Mike Williams

Mike Williams is a seasoned musician and songwriter based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Drawing inspiration from iconic acts like the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Klaatu, and the timeless sound of classic Chicago blues, he has been crafting original music since the late 1970s.

During the 1980s, Mike actively pitched his songs, seeking a recording or publishing deal in the industry. By the 1990s, however, he grew disillusioned with the increasingly formulaic demands of major labels. Turning inward, he and his brother began writing and recording their original material in a dedicated 4-track home studio, building a rich catalog of unreleased work.

Today, Mike continues to share his music through projects like the Yesteryear Project, which revives and re-records gems from his earlier years.

For a deeper look into his journey, check out this engaging interview: From Tom Dooley to Yesteryear: A Lifetime in Music - Q&A with Mike Williams: https://tinyurl.com/3xjw44ux

In late 2011, Mike decided to write, record and produce his debut album Leaving Dystopia which was released in February 2013 and remastered in December 2022. Leaving Dystopia continues to be widely listened to across the world.

In 2018, Mike released his follow-up album, Hollow Moon which contains 8 original songs. Hollow Moon was remixed and remastered in November 2023.

In May 2023, Mike released his third album No More Gods, consisting of 10 original tracks.

In December 2023, Mike released two compilation albums: A Decade of Rockers and A Decade of Blues and Ballads. The collections span ten years of his original music from 2013 to 2023. Both albums can be purchased on Bandcamp: https://mikewilliams2.bandcamp.com/

In December 2023, Mike released two compilation albums: A Decade of Rockers and A Decade of Blues and Ballads. The collections span ten years of his original music from 2013 to 2023. Both albums can be purchased on Bandcamp.

In December 2025, Mike released Love Roller Coaster, an 8-song collection that dives into the ups and downs of relationships. The highs, heart-pounding twists, emotional drops, and unexpected turns that define love, connection and sometimes breakup. Curated from Mike's previously released catalog, it includes standout tracks like his top-streamed song of 2025, "Wrecking Ball". The digital version is available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp (high-quality downloads and streaming). The vinyl edition (8 tracks) is currently available and can be ordered from Elasticstage (ships from the UK) - https://tinyurl.com/2zax94hc

Mike completed recording all tracks for Yesteryear in February 2026, wrapping up an ambitious 22-month project. The Yesteryear Project revives previously unreleased original songs and demos written between 1979 and 1992 - archival material originally captured on 4-track and 8-track machines, reel-to-reel tape, and cassette. These songs have been faithfully revisited and re-recorded in full 24-track detail, reimagining them with a fresh perspective while preserving their original melodies, spirit, and essence. The album features a core of 10 songs, plus Mike's new 2026 composition "Mr. Charles" as a special bonus eleventh track. The digital version (11 tracks) is now available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp. The vinyl edition (also 11 tracks) is also available can be ordered from Elasticstage (ships from the UK) - https://tinyurl.com/2h9976jz

Mike plans to release another 10-song album sourced from 17 unreleased demos written by his late stepdaughter. The initiative is expected to take a year to complete with a target date of March 2027, and will be dedicated to her memory and talent. Kate, you are loved and missed.

Since February 2013, when Mike released Leaving Dystopia, his catalog of songs has been streamed 8.8 million times on major streaming sites as well as receiving 530,000 listens on Soundcloud and 91,000 plays on Reverbnation.

For a deeper look into Mike's musical journey, check out this engaging interview: From Tom Dooley to Yesteryear: A Lifetime in Music - Q&A with Mike Williams: https://tinyurl.com/3xjw44ux

Mike's unique style and fusion of influences shine through in his refreshing and relevant collection of songs, which he hopes will help awaken your inner spirit. Enjoy!

I started messing around with guitar as a kid after my dad bought an acoustic and learned “Tom Dooley in a course that lit the spark for me and my brother. By 15 I was hooked, mostly self-taught, learning by playing every Beatles record I could get my hands on (you know right away when you nail those parts!). I began writing originals around 18, formed a band with my brother and our friend Jeff, and we cut our first demos in 1979 on reel-to-reel and 8-track at pro studios in New York. We pitched songs hard through the ’80s, but by the ’90s I got tired of the major-label formula, so my brother and I switched to a 4-track home studio and just made music for the joy of it. Life got busy, family, work. I stepped away from writing from the mid-’90s until 2011. That year I decided it was now or never, bought a Tascam 2488neo, and released my debut Leaving Dystopia in 2013. Since then I’ve put out six more albums (including the brand-new Yesteryear in February 2026, which re-records 10 of my favorite unreleased songs from 19791992 plus a brand-new track). Over 8.8 million streams later, I’m still right here in Raleigh, NC, doing it all myself exactly the way I always wanted.

We never played proper live gigs. Our band was always more like the Beatles or Steely Danwe wanted to focus on writing and recording, not the road. We rehearsed constantly (home, a girlfriend’s parents’ house, even a free martial-arts studio on Long Island where people would sometimes gather outside and listen), and we did a couple of publisher meetings and an RCA lunch, but nothing ever turned into a stage show. My favorite memories are still the studio ones: sitting in the control room at Workshoppe or Multisound in New York, hearing big-name tracks queued up right before we rolled tape. Those moments made me fall in love with the process even more.

The Beatles were my guitar teachers; everything started there. I also draw heavily from Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Klaatu (especially the psychedelic vibe on my very first recorded song “Vacation In Your Mind"), and classic Chicago blues. I try to blend all of that into something that feels fresh but still has heart. My goal has always been simple: write songs that awaken your inner spirit.

I record everything on my trusty Tascam 2488neo 24-track digital Portastudio (still my main machine after all these years). My go-to guitars for tracking are my Heritage H-150, my 2007 Stratocaster, my 2017 Guild Bluesbird, and my Guild D-240E acoustic. Basses are a Hofner Beatle Bass and a Squier Jazz Bass. Piano is a Yamaha P-155, keyboard is a Casio CT-X3000, and drums come from an Alesis SR-18 and Zoom RT-223. I play all the instruments myself on almost every track. I still love the 2488neo so much I kept it even after picking up the newer DP-24SD and DP-32SD models.

I’m currently working on a very special 10-song tribute album built from the 17 unreleased demos my late stepdaughter Kate left behind. It’s dedicated to her memory and talent. The target release March 2027. Kate, you are loved and missed every single day.

Everything is on Bandcamp (digital + vinyl), and you can also find me on my site laboroflovemusic.com or check out the full interview “From Tom Dooley to Yesteryear: A Lifetime in Music if you want the longer story. Thanks for listening. I hope the songs hit you right in the feels!