Music Q&A with Borrowed Sparks
Photo courtesy of Borrowed Sparks
Throw punk, 90s rock, and Americana into a blender, and you’ll end up getting Borrowed Sparks, an artist straight out of Nashville. Borrowed Sparks just released a single earlier this month titled “Are You Listening”, which is off an upcoming live EP. In this Q&A, the person behind it all, Mike, talks about the single, his favorite thing about making music, and more!
Congratulations on the release of “Are You Listening”! What does the song mean to you?
Thanks! "Are You Listening" is a special one to me. I wrote it about my friend Nick and I and how we spent a few summers growing up. Chasing everything searching for answers the way you do when you're young. I think it's one of the songs I think people have connected to the most. Which is funny because I wasn't planning to put it on the record until I played it for a friend who persuaded me to record it.
“Are You Listening” is off the upcoming live EP, The Smoakstack Sessions. How did Covid affect the creative process and making of the album?
Well, it's def made it a longer process than I thought it would be. I'd planned on doing a live session last Summer in 2020. But even after the lockdowns were released and we could all be in a room together, the tone just wasn't right. I wanted to make a record that was about the band being raw and spontaneous in the room together. Masks, distancing and just the general uncertainty of the time wasn't conducive to creating that kind of vibe. So I decided to wait until we could safely do it the way I envisioned.
What is your earliest musical memory?
I was probably 3-4 dancing in my family's living room while my dad played records. He had a big record collection. Lots of stuff I still listen to regularly today like The Eagles, Steely Dan, Bob Seeger, Fleetwood Mac. I remember being really freaked out by Hotel California. haha. The line, "They stabbed it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast" used to give me chills. Maybe that should have been an early sign that I was drawn to lyrics/music. haha
Who has been your favorite artist or band to see live?
I like just about anything these days. Probably my favorite show in the past few years was Gang of Youths. It was 2019 I think but that show still sticks with me as such a great immersive experience.
What is one artist or band that you haven’t seen in concert, that you hope to see someday?
So many. I just missed the Stones, which I'm kicking myself for. Elton John, The Killers. Also smaller artists like Jeffery Martin, Noah Gundersen. Those are probably my favorite kind of shows. The small intimate shows where no one wants to even breathe too hard because we're all listening so intently.
What is your favorite thing about making music?
Definitely the connection it can build with people. Most of my closest friendships were born from mutual love of a band, artist or record. But also for me it's a really healthy way to process life and work through stuff.
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
For me it's often music. Those days are a large reason why I started writing in the first place. It gives me space to process and reflect. Sometimes it helps to put on a sad or downer record and just commiserate haha. Or something nostalgic that brings me back another time. Something else that's been a real game changer for me is discovering exercise and how much it can affect my mood. I'm not talking about heaving heavy weights around a gym or trying to get jacked. Even just going on a walk or a short run gets me out of my head or at least changes the scenery for a bit. It doesn't fix what I'm feeling like I'm investing into myself and bettering myself even for 20-30 mins a day has really helped me force a positive thought and action into those rough days.
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
Thanks for the support! Take care of each other, take care of yourself.