Mike Holden
Level
© 2005 Mike Holden (837101065535)
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"a forthright songwriter with an ear for rootsy melody" -The Washington Post
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About Mike Holden
Mike Holden burst onto the scene in 2002 with his debut CD, Exhibit A, generating press from publications such as The Village Voice, Time Out New York and The Washington Post. For his newest release, a four-song E.P. entitled Level, Holden worked with producer Ted Comerford (Virginia Coalition) and Mitch Easter (R.E.M., Wilco, Suzanne Vega), who mixed the album and played on all four tracks. "I was proud of my first disc," says Holden, "but I'm excited to get this new one out for people to hear because I feel like I've matured as a performer since recording my first CD."
That maturation has come at a rapid pace. Born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, Holden did not get his first guitar until around the time he graduated from college, but then spent several years living in Arlington, Virginia--located just across the Potomac River from the Nation's Capitol--where he quickly made a name for himself in the Washington area scene, as both a musician and a strong supporter of music in the region.
"I basically played every day, hit every open mic I could and, from the beginning, I was very focused on writing my own songs," explains Holden. That songwriting and time spent on the open mic circuit eventually led to regular gigs, at clubs and colleges throughout the East Coast, and even shows in Northern Ireland in 2003.
All that work also led to recognition. Holden and his Exhibit A CD were nominated for five Wammies--including Debut Recording, Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year--by the members of the Washington Area Music Association (WAMA). He has since been nominated for multiple additional Wammies, including Most Supportive of Washington Music, and, in early 2004, was named to the WAMA Board Of Directors.
In 2004, Holden's song "Deep Water" was selected to appear on the CD Best of Local Music: Washington, D.C., which was put out by Potbelly Sandwich Works and Washington-area radio station 99.1 WHFS to raise money for MusicFriends, a music education-related charity. Holden has also consistently donated his time and talents to various other charities, playing benefits for organizations such as Save The Bay, Race For The Cure and other causes.
Outside of his own music, Holden has served as Music Editor for On Tap magazine, worked and volunteered with WAMA, hosted open mics throughout the Washington area, founded the Washington area's Six Points Music Festival and started the website MetroMusicScene.com, which is currently functioning as a blog and Yahoo Group that has grown to over 1,200 members since being launched by Holden in early 2001.
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- author: Jake Randall
Mike Holden brings the music into your heart with this effort. This DC Guy plays it off the cuff with vibrant sounds rarely heard in the music industry today. His live sound is just as good, but for those of you who can't catch him in the DC area, Catch Mike Here....You will not regret hearing this effort by a great talented artist.
Excellent EP
author: MichelleAs is the case will all good EPs, Level leaves me wanting to hear more. "Help Me Sleep," to me, is the stand-out track. The melody--especially on the chorus--is so moving. All around great lyrics, singing, instrumentation and production.