Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Palmer.
Hi Mike, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
All I can remember is music. Left, right, everywhere I went—it was always around me. I was born in Pasadena, California to immigrant parents: my dad, a Syrian-born Armenian rock drummer, and my mom, a Mexican lover of orchestral music and some classic rock. My dad has been a hardcore rock drummer since the ’80s, so naturally, I grew up watching home videos of his favorite bands like Scorpions, Van Halen, and Iron Maiden. Thanks to him, I had my first baby-sized drum set at three years old. On the other hand, my mom wasn’t a musician but had an incredible appreciation for music, especially orchestral music and some classic rock. She sparked my love for those genres, and because of her, I started violin lessons at five and piano at six. Being a first-generation child gave me a strong sense of purpose—like I owed it to my parents to succeed at what I loved and give back through it. Right before high school, my family went through a financial crisis that ended my conservatory lessons and nearly left us homeless. Still, my mom refused to sell our piano. Instead, she made it her mission to keep me practicing for thirty minutes to an hour daily, even with the same old lesson books. I was also dedicated to teaching myself other instruments such as the guitar, bass, and the ukulele, and I enjoyed every second of doing so. I joined my high school orchestra, then my university’s, funding my own education entirely to keep studying music. Over time, I realized I didn’t just want to play music—I wanted to create it, perform it, and make it my full-time career. In college, I started producing and recording my own music. My debut album, All at Once, was written, produced, recorded, and mixed entirely by me, all from my bedroom back home to my college bedroom. Since then, I’ve worked on projects with other artists, bands, and filmmakers, and the journey thus far has been incredible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle throughout all of this, as I briefly mentioned earlier, has been money. During the first few years of my life it was never a problem, but towards the end of middle school I had to understand the importance of money early on, learning how to save and use it wisely. My mom always made sure I would go to college, no matter what, even though both my parents had promised me they wouldn’t be able to offer any financial support. Knowing this, I got my first job early in high school and have been working various jobs ever since. Luckily, through financial aid, scholarships, and paychecks, I was able to finance my education and earn my bachelor’s degree in music while also buying the equipment I needed to produce and record my own music. Thanks to my parents and other friends and family who taught me valuable lessons, I’ve been able to afford everything necessary to keep pursuing my dream of becoming a musician. Like a broken record, I kept telling myself that it’ll never grow on trees.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a musical artist and a singing/songwriting multi-instrumentalist. Music is my bread and butter. I sing, write, produce, record, mix, and most importantly, create, which is the foundation of all art and the part I enjoy most. I love writing and layering sounds that give me goosebumps when I listen back. I want to reach an audience that feels the same way about music that I do; to people who want to cry, dance, or fall in love to a song and remember that song for the rest of their lives. My goal is to build a catalog that pulls from all corners of music that I’ve been influenced by—like blending the guitar tones of MkGee with the dance rhythms of a Magdalena Bay track, or combining Paul McCartney’s lyricism with an LCD Soundsystem-like synthetic blend. I also really love just writing a catchy hook. The two aspects of my musical journey that I’m most proud of are fully creating my first album on my own, and putting myself out into the world to collaborate and build lasting relationships with other creatives. Right now, my biggest goal is to share my work more widely and, hopefully, sign with an independent record label alongside like-minded artists. I create music not only because I love it with all my heart, but because I was given the opportunity to, and I want to give back to the people who made that possible. More than anything, I hope to inspire others to take the same chances I did/will and chase their own dreams with everything they’ve got. What sets me apart is the music I make, and I want to work hard enough to prove that—especially to myself.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’d love for other artists to feel free to contact me through any means of social media or direct messaging, and I appreciate the support of everyone and anyone who takes even just a minute to listen to my music. I couldn’t be more thankful for everyone who’s already done so and will continue to thank those who support my music, which you can find on all streaming platforms under the name “Mike Palmer” and on YouTube, as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mike-palmer.myportfolio.com/work
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikepalmerr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikepalmer6788
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelayranian/
- Twitter: https://x.com/mike_6788
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MikePalmerr
- Other: https://linktr.ee/mike6788
Image Credits
Irshad Zahidi, Neema Wangyal
