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Michael V. Doane recently sat down with VENTS Magazine to talk about his incredible new single “LET’S GO!” The interview can be found below.
What made you want to become a musician?
I pretty much grew up in our basement in Milwaukie, Oregon. We had the coolest basement with a 2nd kitchen, a full bar, a foosball table, and of all things – a dance floor! It was left over from the people we bought the house from but we kept it all the same and it was just so awesome! I spent my childhood down there, blasting my parents 8-track tapes of the Fifth Dimension, Carole King and The Carpenters. I sang along and kept up with them and knew then that music was in my bones.
Where do you usually find yourself getting inspiration for your songs from?
Definitely from the heart. What’s that saying that most writers live by – “write what you know”? I feel that way. And even with some of my most favorite artists, when you want to hear their best work, you always go back to their debuts because that’s when they were writing about their struggles and their true lives in general.
How do you usually overcome creative blocks when writing music?
Honestly, when I have the time to be creative, that juice is usually there. I trust my instincts so I would know right away if I should keep at it or put it down. I’m old school.
Could you tell us about “Let’s Go!”?
This is my 3rd country-leaning single in a row and I’ve always loved country music. It’s a big part of my history. My Dad was even buried in his cowboy boots! One of the first songs I ever sang for any audition was the Ronnie Milsap classic “It Was Almost Like A Song”. I think I was 15 and it was for the high school swing choir. “Let’s Go!” is a marriage of my country, rock and pop influences mixed together.
What line in “Let’s Go!” holds the most personal meaning to you?
“We’re older, but bolder, a bit thicker, but better…” because ain’t it the truth?
What was the inspiration behind the “Let’s Go!” music video?
The song and the video came to me very easily, that’s when you know your heart is truly in it. When I lost my parents many years back, only 13 days apart, it changed me. It made me look at time in a deeper way. I took care of them and they both had regrets at the end – that they had let time pass without going for whatever it was that made them tick. So “Let’s Go!” let me correct that for them a little bit.
As a director, how do you approach directing music videos, and how does it differ from your other creative roles like writing music?
I love directing. I’ve directed plays, musicals, burlesque shows, teasers for screenplays I’ve written, etc, and it’s always the same – being totally prepared is key. For “Let’s Go!” I wrote a shooting script, and then pared that down so we could be economical on shooting day(s). If the 8-ball is lined up and ready to go, you get the coverage you need and then post is gravy. I worked with Scene City Arts for the first time on LG and they were total pros and very kind.
What can we expect next from you?
Since my twins were born, I’ve been filming little videos of them playing with their stuffed animals and dolls – singing songs, doing silly skits, etc – so I’m working on creating a YouTube channel for kids. Hopefully we’ll be ready for the holiday season.
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