Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Bostinto.
Michael, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I had decided to pursue music since I could conceive a thought. When I was five years old, I would set up pillows, pots, and pans as my drum set and paper plates as my cymbals and play them with wooden spoons. At the age of 13, I started writing songs and started my first band Très Bien.
We toured, released six albums, and even placed 6th on a FOX band competition “The Next Great American Band”, eventually grabbing the attention of Island/Def Jam Records. After being in their artist development for a year program, we were eventually disbanded from the label due to the changing landscape of “digital downloading, and pirating/ lack of physical album sales”. Très Bien eventually broke up in 2010 and I (Michael Bostinto/Rollingchild) made a move to Southern California, where I used my talents in cultivating cannabis to build a business and celebrity clientele.
In my eight years in California, I managed to start a cannabis company and marry my childhood sweetheart. I was living the dream. Eventually, I stopped writing songs, then the legalization of cannabis turned the company on its head. I fell into a deep depression that affected every relationship in my life. Especially that of my childhood sweetheart, whom I married. After many years our marriage sadly fell apart, and I was lost. I got invited by Randy Michael and Wesley Flowers to come to Atlanta and record my first solo album, so I did. Wesley and I hopped in my car with his dog and every piece of musical equipment I had, and we headed across the US from LA to ATL. When we arrived I was excited, hurt, inspired, sad, motivated, beat up, burnt out, and everything else. This album “Post Party Depression” is really the last two years of my life in a nutshell. This album is very much an “open book” and the lyrics are literal.
What else should we know?
The album was recorded at Toco Electric Studios in a home in Druid Hills between December 18′ to March 19′. My original intention when coming to do the record, was to play every instrument on the album that I could. But InCrowd Recordings has a group of incredibly talented musicians and Randy quickly convinced me trust in his “wrecking crew” to record the album with me. Im glad I listened. The sonic soundscape they painted elevated the vibe, the mood, the magic, and really took the record to a higher echelon. This album is by far the most honest, vulnerable, important thing I’ve done musically and i’m proud of it.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
It is! I love Atlanta! I’ve been introduced to some of the warmest, welcoming, beautiful, humble, and talented humans I’ve ever met. Atlanta has this incredible jazz scene and the musicians in this town are out of this world talented…AND humble! Also, Atlanta just has this swag to it that you don’t find a lot of places.
I’ve got a show coming up!
November 7 – Rollingchild Album Release Show @529
Pricing:
- LIMITED EDITION Mustard Yellow Vinyl LP $25
- Post Party Depression Vinyl LP $20
- Post Party Depression CD $10
- Post Party Depression Cassette $8
Contact Info:
- Website: rollingchild.net / incrowdrecordings.com
- Email: mrollingchild@gmail.com
- Instagram: @rollingchild
Image Credit:
PHOTOS by: Kara Hammond
Photo with Bass guitar: Larry Niehues
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