5 Songs I Love w/ Mike DeSorda

We were delighted to sit down with Mike DeSorda, artist and label owner at Granite Mountain Records, who releases his new single 'Bygones My Dove' with M. Cooke last week. Find out more below about what inspires his unique sound and follow him on his journey!

I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles)

When “I Want to Hold Your Hand” hit the radio, I was about nine years old. Though I

was a bit young to grasp empirically its impact on the music scene, I certainly had a

childhood sense that some big musical was happening. That catchy melody had all the

kids singing it night and day and wondering what was up with this band with the funny

name. We couldn’t figure out we’re they named after the bug or the little German car so

popular at the time. This was the first song that hooked me and opened the door to a

lifelong love of music and now songwriting.

The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)

In the late 1960s, when I was in middle school, “The Sound of Silence” by Simon &;

Garfunkel was released. It really marked a turning point in how I experienced music. Its

haunting melody and thoughtful lyrics introduced me to the power of storytelling and

mood in songs. The way it melded mood and story to evoke deep emotions was the first

time I realized that music could be more than just catchy beats; it could have a serious

message.

So Far Away (Carole King)

In the early 70s I was in high school when Carole King’s Tapestry was released and I

loved every single song on that great album but later “So Far Away” spoke to me

personally. Right after high school a friend and I spent a few months traveling the

country in my father’s VW van. I had to say a temporary goodbye to my girlfriend who I

was deeply in loved with. While staying in Chicago with my friend’s family, we hung out

in the basement with records and a record player, and they happened to have Tapestry

there. I played “So Far Away” over and over thinking about my girlfriend back in Los

Angeles and that song had me teary-eyed the whole time thinking of her “so far away”. I

think this was the first time a song spoke to me so personally.

Hotel California (Eagles)

In the mid-70s I was in the army and stationed overseas when “Hotel California” hit big.

First, it had an emotional impact on me since home was California, but also, I think it

was the first time that I grasped the concept, beauty and mystique of the metaphor in

lyrics. It took my music sensibility to another level. Now that I am my own songwriter,

I have made metaphorical songwriting my own and I credit “Hotel California” to waking

me up to this advanced songwriting skill.

Piano Man (Billy Joel)

In the late 70s, Billy Joel’s “Piano Man” was playing everywhere. And besides the great

melody and that perfect 3/4 time, I was blown away by how vivid he painted each

character in the song. I think it was the first time I realized the fun of getting to know,

not just metaphorically, but personally the protagonists in songs. I think it taught me

that you can merge a great story with great characters for that extra fullness in a song.

I’m sure this song influences character development in my own songs to this day.

Bygones My Dove - Mike DeSorda & M. Cooke