7 questions with Mike Block

1. Where did you grow up?

Overland Park, Ks

2. What made you realize that music was your path?

My path with music took a few turns. Although I majored in Classical cello performance in college, it wasn’t until I started composing/improvising and singing my own songs that I really started to feel like I was on the right path.

3. How would you describe the music that you create?

I enjoy making music the most when it is built around the individual personalities involved, and not something that could be played by “any” cello player, or “any” fiddler, etc.  Cross-cultural collaborations often require a deep investment from each musician in order to “meet in the middle”. When choosing collaborators for my albums, I try to dream up musical possibilities that don’t seem possible with anyone other than the specific people I end up working with. 

4. Who are your biggest musical influences?

Yo-Yo Ma, David Byrne, Darol Anger, Rushad Eggleston

5. What makes your music unique?

Despite investing a lot of time in the communities of various non-classical styles and cultures, my background as a cellist has instilled in me a strong appreciation for composition and arrangement, so I often find my music straddling different worlds.  Classical musicians/audiences may hear my music and think “how spontaneous!”, or “how free!”, while at the same time Folk musicians/audiences may hear the same piece and think about how complicated/structured my arrangement is for a tune that is may often played spontaneously in a jam session.

6. What made you want to eventually write your own music?

I always wanted to feel 100% personally invested in the music I perform, and writing one’s own music helps me achieve that level of engagement, which I think helps me communicate even better with an audience.

7. What’s the next thing for you?

Currently booking my annual house concert tour of Frank Lloyd Wright designed properties for May, 2020 - I’m excited to return to Taliesin and the Bradley House, as well as adding new places like Fallingwater and the Martin House.