#communityovereverything Mike Hamilton
In this month's member spotlight, we introduce Mike Hamilton, a talented member of CityCentral Plano who is a skilled musician and a devoted father. Mike's passion for music shines through in everything he creates, whether it's for himself or as a studio musician, creating music for podcast theme songs, high-level executive projects, and soundtracks. Recently, he released his first track under his own name, "Every Single Word," a heartfelt song dedicated to his daughter. Join us as we delve into Mike Hamilton's musical journey and discover the inspiring stories behind his captivating melodies.
Tell us a little about your company.
I write, perform, produce, & record music (both for myself and as a studio musician), podcasts, and soundtracks.
Most recently, I released the first track under my own name after a lot of work on other people’s projects:
www.bit.ly/mhesw, written for my daughter.
What led you to start making music?
I started playing guitar when I was 12, and music has been connected to all of the most rewarding experiences in my life.
I met my wife at an open mic, and we then went on to perform and record together. All of my best friends and groomsmen were either in or one degree separated from my high school band. My dad, who bought me my first guitar, and I have attended around 100 concerts together and connect over music regularly to this day (yes, I’ve gotten a 70-year-old to check out Flume!). I connected with the hiring manager in my current role over music (his drums and my synths in the background of a Zoom interview).
Most importantly, playing guitar broke me out of a fixed mindset full of excuses in middle school and planted the seeds of a growth mindset, which I strive to cultivate in all areas of my life.
What sets your business apart from your competitors?
I treat every project as an opportunity to improve and learn something new—most recently, a new technique for recording acoustic guitar.
I’ve been blessed to produce songs as Christmas gifts, write themes for podcasts, clean up and balance interview audio EQ for C-suite and presidents of Forbes 500 companies, and of course clarify my thoughts and express myself through my own writing—all because I’m not intimidated to take on something new!
What is something you wish you’d known when you were just starting your business?
The percentage of people who end up on stage playing for thousands of raving fans is unimaginably small, and it takes much more than talent to get there—arguably far more PR, marketing, and networking than creativity. There are a ton of ways to make money in the music industry that don’t involve becoming massively famous; it took me a little while to put my ego aside and take advantage of opportunities (like cover gigs, podcast editing, etc.)
How do you navigate your work-life balance?
Music is a passion for me, and I’m lucky to share it with my wife and daughter—most recently, I released a song I wrote for my daughter!
What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Learning something new or finding the perfect way to convey a thought or emotion through sound.
If you had a friend in town and you could take them to one of your favorite restaurants or spots in your community, where would you take them?
Local Yocal in McKinney for a Tomahawk Ribeye or Hutchins BBQ for a Beef Rib... sensing a theme here.
We would like to thank Mike for being a part of our Member Spotlight series! If you are interested in being a part of this series, please email info@citycentral.com or speak to your community manager.