Meet Michael Vest

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Vest.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Michael. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Well, I am quite a late bloomer when it comes to making music. I only got serious when I turned 40. Boy, I sure do wish I had taken some lessons as a kid. But I have always been an obsessive listener. There is some kind of sacred magic in music. It is a mysterious poetic expression that allows us to harmonize with life and actually add beauty to the world. The modern shamans, poets, jesters, revolutionaries and satirists are all musicians. The way musical notes move as vibrations through space and time and change our emotions is truly sublime (and the secret to saving humanity!)

In 2010, my wife and I opened a recording studio in Venice Beach, CA called Earthstar Creation Center. We hired sonic maestro John x Volaitis as the engineer. We’ve had a very good run with some amazing artists. Pink, Beck, The National, Alanis Morissette, and Booker T have all done incredible stuff here. I am in two bands, Spacebabies and Californiosos and recently, I have decided to release my own solo stuff. Music and poetry are my happy place! Although, I have to admit, being a musician these days requires many skills besides “playing”; you have to be tenacious at social media, making videos, self-promotion, and recording, mixing and mastering. I sometimes wish it was just “playing” music.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have certainly had a smooth road…because I have not had to rely on my music as the only source of revenue. I think it’s the best and worst time to be a musician. It’s great that anyone can get their music out into the world. But the iconic days of record labels supporting an artist’s vision and radios and MTV playing the most cutting edge stuff is long over. It’s hard for an old curmudgeon like myself not to miss the music of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley, Led Zeppelin, Miles Davis and the Doors….when musicians were truly fearless and prophetic giants.

To be brutally honest, the hardest thing for me is listening to the latest hits on apple music, all the corporate rap and bright meaningless pop and thinking about how my music has no place in this time. There IS good contemporary music, don’t get me wrong, but the importance of music has shifted a bit. You know, I am waiting for a song about climate change…something kinda sorta important……he he he.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I am able to run a small recording studio in this age of laptop music. I am able to make music in three bands. I am able to dance with the vibrations as they move up through the leaves and into the sky. I am alive and a father to a beautiful kid (and great bassist).

The coming years I am going to try to move in a more spiritual direction with the music and see if I can’t be of service. I did the big push of “ME”. Now let’s see where Great Spirit wants to go.

If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
I would love to say the cliche: “I wouldn’t change a thing because every choice I made got me to where I am now.” but that wouldn’t be genuine of me. If I had to start over, I would fearlessly and tirelessly follow my visions and never compromise until my goal and exact artistic desires where fulfilled. I spent way too much time giving my power away in collaborations and power-sucking arrangements because I was too timid to speak up or change anything. If it stops being win/win and you can feel it in your gut, say your blessings and move on!

So I say: find people to help you make your artistic ideas manifest. Don’t be afraid to say “No”…a lot. Don’t think you are an egotistic narcissist just because you know what you want. And if you do find someone talented who truly believes in you and understands you….listen to them and really let them help you….but don’t ever compromise your vision. Good luck! It’s a beautiful thing to create art. It makes you feel fully ALIVE!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.michaelvest.space
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelvestmusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelvestmusic

Image Credit:
Olivia Diehl

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.