How did you write that song Mikelangelo?

Episode 4 of the How did you write that song? podcast, hosted by Paul Marsh, titled "How did you write that song Mikelangelo?" was published on October 10, 2024 and runs 62 minutes.

October 10, 2024 ·62m · How did you write that song?

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Summary

I had a fabulous chat with internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Michael Simic (aka Mikelangelo) when he was in Canberra workshopping a new solo musical theatre production. Michael writes dark, funny, crooning folk songs influenced by his European heritage, often with a raucous theatrical vibe. He's been performing these energetic original works under his stage persona of Mikelangelo for more than thirty years. He got into playing music as a teenager inspired by his brother's punk band but discovered his songwriting in student digs teaching himself to play a friends guitar. It was like the guitar was a portal to songwriting. The lyrics and music typically come to Michael at the same time and he demonstrated in the studio on his guitar how he generates chord shapes that lend themselves to a lyrical idea for a song. He explained how his on-stage persona Mikelangelo developed influenced by his musical collaborators and his family experience as the child of European migrants. Mikelangelo the character was instrumental in pulling Michael the person back into songwriting during a difficult period in his life. It was as if the energy of Mikelangelo "spoke" to Michael and carried him forward. Mikelangelo is a story teller and has explored many subjects including an account of people who worked on the Snowy Mountains scheme, many of who were European migrants after the Second World War. Michael's Croatian father is a big influence on his on-stage persona. Michael sees songs as coming from within and from without with their own identities which can develop over time as they are performed and iterated with other members of Michael's band "The Black Sea Gentlemen". It takes time for Michael to learn what it is that his songs are telling him. Stories of human vulnerability are of particular interest. We played a recording of Michael's song "Formidable Marinade" which is the song most loved and covered by his fans and musical acquaintances. I'm pretty sure the song will surprise you! He also played a wonderful acoustic version of a beautiful, haunting brand new song "Crosses and Flowers" live in the studio. It was great to have a wide-ranging discussion with Michael about life, the universe and everything to do with songwriting! for more about Michael and his music: https://www.michaelsimic.com/

Episode Description

I had a fabulous chat with internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Michael Simic (aka Mikelangelo) when he was in Canberra workshopping a new solo musical theatre production.

Michael writes dark, funny, crooning folk songs influenced by his European heritage, often with a raucous theatrical vibe. He's been performing these energetic original works under his stage persona of Mikelangelo for more than thirty years.

He got into playing music as a teenager inspired by his brother's punk band but discovered his songwriting in student digs teaching himself to play a friends guitar. It was like the guitar was a portal to songwriting.

The lyrics and music typically come to Michael at the same time and he demonstrated in the studio on his guitar how he generates chord shapes that lend themselves to a lyrical idea for a song.

He explained how his on-stage persona Mikelangelo developed influenced by his musical collaborators and his family experience as the child of European migrants. Mikelangelo the character was instrumental in pulling Michael the person back into songwriting during a difficult period in his life. It was as if the energy of Mikelangelo "spoke" to Michael and carried him forward.

Mikelangelo is a story teller and has explored many subjects including an account of people who worked on the Snowy Mountains scheme, many of who were European migrants after the Second World War. Michael's Croatian father is a big influence on his on-stage persona.

Michael sees songs as coming from within and from without with their own identities which can develop over time as they are performed and iterated with other members of Michael's band "The Black Sea Gentlemen". It takes time for Michael to learn what it is that his songs are telling him. Stories of human vulnerability are of particular interest.

We played a recording of Michael's song "Formidable Marinade" which is the song most loved and covered by his fans and musical acquaintances. I'm pretty sure the song will surprise you!

He also played a wonderful acoustic version of a beautiful, haunting brand new song "Crosses and Flowers" live in the studio.

It was great to have a wide-ranging discussion with Michael about life, the universe and everything to do with songwriting!

for more about Michael and his music: https://www.michaelsimic.com/