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Artist
Michael Shynes
12+ albums
acousticsinger-songwriteralternativeUSA
about
While growing up in a small town in central Minnesota, music played only a small role in the life of singer/songwriter Michael Shynes. "I can't say that it was my first love, but I am honestly glad that it wasn't. I found it when I was drawn to it, and that's the best and most natural way for anything to take place." So what then, led to the musical transformation? Although I was expecting an ela...borate and lengthy response, his answer was simply, "A black garbage bag." Shynes then explains. "When we would take trips up north to visit family on weekends, I would venture around the house in search of things that my uncles had left behind. And on a trip I found this bag full of old cassette tapes. So I began throwing them in the stereo one after another. U2, Journey, The Police, Don Henley." Shynes then pauses to reflect. "And it wasn't necessarily a feeling like I had to go out that instant to buy a guitar and start writing music. It was more of a fascination with the fact that every track had the potential to alter my mood or take me to another place." In terms of his own beginnings, Shynes utilized what was available. "I started out playing piano first. It was a situation where we had an old one sitting in our house, so it was a good place to start." He began playing along with popular songs prior to learning the instrument. "I would pick up on things quickly in terms of which keys worked, and which didn't. That seemed to impress people the most, but I was more excited
