Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Sodnik.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My name is Michael Sodnik- I’m a musician, singer-songwriter, producer, and live performer. Music is definitely my main way of creating, but I’ve never liked putting myself in a box. I’m drawn to other mediums too- photography, videography, acting, and whatever else feels right in the moment. It’s all part of the same creative thread for me.
My journey started pretty early on. Growing up, I remember my dad constantly singing around the house- his voice was big, full, and dynamic, almost operatic. Looking back, that had to be one of the first sparks. From there, I got involved in choir and eventually joined the school orchestra, where I played violin. I worked my way up to first chair, though honestly, I always felt like I wasn’t that great at it. I definitely knew how to make a bow screech. Still, it taught me a lot- especially about dynamics and what it means to play as part of a group. It was fun, which mattered most.
At some point, my intuition pushed me toward guitar, and that’s when songwriting really started to take shape. I remember hearing Blood on the Tracks by Bob Dylan and feeling like a door opened. It hit me that writing my own songs was actually possible- and that freedom was exciting in a way I hadn’t felt before.
Eventually, I got my hands on an audio interface and started building a home studio. It’s gone through a lot of versions over the years, changing as I’ve moved or as my needs have shifted. More than anything, it became a kind of safe space to create, which I think is essential as an artist. It also opened the door to collaboration, which has become a huge part of what I do. I’m lucky to work with a lot of dear friends and new connections, helping bring their music to life to the best of my abilities while continuing to grow through those shared creative experiences.
Outside of music, I also work as a flower delivery driver and help with wedding tear downs. In a way, it pairs really naturally with the creative world I exist in. There’s something about being around flowers- their beauty, their impermanence- that sticks with me. They’re not meant to last, and there’s a quiet lesson in that about being present and appreciating things while they’re here. As someone who’s dealt with anxiety for as long as I can remember, that perspective has helped me find a deeper sense of calm and stay grounded in the moment.
At the end of the day, I’m just simply vibing and trying to make sense of the world through music and other mediums alike.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Fortunately, my journey hasn’t been marked by any major obstacles, but it hasn’t been entirely smooth either. One of the biggest challenges has been moving frequently throughout my life, which has made it difficult to put down roots and feel fully grounded. That sense of constant transition has, at times, impacted my ability to see projects through to completion.
I also tend to have a perfectionist mindset when it comes to creating and capturing a vision. While that attention to detail can be a strength, it can also slow me down or make it difficult to let go and move forward. Learning to balance that has been an important part of my growth.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I started recording my own original music in 2013, shortly after enrolling in the music program at Milwaukee Area Technical College- honestly, I didn’t even know they had a music program when I signed up. It was tucked away in the basement, right next to the automotive department, so walking to class meant hearing cars getting worked on through the walls. It was a little surreal, but kind of perfect in its own way.
Going there ended up changing my whole life. I met some of my closest friends and collaborators, and during my time in the program I released three full-length albums while playing a ton of shows around the Milwaukee area. Summerfest and Tuner Hall Ballroom being a few highlights. I even had a regular gig in a mall food court (shoutout Mayfair Mall). Toward the end of school, I released a few more singles that I’m very proud of.
Majoring in both music performance and audio production helped me dial in my skills as both a musician and an engineer. These days, you kind of have to be self-sufficient across a lot of different areas in music, and a technical college was perfect for that- super hands-on, no nonsense.
At this point, my work sits at the intersection of songwriting, performance, and production- both in my own projects and through collaboration. Guitar and voice are my primary vessels for ideas, and I’ve always been drawn to building songs from the ground up in that way.
A lot of my approach comes from learning and staying consistent over time. That hands-on experience has shaped how I move through different roles in a session or project, whether that’s tracking, arranging, or helping shape the overall direction of a song.
After graduating college, I spent a stretch of time in NYC before eventually settling in Minneapolis. These days, I’m available for both in-person and remote session work, tracking and arranging vocals, keys, guitars, and more. I’m also developing a collection of original material and currently booking both solo and full-band shows around the Twin Cities.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t know if I necessarily believe in “luck” when it comes to music or art. I tend to think everything happens for a reason. There’s definitely a right-place, right-time element in the creative world, but I also believe you have to put what you want out into the universe. More often than not, it finds its way back to you.
A lot of my best opportunities have come from seeking things out in pretty ordinary places. I’ve met many of my lifelong collaborators that way too- through late-night conversations, hanging out after music classes, or just mutual friends connecting the dots. That’s where some of the most meaningful experiences seem to happen, at least in my life. Taking that initiative has truly shaped my creative work.
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