Singer-songwriter Mike Maimone lately launched a brand new single entitled “On My Means”, which serves as the primary single from his upcoming album Guess What? I Love You. The music is a deeply private tribute to his late husband, famend PR guru Howard Bragman. The origin of the music was a voicemail Mike left for Howard throughout their long-distance romance. After his husband’s passing, Mike reworked the heartfelt message right into a full music, including a verse, a bridge, and layers of stomps, claps, and snaps.
“We had been at all times hopping planes to see one another,” Maimone recollects. “Simply earlier than one journey, I referred to as him with guitar in hand and sang this little ditty that was working by my head about how excited I used to be to see him. He didn’t choose up, so I left it as a voicemail. He instructed me it was enjoyable and catchy and inspired me to show it right into a full music.”
The Ohio-born artist, who as soon as performed basketball towards LeBron James, transitioned from a enterprise college graduate and accountant to a full-time musician. His uncooked, emotive songwriting and electrifying performances have drawn comparisons to Randy Newman, Leon Russell, Tom Waits, and Warren Zevon. He has toured with Blues Traveler and the Plain White T’s and performed festivals, together with Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, and Summer time Camp.
Mike’s upcoming LP, Guess What? I Love You is a deeply private tribute to Howard, chronicling their love story and his personal journey by grief, love, and therapeutic. The day after their wedding ceremony, he held his husband as he handed away. Over the subsequent two years, he poured his feelings into Guess What? I Love You. Reflecting on the album’s construction, he explains, “Aspect A is about discovering love, and Aspect B explores loss. I knew this album can be tough for anybody who has skilled the trauma of shedding a liked one earlier than their time. However I didn’t wish to depart the listener in darkness—I needed to discover a means out.”
We had an opportunity to meet up with Mike to debate the brand new single, his musical influences, and way more in our unique interview. We obtained to know him even higher as he answered the Socialite Seven.
How did you get your begin in music?
My mother compelled me to take piano classes once I was 5. I resisted till I began to get fairly good in center college, and my instructor let me begin enjoying pop songs. He was a 6’7” Hungarian man who made a grand piano appear like a harmonica and sound like a rocket taking off. I needed to be like that.
Who’re your influences?
Fiona Apple, St. Vincent, Dr. Enamel & the Electrical Mayhem, Nina Simone, Dethklok, Sarah Vaughan, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Beyoncé
How would you describe your sound?
Like a rocket taking off.
What can listeners anticipate to listen to out of your album, Guess What? I Love You.?
It’s an emotional curler coaster. We’ll chortle, we’ll cry, we’ll hug our family members a bit bit tighter.
Do you’ve got a favourite music that you just’ve recorded (apart from “On My Means”)?
I’ve hardly ever laughed out loud whereas writing or producing a music, however “Paranoid in Paradise” gave me the giggles on a number of events.
You’ve carried out with a number of artists and on many competition phases. What do you get pleasure from about performing reside?
The sharing of power between performer and viewers is a excessive in contrast to the rest.
What are you hoping folks will take away out of your music?
From this report specifically, I hope folks can be eager about studying extra about my late husband, Howard Bragman. He was really exceptional, and though his work was behind the scenes as a publicist, he belongs within the combine once we speak about standing on the shoulders of giants as our group continues to struggle for our very proper to exist. And in a broader sense, by sharing our tragic however lovely love story, I hope listeners can be moved to like boldly and cherish each second we’ve got collectively.
What’s subsequent for you?
Whereas writing and producing this album, I wrote a companion memoir. It was such a brutal however mandatory catharsis for me. I’ve at all times loved writing however was stunned by the optimistic response from creator and editor mates of mine. I’m very happy with it and hope that it’ll come out in 2026.
Mike Maimone Solutions the Socialite Seven
What’s your greatest pet peeve?
When folks chew with their mouths open
What’s your most cherished possession?
My medically outsized coronary heart
Who would you wish to play you within the film of your life?
Tom Hanks
What superpower or expertise would you prefer to get up with tomorrow?
Teleportation. With a +1.
What are three issues you’ll be able to’t reside with out?
Lovemaking, Music, Espresso
What’s your thought of good happiness?
Making love whereas listening to good music.
What’s one of the best piece of recommendation you’ve been given?
The issues that make me completely different are the issues that make me me!
Take heed to “On My Means” right here and sustain with Mike and his music right here!
