Mike Haines

Artist Information

Biography

"For Christian songwriter and musician Mike Haines, a Slinky is not just a toy; it has music in it. So does his $5 bongo that he found on the clearance rack at T.J. Maxx." -- David Jagernauth, Wilsonville Spokesman

So, at long last, Mike finally re-recorded a collection of tunes from ages past... "Write 'em Down...Again" spans the gamut from sing-along to sit back and listen, from worship to almost-irreverent silliness, from simple truths to the "tough" questions... (DID Jesus ever oversleep? Hmmm...)

Listen along through the many styles that have influenced Mike in his formative songwriting years - you'll hear a little Third Day, some Steven Curtis Chapman and Jeremy Camp...even hints of Skynyrd, Adam Sandler, and Green Day. But most of all, you'll hear Mike Haines enjoying his relationship with God - one that, as quirky as it may seem, is real and practical...and Mike really makes one think... (Would it take Jesus more than Seven Words to order coffee? Hmmm...)

Go see Mike in a live setting, and experience the comfortable interactive acoustic performances with his friend Jess, who is a master of hand percussion.

---------------- MORE about Mike ----------------

Mike Haines is a Christian Singer-Songwriter based out of Portland, Oregon. His music and lyrics have been described as comfortable, silly, worshipful, fun, with a way of connecting the message to everyday experiences.

Mike picked up guitar in the early 1990's at a summer camp, where he also learned to lead singing in worship. After graduating college with a degree in music, Mike worked in radio in Key West, Florida, where God "tricked" him into going back into worship at a church by providing him a place to play every Sunday.

Over the 15+ years in Christian ministry, Mike has volunteered with youth groups and Young Life, directed community bands, taught music to students K-8 at a Christian school, and played with numerous worship bands. He went on to tour the North West United States for a year with Captive Free, a Youth Encounter ministry band based out of St. Paul, MN. God then sent him to Portland, Oregon, where Mike was a youth group director for 6 years.

Mike currently lives in Oregon, where he is regularly leading worship and playing programs for churches, coffee houses, youth group and university events in the Portland Metro area. He writes and arranges music for the Praise Ensemble at Community of Hope in Wilsonville, Oregon.

------------------ Want MORE? ---------------------

For more full length and sample music, feel free to visit myspace.com/myfriendmikemusic, cdbaby.com/all/myfriendmike, or visit the website below.

Instrumentation

Mike Haines - Guitar/Vocals/Songwriter

Discography

2001 - "Write 'em Down"
2005 - "This Place"
2006 - "Write 'em Down...Again"

Audio

• I Want to Be
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• You are my Everything
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• Three and a Half Minutes of Mike - Samples
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Lyrics

• I Want to Be
• You Are my Everything

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• On an Inspirational Note [+ Show ]
  

  For Christian songwriter and musician Mike Haines, a Slinky is not just a toy — it has music in it. ...For Christian songwriter and musician Mike Haines, a Slinky is not just a toy — it has music in it.
  He gave a brief tutorial on the craft of Slinky playing: hold the top several coils in your hand, then move them up and down like an accordion to produce a metallic “shaluunk.”
  “It is a great percussion instrument,” he said. “It sounds real nice.”
  So does his $5 bongo that he found on the clearance rack at T.J. Maxx.
  Using these items, and more traditional ones such as a guitar, Haines began making original music for the first time. He wrote his own lyrics and melodies, played all the instruments, sang the songs and even crudely recorded them on a home audio workstation.
  Haines has always been musically inclined. In high school he played the piano, trumpet, French horn and drums, just to name a few.
  He graduated from college with a degree in music business.
  For his next crop of songs, Haines ditched the Slinky and created a more professional quality compact disc titled “Write ’Em Down.”
  The title is a subtle reference to Haines’ belief that his music ultimately comes from God.
  “I don’t really write my songs,” he said. “I just write them down.”
  After releasing his first CD, Haines set out to rerecord his original songs. His CD release party, titled “Write ’Em Down Again,” will take place at the Wilsonville Coffee Company from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, April 28.
  His songs cover a diverse range of styles. One song sounds like Green Day. Another song has a swing beat.
  “I allow the music that I have been listening to influence me,” he said. “Inspiration comes from everywhere.”
  But one thing is the same in every one of his songs — since Haines is a Christian musician, they all deal either directly or indirectly with God.
  “There is a definite message,” Haines said. “And that is that God made us, God loves us, God saves us through Jesus Christ and then we get to live under that and struggle with that, ask questions — that is what a lot of the songs are about.”
  One song on the new CD is especially meaningful for Haines. It is the song he used to propose to his wife, Kathy.
  Haines says that before he wrote the song he had a conversation with God.
  “I was kind of like, ’Well God, when the right woman comes along at the right time, I am sure the song will appear,’” he said.
  When he wrote the song “I Want To Be,” which is the fourth song on the CD, he knew that the time was right. He asked Kathy to meet him at the pub where he played for an hour every Monday night.
  “I asked her to come up and she sat on a stool and I sang her the song, got down on one knee and proposed — in front of everyone,” Haines said.
  She said yes. Now they have a young son and Haines is a full-time, stay-at-home dad.
  He is currently networking with churches and youth groups in the area that might be interested in his music and his message.
  “I am a resource in the area, if they need somebody to provide what I like to call spiritual entertainment,” Haines said.
  He says he probably has enough material to record another CD.
  He also has a book full of ideas for children songs that he may or not get around to finishing.
  Whatever happens, Haines will continue to use his music as a way to spread a Christian message.
  “Music is a powerful, powerful thing. When God made music, he knew what he was doing,” Haines said.
  For more information about Mike Haines and his music, go to www.myfriendmike.com.

Setlist

A set list can be provided, but it varies show by show, event by event.

Usually, Mike will do 1 to 3 sets of 60 minutes (which usually turns into two 90 minute sets cuz he and the crowd just keep goin' and nobody wants to stop).

Depending on the setting, Mike may mix in some other great contemporary worship music. "Hey, even if I wasn't the first one to write it down, that doesn't mean I won't play it!" As a new artist to most people, Mike feels that sometimes people need a break from learning and/or listening to something new. And there is some amazing worship music out there, so feel free to make your requests known.

Basic Requirements

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