Helsinki
Out November 12!
HELSINKI
The new album “Helsinki” is now released!!! It’s been a 2 year process shaping this music. These songs reflect my inner and outer journeys across many phases of my life.
Helsinki captures the feeling you get when you look inside and outside, yourself. It’s facing the present, in all its complexities and nuances, and the past, with all its ever-lingering resonances, as delightful or painful as they may be. It's looking out from the different vantage points of life’s journeys, whether from the lofty heights of unshakeable self-assuredness, or the depths of irrevocable loss. It’s walking to the brink, it’s picking oneself up and starting over, it’s stepping back and having a laugh at taking it all too seriously, it’s preparing for what may be next.
Helsinki is a place along the road less traveled. It’s a place to explore laughter and lightheartedness and to linger in the feelings of longing and awe that come from life’s inevitable heart aches and delights.
New Release!
Come Find Me
This one is for the artists, the dreamers, the nature lovers, the ones who can’t be tethered, the ones who roam, the ones who seek, no matter the cost. In a culture that can be overwhelmingly conformist and rigid about how to live one's life, those that don’t conform are often a threat to those that do. It has probably always been thus. Here the wanderer reminds us that something is inside of all of us, waiting for space to be listened to, waiting to be danced with, waiting to be free from judgement.
After I wrote this I thought about Eden Ahbez, who wrote the Nat King Cole hit, “Nature Boy”. The more I learned about him, the more I thought Come Find Me could be an ode to him and his message in that famous song.
You Don’t Have To
One of my favorite song lines is Tom Waits’ “Come down off of the cross, we could use the wood.” We’ve all played the martyr at some point, no? It takes this guy a little while but he finally comes clean that maybe all his relationship troubles are not the other person’s fault. Every relationship is different, but I think there are a couple of essentials needed to make them last a long time, being able to apologize being one of them. Saying I love you doesn’t hurt either.
Mike Rufo - Songs, Music, Change
Mike Rufo's songs and poems arc across the waves of life. His music is gripping and eclectic, reflecting his impassioned engagement with the world. Mike's musical language builds upon powerful lyrics, soaring vocals, driving rhythms, and melodic riffs that explore emotional depths and transformation. He also mixes things up with a knack for the well-conceived parody, with a dash of political punch, like his popular singles Hit the Road, Trump! and Spyin' Eyes.
Mike's last album, Nothin' But Now, featured a return to his early folk roots. As noted in The Prelude Press: "The songs on Nothin' But Now weave together in deeply resonant and beautifully conveyed stories of uplift, loss, transformation, and connection."
Streets of Plenty, Mike’s initial album, captures his alt-rock-focused repertoire. Mike plays his rock songs, and those written by band-mate, David Johnson, with the Bay Area rock group No Exit.
Mike's songs have been featured on a variety of radio programs and he has played with a number of top artists, including 2016 NPR Tiny Desk Winner Gaelynn Lea, at venues throughout the country.
On November 12, 2021, Mike will release his new acoustic album, “Helsinki”.
MUSIC
Nothin’ But Now
Apple Music | Spotify | Lyrics
Streets of Plenty
Apple Music | Spotify | Lyrics
Mike Rufo Live on KPIG
You can learn more about Mike by listening to this interview with him on the great Americana program, "Please Stand By" on the famous KPIG-FM. Mike was interviewed by the wonderful Santa Cruz writer, Wallace Baine, played some new songs, and discussed his musical journey…
The Satires…
Contact/Stay in touch
I’m always working on new songs
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