ϕ: A New Album by Mike Vitale
News, information, music, and performance schedule for the Los Angeles, California singer, songwriter, and producer, Mike Vitale.
Last week's single "Time Machine" is now available on Spotify and Apple Music as of August 17th 2021, as well as all the other popular (and not so popular) streaming services.
Here is a link to find it on your favorite of that variety:
https://sng.to/mikevitale/time-machine
- Mike
Hey Friends, I'm proud to announce that my new album will be released to all the digital streaming platforms this summer on Tuesday September 21st 2021. The album is called ϕ (phi).
If you are a Spotify user, here is a pre-save link for the new album. Supposedly, having people pre-save the album and the singles, is very helpful for getting onto Spotify playlists, which would be a boon to its reach to new ears, so to speak—so I would be honored to have you do that, should your kind heart be so inclined:
PHI
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/phi
Here is the official release schedule for every single as well as the titles being released as singles.
Tuesday August 17th 2021 - TIME MACHINE
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/time-machine
Tuesday August 24th 2021 - YOUNGER DAYS
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/younger-days
Tuesday August 31st 2021 - EMPTY CIRCLE
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/empty-circle
Tuesday September 7th 2021 - HOME
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/home
Tuesday September 14th 2021 - GONE
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/gone
Tuesday September 21st 2021 - ϕ (phi - FULL ALBUM)
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mikevitale/phi
SUNDAY September 26th 2021 - FULL BAND ALBUM RELEASE SHOW at Alex's Bar in Long Beach, CA at 8pm (more details coming soon—this is bonus info for the folks kind enough to read this far into my post; thank you for caring and for loving and supporting me).
This is a song that I wrote about how human beings are all organic time machines, whether in regards to our ever diminishing cell division as we age, our ability to reference memories and experience them again at will, or a vivid imagination that allows us to think into the future—and write songs that make reference to all my favorite science fictions, growing up. This is also about my family, and growing up in Visalia, CA. Lyrics are listed below if you like words. I like words.
Video and Audio captured and then released back into the wild by Monika Lightstone.
Audio Mix by Mike Vitale.
You can also watch the 4K version on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfr9HgtrRDc
Support and Join the Record Label: http://bit.ly/2nigMwU
Learn More About Me Here: http://mikevitalemusic.com
Upcoming Shows: https://www.bandsintown.com/mikevitale/
Subscribe: http://bit.ly/2niho5G
Connect with me online and say hi:
Twitter http://twitter.com/mikevitalemusic
Facebook http://facebook.com/mikevitalemusic
Instagram http://instagram.com/mikevitalemusic
Listen to Me Here:
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/mikevitalemusic
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WvkxAen388KiPMSxh6joB…
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369
Purchase Music:
Bandcamp: https://mikevitalemusic.bandcamp.com
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mike-vitale/260074369
TIME MACHINE
words and music by Mike Vitale
cogs and wheels that spin and spark
driving alone on a highway in the dark
steampunk brain, this lone machine
behind my random access memory
I've got Legos sprawled all across my floor
My brothers and I are going to war
force fields furnish the perfect protection
for a space ship powered by our predilection
I'm a time machine
I am senescence
a dinosaur book
adolescence
A onesie sleep
on my parents couch
loving me to bed
with caring slouch
cogs and wheels connect with the power train
playing with my r/c car in the rain
I'm behind the wheel of my own creation
an 88 mile an hour rumination
I'm a time machine
I am senescence
a dinosaur book
adolescence
A onesie sleep
on my parents couch
loving me to bed
with caring slouch
I jump like Indiana Jones down a flight of stairs
Avoided hot lava on the kitchen chairs
I saved the whole world from a fierce invasion
I'm an observer in a widening age dilation
I'm a time machine
I am senescence
a dinosaur book
adolescence
A onesie sleep
on my parents couch
loving me to bed
with caring slouch
I'm a time machine
I am senescence
a dinosaur book
adolescence
A onesie sleep
on my parents couch
loving me to bed
with caring slouch
Thank you to everyone supporting on Patreon. Special thanks to Fernando Gallegos and Amy Armitage.
Here is a live video of me performing my song TIME MACHINE in Long Beach, CA. This was an In-Store performance on Record Store Day, April 21st 2018, at Dyzzy on Vinyl.
If you dig it, please help me share the video! Thanks to our very own Megan from here on Patreon, for capturing the footage and sharing it!
If you dig this, you can find more by visiting my Youtube Channel here: http://youtube.com/mikevitalemusic
Empty Circle by Mike Vitale (that's me!), is now available for digital streaming on Apple Music. If you are an Apple Music user, go ahead and click here to give it a listen:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/empty-circle/1384636182
If you're not an Apple Music, go ahead and click it anyway. I have no idea what will happen. Let's find out!
I'm turning 39 years old tomorrow. I've got a pretty wild imagination, but not even my imagination could come up with the life I am living currently (or maybe it did—I'll get back to you on that one). I'm filled with gratitude for what I have: you (yes, you reading this).
At any rate, I wrote this song about my life. It may not seem like it, but I can explain it to you.
My mom turned me on to science fiction. She used to show me old movies like "The Time Machine" by H.G. Wells. From there, I got into the more modern varieties such at "Back to the Future" (I was a child of the 80's—and I'm an avid Michael J Fox fan). I also read a lot, and was fascinated by the work of authors such as Kurt Vonnegut, who wrote such classics as "Slaughterhouse-Five" in which Billy Pilgrim, the protagonist, gets unstuck in time. All of these elements are in my song, because, they are a part of my life—I am so very grateful for all of these influences.
The song is also about my family. The opening verses talk about playing legos with my brothers Clark and Matt. Clark is 9 years older than Matt and I, so he used to watch us kids when my mom and dad were away from the house. He would play legos with us kids. He would challenge us to make spaceships using our own imagination instead of using the instruction manual that comes with a prepackaged set. He also worked at a toy store at the time, and had access to radio controlled cars, and toy guns that shot rubber pellets and flying discs. Long story short: he was the raddest older brother two little guys could have. Thanks Clark.
Most of all, this song deals with us. It deals with people. It deals with life. We are creatures of senescence, which means that our cells are slowly losing their ability to divide and grow. It's a fancy $5 word used to say this: we are aging.
With that being said: take risks. Live life to its fullest potential. Don't be afraid to do what your heart desires. Show as much love as you can for people. Be kind. Be firm when you need to. Listen when people are trying to tell you something. Stop listening to people when you can feel with certainty that they don't know what the fuck they are talking about. Be yourself. There will never be another you on this planet. Love that person with everything that you have. Love yourself. Just be.
At any rate, this is the song. if you want to read the lyrics, they are posted beneath the actual song when you follow the soundcloud link. This will be released on Spotify and Apple Music and Google Play and all that other consumer friendly stuff soon. This is mix 2 of the song.
This came from my imagination. I didn't follow an instruction manual to write this song (my brother Clark taught me that).
Every Saturday night, I play a gig at a resort in Carlsbad, CA. The place is called Park Hyatt Aviara Resort. I live in Long Beach, so it normally takes me about an hour or two to get there, depending on traffic, and about an hour on the way back.
I used to listen to music most of the way there. It varies. I normally do some vocal warmups when I'm feeling studious. However, as of late, I've been calling my friends to talk while I drive. It's a great time to catch up with everyone I love.
At any rate, one such conversation with one of my friends brought back a memory from my childhood.
I attended an elementary school in Visalia called Crestwood. I grew up right across the street from that school, which was pretty cool. It was a giant playground right across from my house, so it was the perfect place to meet people and to engage in things to do. Play basketball. Play baseball. Just play. I really enjoyed playing sports growing up. I dreamed of being a professional athlete for a small stint.
I was a very shy kid. In some regards, I still am. I try to get myself out of my comfort zone as much as possible, but, it's a constant effort to break out of that mold. Perhaps you can relate. Perhaps not.
I spent much of 5th grade and 6th grade recess playing football with my classmates. I made what I thought at the time, were friends, participating in this daily activity. It was fun. I continued my efforts to reach out to some of these individuals, through extra curricular activities like Boy Scouts of America. I enjoyed it very much, because it helped me to meet people and get out of my shell a bit, and I learned about survival and the wilderness.
However, I made a mistake, as we all do, one day. I upset my father with this mistake, and as punishment, he forced me to quit Boy Scouts of America. The mistake I made was contrary to the code of conduct and ethics instilled in its participants. Because of this, it affected by ability to further connect with my peers.
A few years later, during junior high, I tried my best to reconnect with one of the kids that I was in Boy Scouts of America with. However, my efforts were met with a lack of enthusiasm. I was bullied by this individual. He took every opportunity possible to try and pick a fight with me. It started as verbal putdowns, and eventually grew into physical engagements such as throwing basketballs at my head during P.E. or a shove to the ground for no reason. I tried my best to not engage in what he wanted, which was a fight. Instead, I just accepted the punishment and ridicule. I didn't want to be hurt, but I certainly didn't want to be his enemy either. I gave up and kept my distance from him, as I assumed that my absence from his life would better suit the both of us, and I was scared of what I might do if I allowed myself to become angry. He was the son of the Cub Scout master I had in elementary school. I wanted to be his friend, but he didn't reciprocate that desire. So, we never became friends.
I went about life. Found things I loved, like music. I would see him from time to time. We would not engage each other, even in junior college.
One day, I was talking to a mutual friend of ours at College of the Sequoias. He asked me why I didn't talk to Paul. I explained to him that my efforts were never reciprocated, and told the story I just told you.
Our mutual friend, as adults typically do, explained to me that Paul had a bit of a rough go growing up. His father was not very kind to him. Paul's father physically and verbally abused him.
I was crushed by this information. As a twenty year old, I looked back on Paul's behavior growing up, and realized that he was in a great deal of pain at that time. It had nothing to do with me.
To this day, I can't possibly process all the intricacies of what it is to be a human being—what it is to put yourself in someone else's shoes. I try my best. Any frustration or anger I felt towards Paul, was replaced with anguish and sympathy for what he inherited.
I'm thirty seven years old now, driving back from a gig in Carlsbad. Music off. I'm just thinking. Remembering my life. Building a time machine constructed of human experience. This time machine can only travel to where I've been. I travel to my past. I have yet to manifest a future to travel to.
I've made a lot of mistakes that I regret. I wonder how many times I have been the Paul to someone else's life, without even realizing it.
I'm not sure that I will ever see him again. But, should I ever, given the opportunity, I would love to get to know you. Wherever you are, wherever the journey in life has taken you, I hope this finds you happy and well. You deserve it. We all do. The future is what we make of it.
