..Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Mike McGraner has been involved in music since the age of 15. He not only writes music, but also shoots & directs music videos. He has worked with major acts such as Pete Yorn, James Blunt, Blue October, Grandaddy, and Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum), as well as many independent artists.
It all started in the Spring of 2000. Mike had been in a band in high school, but was ready to take things in a more serious direction. He wrote a song with a friend he met in junior high. The song was entitled, "Closure" and was written as Mike's relationship with his girlfriend was on hiatus and slowly dissolving. The words in the song were meant to act as a final declaration to bring "closure" to the situation.
The song was recorded in the Spring of 2000 and given to the girl in question. Ultimately, it didn't save their relationship and Mike was rejected. But the rejection just added more fuel to the fire as Mike pressed on and wrote enough songs to gain the interest of a small indie label called Palba Records.
"Inconspicuous Dream" was recorded in the summer of 2001 and released through Palba Records and Mike's own EarlyRose Productions on December 18 of that same year. "Closure" was remixed and added as the final track on the album. The first single, "Mellow" was widely praised among college radio stations across the country. The second single, "When I'm Gone", which most people now prefer over "Mellow" didn't attract nearly the same attention at the time and "Inconspicuous Dream" was dead in the water by the end of 2003. Shortly thereafter, the band dissolved.
Mike put down the pen for a while and left home to document Pete Yorn's "Day I Forgot" Tour in the summer of 2003. On the tour, Mike learned quite a bit about the business as well as talking with several actors and musicians that have since kept in contact. It was a fun, learning experience.
After returning from the tour, Mike picked up the video camera and started taping for as many local and regional acts as he could until finally directing a film of his own entitled, "The Funny Man" which wrapped last year. The film is Mike's take on what the life of a celebrity must be like off the stage, and features many songs from bands Mike has taped for in the past as well as a song by Grandaddy, whom Mike had met on the tour. The film is being edited now and is slated for a Summer 2007 release.
Mike has since shot many shows of Pete opening for bands such as R.E.M. and Foo Fighters. On December 15th, 2006, Mike directed his first concert film of Pete's performance in Columbus, Mike's home town. Mike has been working on editing the film and is near completion.
In January, 2007, Mike received an e-mail from his distribution company stating that "Inconspicuous Dream" was selling quite well on the digital market. When asked if he was working on anything new, he responded with simply a "yes." Mike was then offered a podcast on iTunes to document the making of a new album.
On February 11, 2007 "The Mike McGraner Podcast" premiered on iTunes. It is a weekly series made up of either audio or video blogs featuring special guests and a documented look into the making of various film and music projects that Mike is involved in.
On February 14, 2007 an exclusive limited edition MySpace EP was released entitled, "My Still Valentine." The EP is made up of four "remixed" tracks from "Inconspicuous Dream" and is the first of two releases that will be out this year.
The second release is entitled, "Lovers Fade Away" and will be the first full-length release since "Inconspicuous Dream." Mike wrote all the music and lyrics this time around and will also be singing and playing some guitar. The album promises to be a bit more radio-friendly, as well as a bit more rocking.
"Lovers Fade Away" will hit stores and digital markets in the Fall of 2007, this time with a full distribution deal. The album will be preceded with a digital-only single in the Summer.
Keep up with the making of the album by subscribing for FREE to "The Mike McGraner Podcast" available on the iTunes Music Store, where you can also pick up the debut release, "Inconspicuous Dream" for only $9.99.
