Quotes
"It's not often that an artist can tell a story so intricately that listeners feel as if they've taken a ride through the songwriter's mind. Mike Stocksdale does just that. His songs, although similar in style, have such wonderful composition and tone that each one can stand alone to showcase his talent. Similar to the cool country stylings of John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" and folky carefree feel of Paul Simon's "Slip Slidin' Away," Stocksdale is a modern reminder of what good music sounds like in its simplest form."
-Paula Munoz, Music Connection Magazine
"Mike Stocksdale makes really good folk music. It’s a happy combination of blues, rock, and just enough country to make you kick back and put in a toothpick...it sounds like something you’ve heard before, but that has a sort of rebirth to it."
-Brendon Goldwasser, Groundsounds
Bio
Mike Stocksdale is an artist you've listened to your whole life, or at least it feels that way. There is familiarity in his melodies, and the honest stories he tells hit home. His ability to translate his personal experiences into relatable lyrics is, in a word, captivating.
Stocksdale is a songwriter to his core. He started writing tunes at the age of fifteen, when he first learned a few chords on the guitar, and he hasn’t stopped since. He’s been recording and releasing music since the early 2000s, first as lead guitarist and songwriter for the popular Midwest band, Three Minute Mile, and later as a solo artist. His most recent album, Until the Oceans Rise, is a conversational collection of songs blending the best parts of folk, rock, blues, and country. It was tracked live to tape at Moosecat Recording Studio in Los Angeles, and Stocksdale recorded auxiliary instruments and mixed in his home studio in Culver City, CA.
Mike grew up in Playa Del Rey and Palos Verdes, CA, and was an avid basketball player and athlete as a youth. As he grew older, he became more interested in arts and music, eventually studying at Musicians Institute in Hollywood and earning a degree in guitar performance. He is an experienced producer, songwriter, singer, guitarist, and his songs have received multiple television placements and awards.
Credits
- Finalist - Rocky Mountain Folks Festival 2019 - Songwriter Showcase
- Finalist - Rocky Mountain Folks Festival 2018 - Songwriter Showcase
- Finalist/Honorable Mention - Unsigned Only Music Competition 2018 (AAA)
- Semi-Finalist - Music City SongStar 2017
- 2nd Place Winner - International Songwriting Competition 2015 (Performance Category)
- Multiple TV placements on shows such as New Girl, Quantico, Hart of Dixie, and Happy Endings
- Songs reviewed and/or shared by the following music blogs: HITS in the Sticks, Ear to the Ground, SirChillicious, GroundSounds, Wolf in a Suit, Adobe and Teardrops, Somervalley FM, KOR Radio, Pretty in Noise, Skope, Savage Thrills, Santa Rosa Records, Karben, For the Love of Bands, LA on Lock, Mystic Sons, Indie Obsessive
- Opened for Cam, Will Hoge, Tinsley Ellis, Eric Gales, Soul of John Black
- Featured in viral youtube video by Garance Dore and Tiffany’s
- Semi-Finalist - International Songwriting Competition
- Semi-Finalist - UK Songwriting Competition
- #1 New Music Review - Music Connection Magazine
- Honorable Mention - Unsigned Only Music Competition
- Daphne’s Restaurant featured artist
- Top 100 artists - Music Connection Magazine
- Finalist - Independent Music Awards (Folk/Singer Songwriter Album)
- Best New Artist Nomination - New Music Awards
- Finalist - We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards
- 3rd Place - 11th Annual Unisong International Song Contest (Acoustic/Folk)
- Honorable Mention - 14th Annual Billboard Song Contest
- Finalist - We Are Listening Singer/Songwriter Awards