MIKE TRACY – MUSICIAN / PRODUCER

Mike Tracy is an incredible individual. AMP just reviewed one of his recent projects with Ray Wheaton of King Kuel. They collaborated on the awesome single, “Queenie”. Subsequently, Tracy has worked with several well known artists to create new and exciting music.

Tracy began his career as a talented musician. He always knew he had a passion for the art. He started  learning how to play guitar at an early age. At the age of 9, he studied with a private instructor who taught him how to read and learn theory.. Being his teacher was an accomplished jazz player, he steered Tracy in that direction. Speaking of his learning Tracy expounds: “I know just enough music theory to understand there are no boundaries in music. For me music is about feelings and emotions. If it sounds pleasant to my ear but it’s not musically proper or correct I’m ok with it“.

Tracy has toured with several bands including Chappel and The Degenerates. He has written original songs for WCCC as well as many venues to use on their websites. His greatest satisfaction in life is to create something from nothing. Music is his drive and ambition and he vows not to stop creating until he’s gone.

After the loss of his father, Tracy turned his attention to forging original music with the best musicians that would collaborate with him. In turn, he created his YouTube channel entitled Mike Tracy’s Man Cave where he can generate dynamic music of varied genres. It’s his home studio where he can produce and promote impressive local talent. Tracy wants to insure that these memorable artists don’t get unnoticed and unappreciated.

Mike Tracy gave AMP an exclusive interview about his life as a musician and producer.

AMP: When did you realize that you were destined to be a musician?

TRACY: I was 7 years old and remember watching my mom play the accordion and my dad playing the guitar. You always want to be like your parents growing up obviously, especially if you’re lucky enough having a good childhood upbringing. Around the age of 8, I realized I loved making noise and music was a perfect outlet for that. It seems I was always banging on something when I couldn’t ride my bmx bike in the woods catching snakes and snapping turtles.

I started messing around with all their instruments when they weren’t home after school. I loved piano the most. We had an old junker in the basement, but I was scared to go downstairs by myself to play it. So, I used to make my dog Dandy and my sister’s rabbit stay with me! Feels like yesterday.

I would play piano for hours and hours all alone. My mom finally caught on, having to call me upstairs/downstairs for dinner all the time because I was always playing something. She then signed me up for guitar lessons. I think she didn’t want to buy a new piano. Which was fine with me because I loved the guitar so much. Guitar was just so tedious to learn at first, whereas the piano is just a beautiful sounding instrument with 1 or 2 notes.

I studied reading music with a private instructor at the age of 9 wanting to play like Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen. My teacher was an amazing jazz player so he steered me to focus on reading music, learning theory, and developing my own style, At the age of 9-10, a kid’s idea of having fun is to jam with his buddies and make some noise, not sitting alone in a room site reading, but in the long run it made me who I am today.

AMP: You’ve been playing music venues in bands since you were a teenager. Which shows stick in your Head?

TRACY: Night Ranger Gig: I played an original gig at Mikars with Chappel opening for Night Ranger. That is one gig I’ll always remember. We had a fun night and I was only a kid. I remember Brad Gillis come out from the back when I was warming up at soundcheck and I thought he was coming to say what’s up, maybe talk gear. Nope, he grab the microphone from my guitar cabinet and said no guitars are coming through the house PA system and started walking away. I said how are they going to hear me and he said they are not! Confused at first but then I took it as a compliment that I was getting better as a musician. I guess if you can get a rise out of a professional musician way above your level, you must be doing something right.

Eve 6 Gig: Another fun gig was at Trinity College opening for Eve 6. The room was about packed with energy. You could feel the rush and pure energy from 3500 students and friends. It was probably the fastest 50 minutes of my life. We were only supposed to play 30 minutes but Eve 6 liked watching us so much they let us play on. Total opposite from Night Ranger. They signed a picture from all of them thanking us for getting the crowd pumped up for them. Cool guys.

Band Slam Final: Another great night was when The Degenerates played a gig at Bushnell Park in Hartford mid 2000’s. Winning Best Cover Band, I think. At the time we were full out playing a ton of original songs we wrote and they were going over really good, better than our covers. We were at our peak. My go to right hand man, Chris Leland, always pushed me to keep focusing on original music and believing in it. He has been part of all my original projects since I was 22 years old. He was in Chappel, he was in The Degenerates. He’s involved in all the new songs we’re still creating today.  I think people really enjoyed The Degenerates because we didn’t care about much or try to hard. We just had fun hanging around and partying with all our friends. We headlined the night and you could just see 8000-10,000 people having a blast, not worrying about anything, singing to every song. I still watch the videos every great once in awhile.

Bodog Gig: One I will never forget is the Finals for a Million Dollar Record deal with Bodog out of Canada at the Roxy in Boston. Out of 700 original bands entered, we made it to the top three in the final round. I was backstage getting ready to go on in front of a full house but the band that was on before us were freaking amazing, I mean scary amazing. They were similar to Linkin Park. I was blown away watching them from behind, sick to my stomach, thinking man really, I have to go on next! It shook me up so much that for our whole first song I was off my game. Nerves got the best of me. I could hardly play guitar. After the first song I somewhat settled in. That’s one I would like to have back. But getting there was so much fun, the bus trips, hanging out with friends, and just feeling alive like a kid with no responsibilities. It was just great.

AMP: You are musically well rounded. What genres of music fascinates you the most?

TRACY: That’s a great question! I would say fusion. That style of music sounds easy to play and pleasant to the non-musician’s ear, but it’s extremely hard to play or create. Jazz is also amazing stuff. Hopefully, that’s the style of music I’ll be doing when I grow up…..Ha.

AMP: What is Mike Tracy‘s Man Cave?

TRACY: It’s my recording studio that I recently upgraded. With everything that’s going on in the world, musicians are on hold with all work and no play. It’s a sad and unfortunate time for everyone. Looking for some kind of positive, I’ve started reaching out to all my favorite musicians and asking them to create with me. I figured I could promote their talent to the world in a different way. It’s easy for me to create many different styles and genres of music, but I can’t sing them all!

I would write some music and think, if I could get this singer to sing on this that would be awesome….or Fire as the kids say today!  With nothing to lose I started inquiring and targeting singers, first through the internet, thinking if I could get a couple of good tunes out maybe people would take to it. People would hear their favorite singers doing something new, fresh, and original since we are all stuck at home. This is all free and for the love of music. This has been a positive experience coming out of this pandemic. Love having all these great players and creators with free time to collaborate. I even started a collaboration project called A.T.A. (Across The Atlantic) with an amazing singer/songwriter, Butcho Vukovic from the band, Last Temptation.

It’s been so great getting to hang out, one on one, with these guys. Shooting the shit, talking about old times, new ideas and creating some great music. I started off rushing things and getting too exciting and just putting it out. Now I’m paying more attention to detail, working on videos, mixing and mastering. Granted this is on a zero budget with zero backing, no record deal, and I’m half deaf in my left ear. With all the negatives, these guys are so good they make it sound professional.

AMP: You seem to slide easily between musician and producer/collaborator. What different skill sets do you feel you bring to both?

TRACY: I started working in the Information Technology field around 1997 and with that, my computer skill set definitely helped with the recording we are doing now. I would have to say playing in original bands since the age of 10 and working together as a team to create music with so many different musicians is what makes everything work to create a successful project. You can’t have a closed mind. You have to see what the other guys are hearing in their heads also. That’s not an easy thing to do.

Communication is the key to success in everything in life. To produce is the fun part for me because I’m pretty shy and don’t really like to sing in front of people. It’s extremely personal to me. So, making  musicians comfortable when they have to record in a small space, one on one, is where I try to motivate them to do their best. Never discourage an idea and when it sounds great, get excited about it. The more excitement, the better the outcome!

AMP: As a producer, what attributes do you feel are needed to bring out the best recording possible?

TRACY: Knowledge, communication, planning,  perseverance and of course natural talent. Without those 5 attributes I don’t think any project could get accomplished. My grandfather, mother and 2 fathers would always preach to me, you get rewarded for what’s upstairs in your brain.

AMP: What’s next for Mike Tracy and the Man Cave?

TRACY: We need more females to start collaborating. Chris Leland was just in recording a bunch of vocal harmonies, adding to the new songs. We just had in our first guitar player, Jose Kulik, cranking out an amazing guitar solo on a tune soon to be released. First bass player in is David Chirco who played on a few songs also coming out soon. I used to do it all myself but with more talent wanting to get involved, the better the project comes out. Need to get drummers involved too. I currently program all the drums but that’s going to change.

It’s starting o catch on and grow as I start better learning how to record different instruments. I’m new to adding people to the mix and it’s made me a better musician. I have over 100 songs written. I would like to finish and master all of them with anyone willing to give it a try.

The project is not about me. It’s about a community of amazing people and amazing musicians that should be heard nationally!

People please subscribe to Mike Tracy’s Man Cave on YouTube. Our music community is shot to hell and needs a boost. If enough music lovers subscribe we can make a difference and start a movement. Lets show some allegiance and appreciation to the musicians who give everyone hope and joy.

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To learn more about Mike Tracy’s Man Cave, check out his Facebook page!

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