been.

It is available to stream on all the streaming services, as of now:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/want-live-in-2025

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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And It Stoned Me

I first heard this song from two girls I had an early morning class with in high school. They were smoking a joint in their parked car, as I was passing by, minding my own business.

They invited me in, and this was the song they were listening to.

In other news, my cat is just chillin' right under my headstock—the whole song. Her name is Qi'ra. Feel free to say hi!

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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A Coyote

If this song were a cocktail, it might take you somewhere—and it would also be crafted from some fine ingredients.

One Mark Twain—specifically "Roughing It". One tablespoon of Eddy Arnold The Cattle Call. A dash of nostalgia. Several shakes traveling  out and about's, to and fro, hither and thither.

A pandemic. I forgot about that too.

Other stuff.

Sip it though.

I would write out the lyrics, but that would negate all the time spent inserting the lyrics above. You're going to have to experience it in real time—not at the speed of read.

Not at all is also an option (that being my least favorite).

Any hoo.

xoxo

M

Available to stream everywhere:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/coyote

Coyote

words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

Vocals, Background Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, Upright Bass, Wood Blocks - Mike Vitale

Drums - Evan Stone

Background Vocals - Anastasia Flionis

Produced by Mike Vitale

Engineered by Mike Vitale, Evan Stone and Anastasia Flionis

Mixed by Ryan Lipman

Mastered by Mark Alan Miller

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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The Incredible Shrinking Brain

Humans have a stellar track record of being both absent and horrid to one another. We take advantage of those with less. We treat others as inferiors. Hurt people, they hurt people.

We criticize the intelligence of those who disagree with our own notions of what it is to be human, alive, and unique. We incite. We cross boundaries.

Discrimination, which then leads to Reverse-Discrimination.

Slavery. Coal Mines. Company Stores. We use. We exploit natural resources, and people alike.

Bigoted. Arrogant. Prejudice.

Angry.

Creed.

Creed is unique from religious belief. It is the public and outspoken form of religious belief. Often times, also crossing boundaries. Inciting war.

For such a young species, we know so little in the broader scheme of existence—and we exercise our limited knowledge with certainty, regardless.

We need humility. What I know is dwarfed by that which I don't know.

What am I advocating for?

For each and every one of us to be present and in the moment as often as possible, and in order to achieve that, we all must know ourselves, and in order to know ourselves, we must work inward from our Ego, to our true Self. Carl Gustav Jung called it Individuation. Taoists call it, The Way. I call it a lifetime of work and effort to be the best version of myself. Authentic, confident, positive, receptive, patient, open-minded, and kind. That starts with you and me and everyone on an individual basis, and there is no mastery. There is just trying to be present.

"Anger and hatred are caustic to the vessel in which it's stored, far more than to anything on which it's poured."

If you don't know why you are so angry and why you hate—you can know. It is a matter of truly searching the inner world of you. I have done so myself, and I have spent tremendous amounts of time by myself, exercising these very notions, and writing these very songs.

That is why the first verse of this tune is a criticism of me. I will start with me. The rest of the song is about society, for which I am a part of too.

I am pointing out an issue I see in society and me. I am also providing a solution, as well as a song to shake your ass to.

I find happiness in making art and connecting with people and telling stories and traveling the country. Writing these songs. They are an inner journey. Those who create, know what I mean. It is profound. I want and wish for all people to experience what I have in my lifetimes as a creator.

I care about us. I care about you. I care about how we treat each other, and how we mistreat each other. Most importantly, I want to see change in my lifetime.

What is the change? People that are happy.

You don't find happiness or God or Self in material goods and wealth. Jesus actually preached that very notion as well, and I agree (and I'm not Christian). You find happiness within, by searching for it and listening to your inner voice. That in itself is a journey and I wish you well traveler.

Happiness is also fleeting and is never constant. It must be that way or else you would have nothing to compare it against.

When you find happiness, the light and true purpose inside of you: you are present often, and you radiate this for all to see.

I found a great deal of happiness on the road the past few years. It made the release of singles, difficult however. Tonight, I am trying again, because it makes me happy. Thank you for listening and reading. I am thankful.

released September 13th 2024

Vocals, Rhythm Electric Guitar, Synthesizers, Moog Mini, Fender Rhodes Piano, Mellotron:  Mike Vitale

Drums:  Tamir Barzilay

Bass:  Paul Jones

Electric Guitar:  Molly Miller

Produced by Mike Vitale

Engineered by Mike Vitale, Tamir Barzilay, Paul Jones, and Molly Miller

Mixed by Ryan Lipman

Mastered by Mark Alan Miller

You can listen to this on your favorite streaming service, by following this link:

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/the-incredible-shrinking-brain

Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/mikevitalemusic

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain

Phineas Gage was a demolition foreman for the Rutland and Burlington Railroad in the year 1847.

His job was to blow things up—specifically, that which was in the way of building a pair of railroad tracks. This could be all sorts of things. Mountainside, Felsenmeer, Stone, Boulders, and so forth.

But in those days, when you wanted to blow things up, you didn't have dynamite, because it hadn't been invented yet.

Nitroglycerine, which led to dynamite, was still about 25 years away.

So, when you needed to get rid of what was in front of you, one would drill enormously deep holes in the above mentioned, fill it with gunpowder, run a fuse, pack the remainder of the hole with sand to buffer the charge, light the fuse, and then run like hell.

This was Phineas' job... that is, until one day, he forgot to do one of these ingredients—and that's where this song comes in.

This is called The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and His Brain. Most medical students are familiar with this story. However, since I never studied medicine or psychology in college, I have Conan O'Brien and Bill Hader to thank for this story. Thank you both. I had a great time writing this.

The Curious Case of Phineas Gage and his Brain

words and music by Michael Patrick Vitale

Phineas Gage cleared the felsenmeer and stone to level the ground

He was a detonation foreman for the

Rutland and Burlington Railway, westbound

He drilled holes deep into mounds of boulders and stone and rocky terrain

Before he filled them up with gun powder, fuse, and sand to buffer the charge and keep it contained

And in all those years of such a dangerous profession

I wonder if it ever crossed his mind to exercise discretion

he’d just tamp down the goods with a rod, ingredients primed

But he forgot to buffer the charge with sand this time

Phineas

Oh Phineas

Oh what have you done?

That one meter iron rod

Shot out like a gun

And Lord knows you ducked your head

To get out of its way

But almost only counts

In horseshoes and hand grenades

Phineas

Oh Phineas

How are you still standing?

You’re a miracle of science

You defy understanding

Because Phineas my friend

You’ve got a great big hole in your head

Phineas looks around with a “what’s a matter” wrinkled brow

As his eyes dart around in his head

And his growing audience responds that the brain matter from your head

Is strewn about and I don’t know: you’re not dead

Workers and foreman shout for a physician

And while it seems unique for Phineas to be in such a position

It’s recommended that he take the rest of the day off on account

That his insides are outside and that alone seems like a lot to surmount

Phineas

Oh Phineas

Oh what have you done?

That one meter iron rod

Shot out like a gun

And Lord knows you ducked your head

To get out of its way

But almost only counts

In horseshoes and hand grenades

Oh Phineas

Oh Phineas

How are you still standing?

You’re a miracle of science

You defy understanding

Because Phineas my friend

You’ve got a great big hole in your head

WHO IS MIKE VITALE?

I am a storyteller, songwriter, singer, music producer, traveling musician, Jungian dream analyst, all-around curious fellow (Spiritual, Mathematical Historical, Scientific), Taoist, and much much more, based out of Los Angeles, California. I’m constantly releasing new music, in all sorts of different genres. You can listen to me below, on Spotify:

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