artist Mike Trask and Mudhill

The best way to explain Mike Trask is to explain how he landed here, recording and releasing "Jamboree". Mike had early success locally with mainstream radio play throughout the Maritimes in 2008. At the young age of 24 he recorded his second full length studio record "Boots For Flying", from which he had 3 singles in regular rotation from Ontario to NFLD. He reached number one in Halifax, and ranked in the top 100 on charts across Canada. From there Mike found himself in Crowley, Louisiana where he managed to record 3 full length records in 2 weeks. By the age of 26 Mike had written and recorded 5 full length studio records. However, looking back throughout all of these recordings, he was beginning to feel as if there wasn't one CD that was truly representing him as an artist. He then decided to take a hiatus from the industry, until he found his direction. Throughout his years in the industry he had met many people who, he felt, were doing things he'd like to try. Ruth Minniken was making her own album sleeves by hand, Garrett Mason was recording to tape and other artists were amplifying their tapping feet as percussion. These rootsy down to earth approaches were things Mike identified with, things that really spoke to him with a voice that he felt came from the heart and origins of music. Musically, Mike's roots come from Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, John Prine, Neil Young as well as his later influnces of "Old School Blues", Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed, John Lee Hooker and many others. So with "Jamboree" Mike set out to solve a few problems . . . Ridding himself of over produced, over priced, over polished, and computer perfected projects. He also wanted to get back to his roots and capture a recording that represented him as an artist. His humble beginnings as a fishermans son taught him the value of hard labour and the importance of putting time and devotion into your work. He set out working heavily on his guitar playing, writing and singing in the years to follow. Mike was also influenced by some of the great musicians he had been hanging around the past years. People such as long time friend and mentor Jim Henman, who co-wrote many songs on the project, as well as the artist who would come to be the producer on "Jamboree", Garrett Mason. Mikes decision to ask Garrett to come on board came naturally since Garrett was one of the artists who inspired this stripped down, low-fi approach. The album was recorded on a 1958 Phillips reel to reel and Mike designed and assembled the album sleeves by hand. Some early copies have been sold and so far the response to the sound and the packaging has been overwhelming. After a very successful release tour in November Mike is planning to head back out on the road with Jamboree again soon!