A Set of Keys

Introducing Mike Butler.

This young Toronto-based country singer/songwriter is sure making all the right moves in launching his career. For his first ever recording experience, he went into state-of-the-art Toronto facility Noble Street Studios with Juno-nominated producer/keyboardist Doug Romanow (Michael Pickett, Chantal Kreviazuk) and an all-star cast of players. That grouping included Mark Inneo (The Tenors), John Dymond (Blackie and The Rodeo Kings), Kevin Fox (Sarah McLachlan), Justin Ostrander (Amy Grant, Terri Clark), and legendary American multi-instrumentalist Dan Dugmore (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt).

Butler came in armed with a clutch of high-calibre songs - some solo compositions, others written with top tunesmiths from Toronto and Nashville. Together, they crafted this stunningly accomplished self-titled debut EP, one that announces the arrival of a vibrant new talent.

This is contemporary country music full of heart, soul, high energy, and an upbeat sense of humour. The album kicks off with the rousing party anthem "There Goes The Weekend," a co-write by Mike and veteran Canadian hit writer Tim Taylor, and closes out with the cheekily suggestive "If You've Got Nothing On," a joint composition by Butler, Romanow and Debra Alexander. There is no filler in between, just a set of songs showcasing Mike Butler's range both as a convincing storyteller and as a vocalist with a relaxed and authentic approach.

In time-honored fashion, Mike got his musical start in high school rock bands. "It was more about getting together to play guitars and talk to chicks," he recalls with a laugh. It was while he was at university in Kingston that Butler became more immersed in country music. "I realized music didn't have to be serious all the time. Country has a sense of fun, it’s party music, but it lets you express your full personality. You can tell a serious story about losing a loved one, then your next song can be about kicking loose on a Saturday night."

Butler has a natural and unforced singing and writing style. While mentioning he's a real fan of current artists like Brad Paisley, Eric Church and Dean Brody, Mike stresses that "when I sit down to write, I never think I should make it sound like them. That'd be faking it. It‘s the same when it comes to singing. This is how I talk, this is how I sing."

It is the clarity of country music songwriting that appeals to Butler. "One of the reasons I got into country is you listen to it and the first time in, you know what they're saying. It's a genre where you like the artists 'cos you feel they’re just chatting away with you."

So it's time to invite Mike Butler in for a musical chat. It's an experience you're sure to enjoy.