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[HA for DROKU] Get to Know Mike Isberto |
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Written by Diana
Wednesday, March 28, 2012 12:40 PM |
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"I
really want to rap these days," Mike Isberto jokes. Under the rapper
name Michael Ray. The singer-songwriter might not be rapping any time
soon, but Isberto and his band have been working on multiple EPs since
the summertime, including “Fly” released this past October.
“This is my true passion,” says the Loma Linda-raised Isberto, now based in Fullerton, California.
Of
course, Isberto's passion for music was cultivated from a young age. He
began singing at the age of six. Two years later he took up piano,
then saxophone at the age of ten, which eventually led to guitar-playing
and song-writing. Isberto even joined an a capella group at church to
improve his vocal craft; when they split, Isberto decided to turn his
focus to composing.
His
hard work has not gone unnoticed. In 2009, Isberto participated in
Kollaboration Acoustic 3, tying for first place with artist Alfa Garcia
with whom he performed as a duo at the more recent Kollaboration 10.
Isberto has also been mentioned by Live OC Magazine as a “fresh new
talent”
“I
didn’t know it was a competition,” says Isberto, who says he decided to
participate because he wanted to perform at the Ford Amphitheatre.
Unbeknownst to him, the year he participated, no auditions were held.
Instead, the artists were personally invited to perform and compete.
Over
the last three years, Isberto has been pursuing music full-time in
Orange County, playing shows three to four times a week at restaurants
and hotels. And when he’s not performing or winning competitions,
Isberto spends his time “ghost writing” songs for other singers.
“I’m
a song-writer first, so it was my outlet to get my songs out there,” he
says. But ultimately, Isberto’s main focus is his own laid-back
acoustic style, which might make you feel that you’re lounging
comfortably in a warm coffee shop, steaming cup of joe and a good book
in hand.
And
he’s got a lot more music in store for his loyal fan following.
Normally, an artist will complete an EP in about 10 days; Isberto and
his band intend to fully produce six songs every week, recording at a
friend's home studio or at the Los Angeles Recording studio, using all
the resources available to them.
And
unlike his first EP, “Love is All,” Isberto’s upcoming EPs won’t be
acoustic. The intrepid crooner is working to hard to expand his creative
repertoire, moving away from the slow heartfelt tearjerkers to a more
upbeat pop sound. In the studio or on stage, we expect Mike Isberto's
soul-infused career is on its way up. Interviewed by: Marina Kamel and Michelle Nikaji
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