Renaissance Man: Mike Busbee In past issues of Shure Notes for Houses of Worship, we have interviewed music ministers and sound engineers from congregations that range from churches in temporary quarters to behemoths like Willow Creek.
				For this issue, we are honored to speak with Mike Busbee. Not only is Mike one of the worship leaders at his local church, The Junction (www.junction.org), he is a record producer of considerable note, a singer and musician, a songwriter and a mentor to many in the Christian and secular music scenes. It was hard to know where to start with Mike. We were having a tough time trying to put a label on you, Mike. How would you describe what you do? I am primarily a songwriter although I have been guilty of some of the other things you have mentioned. A love for music and love for God has lead me to being a worship music leader in my local community. I am very committed to the local church and serving there.
			How did you get started? I began playing piano at the age of seven and joined the school band at the age of nine, first on trumpet, then baritone horn and eventually tuba and baritone sax. I attended a small private elementary school that had an incredible band program run by a dear friend, Dan Vigus. He was one of the first to encourage and develop the abilities that God has given me. In high school, I joined the jazz band and switched to trombone. I got excited about jazz and eventually moved to New Jersey for a year to study it. I returned home to the Bay Area after that first year of college and eventually took a position as Interim Worship leader at the church I grew up in. I began pursuing the studio world, first as an intern at a local studio. Not long after that, I started freelancing as a producer. These days I primarily focus on writing but I still do a lot of producing. Did you always have a sense that faith would play a role in your career, or was it a sort of epiphany? My faith was instilled at a young age. but I was about nineteen when I really started to understand what it meant. Since that time, I have been learning more about who God is and who I am in his eyes. The more I learn, the more I realize that there shouldn’t be separations in life. If God is the God of my heart, than he is God whether I am leading worship or producing a rock band. That being said, I primarily feel called to the mainstream world. I have not really pursued the Christian industry, but doors have opened. You’ve had a pretty impressive career thus far. Matt Redman’s “Where Angles Fear to Tread” comes to mind. But you’ve also produced recordings for Liz Phair, co-written and produced songs that have been used in the movie “How To Deal” and various MTV programs as well as having worked with artists like Switchfoot, Smashmouth, Scapegoat Wax, Victoria Beckham and Rita Springer. Once you’re in the studio, are these experiences different? The studio tends to be quite different than the live environment. I prefer it. There is something very intriguing to me about crafting a track, whether that means hiring the right people to play a live track or programming a track and overdubbing on that. In this issue, we’re talking about miking techniques for different instruments. What’s the one most important thing for student sound engineers to know and remember? The most important thing to remember about miking is that you have to have a good sounding instrument. This doesn’t mean that it needs to be an expensive instrument. For instance, a lot of guitar players buy Telecasters just because everyone else has one and they look pretty. Sure, they’re great guitars but there’s something to be said for having an original sound. The guitar I use the most I bought used for $134 — it just sounds so good. When you play an instrument well, you can use a Shure SM57, which is about $100, and it will sound good. But if you have a bad sounding instrument and you can’t play it, a $12,000 mic isn’t going to help. Any other advice for our readers who may want to pursue just one of the trails you’ve forged? It is not easy so you are gonna have to work hard. The other thing is to focus on building relationships and living a balanced life. Don’t just sit alone all day and work on your music. Be involved with other people’s lives. And live generously. Be generous with your time and your resources, including your money! On that note, do you think it’s possible to do it all, as you have? After all, you’re proof that it can be done, right? It is possible to do it all but I wouldn’t really say that I have. There are a few things I can do well and a few that I dabble in. I do think it is important to prioritize. I focus primarily on songwriting. Most of the other things seem to flow out of that. What’s next for you? I have been busy working on my solo record (the band is called “busbee”). It has been a chore trying to finish it up but I am very excited about it. I have also been working on another band I have with a friend of mine. She is a super-talented singer and songwriter. We’ve been writing these pop/rock/dance songs that people really seem to like. How can our readers find out more about you and what you’re up to? They can visit the band’s website at: www.busbeemusic.com Shure Notes thanks Mike for his valuable time. Make sure to check his website for updates on his music and his band’s new release.
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