The Little Things: 
 AV talks with Michele McLaughlin

 

Michele McLaughlin

Websites:

Michele's Website

Bandcamp

YouTube

Facebook




The Little Things
(solo piano)
by Michele McLaughlin

 

Michele McLaughlin® is a self-taught, award-winning solo pianist and composer known for her deeply emotional, story-driven music. With 23 albums and over 2 billion streams across platforms, she is one of the most successful independent artists in the Contemporary Instrumental and New Age genres.

Her music — often described as “musical storytelling” — invites listeners into vivid emotional landscapes, each piece offering a glimpse into her personal journey. Michele has been featured in Rolling Stone (print and online), is a 14-time Billboard-charting artist, and a consistent top-seller on iTunes and Amazon. 

Michele began playing piano at five and composing at eight, guided entirely by ear. In 2000, she released her first homemade album, Beginnings, which sparked overwhelming support and led to her first professional release, Elysium. Inspired, she left her corporate job in 2007 to pursue music full-time — and has never looked back. 

Today, Michele has performed over 200 concerts, been featured on SiriusXM, Music Choice, Whisperings Solo Piano Radio, Echoes, and countless playlists across the globe. Her music continues to resonate with listeners seeking beauty, emotion, and connection. 

“My music is my story… my diary, my biography… a glimpse into my soul.” ... Michele McLaughlin

AV:  Your music is often described as “musical storytelling.” When you begin composing a new piece, do you start with a specific story or emotion in mind, or does the story reveal itself as you play?

MM:  My composition time varies from completely thoughtless noodling around on the piano until something grabs me and I turn it into a song, to carefully thought out ideas for a story that turns into music to go along with that story.  To be honest, most of the time I’m writing at the piano it’s thoughtless creation that turns into something with a story later… magical moments where I’m just lost in creating, not thinking about anything, and music is born.  But, no matter how it happens, I don’t like to create without a story, so even in those times where the creation comes first, and the story comes second, I want each piece to tell a story, to have it’s own story, and usually fit in with a theme alongside the other songs on the album to tell a bigger story.  

AV:  You taught yourself piano and composition entirely by ear. How has that self-guided approach shaped the way you think about melody, structure, and emotional expression compared to traditionally trained musicians?

 

MM:  For me the music is completely emotional.  I have a hard time composing if I can’t feel it, or if I don’t feel connected to it in some way.  So the fact that I’m self taught, and can’t read sheet music, doesn’t really affect me because everything I write comes from within my soul and my heart and I felt it deeply when it was created.  The piano is very much like a source of therapy for me, it’s a place I go to let my emotions out onto the keys and express those emotions musically.   

AV:  Leaving a corporate career in 2007 to pursue music full-time is a huge leap of faith. Looking back, what moment or realization convinced you that it was the right decision?

MM:  When I first left my corporate career I was nervous that I would be lackadaisical and not work hard enough to make the “leap of faith” worth it, so I went the complete opposite direction and worked really hard, all the time.  I created, I marketed and promoted, I advertised, I toured, I started an in-home concert series, I broadcasted concerts online, collaborated with other artists, and just really did as much as I could do to grow my name and spread my music.  And my following grew, and my brand grew, and I had colleagues reaching out to me asking if I’d share my secrets of success with them so they could try doing the same thing.  Those moments taught me that working hard and putting in your all even if some things didn’t stick, were all worth it.  I have been incredibly blessed to be able to live this musical dream for as long as I have and I am so grateful.  

AV:   With over two billion streams and a global audience, your music clearly resonates with listeners. Have there been any fan stories or reactions that particularly moved you or changed how you think about your work?

MM:  I love meeting the fans when I’m touring and performing.  I love hearing their stories about how my music has impacted their lives. It makes me so grateful to think that these musical creations I’ve released over the years have touched people in such special ways. They have helped people with healing, wellness, depression and anxiety, studying for school, relationships, inspiring people to play again after years of not playing, fighting cancer, death and loss, and so much more.  Knowing that my music has helped people is humbling and touching and such a gift.  And these stories remind me too, that the music is mine when I create it, but when I put it out there for others to enjoy, it’s theirs too.  You never know how you might affect another person’s life.

AV:  After creating 23 albums and performing hundreds of concerts, how do you keep your creativity fresh and avoid repeating yourself while staying true to your signature sound?

MM:  After every album I go through a period of self doubt and a little bit of insecurity… "will I ever create more music or was this it?”, or “is anything I create after this going to be as good as this album?”, or “what if I can’t write anymore?”.  It’s silly really.  And then, without trying, it happens… I create, and I love the new creations, and when I have enough of them, I release another album.  And I think it’s that way for me because I approach writing and creating from such a deeply emotional place.  Our emotions will always be a part of us, so writing music to go with those feelings is something I’ll always do.   And as for staying with my signature sound, I think a lot of “my sound” is because I am self taught and am limited to what I know, and what I’m capable of doing.  I have variation in my style of playing from album to album, but that’s because of my natural evolution as a player and an artist.  But, because I don’t know how to play classical, or jazz, or ragtime, or other styles like that, I just have my style.  

AV:  The Little Things centers on quiet moments that people often overlook in everyday life. During the season of life that shaped this album, what were some of the small experiences or realizations that stayed with you long enough to become music?

MM:  These last couple of years during the creation of the music on The Little Things were filled with a lot of joy, a lot of anxiety, a lot of grief and deep feelings of loss, and a lot of love.  There were quiet moments, stressful moments, deeply sad moments, and some exceptionally wonderful moments.  All of those moments shaped the music and I spent a lot of time feeling the space in the music on this album.  I love that this album is a little more soft and reflective, a little more joyful and hopeful, and some songs that remind me of how blessed and grateful I am for the people in my life.  It’s a story about appreciating all those little moments and little things that make our life just a little bit sweeter.  

AV:  Instrumental music asks listeners to bring their own stories to the experience. When you’re composing, do you begin with a specific memory or emotion in mind, or do you allow the music itself to reveal what it wants to say?

MM:  If I’m writing with an idea or theme in mind, then yes, I absolutely tie a memory or experience or emotion to that music.  For example, my Iceland album that I released last year was completely written and themed around my trips to Iceland with my sister.  I wanted to write music that sounded like the waterfalls, the volcanoes, the gale force winds, the abundance of sheep all over the country, the blue glaciers, the rain, etc.  My album Home that I released in 2021 was all about our search for our forever and together home, and the joy and grounding that I’ve found since living here.  For The Little Things, I wrote the music from a completely emotional place without thinking too much about the theme and story until after.  This album definitely is straight from the heart and the deep emotions I experienced while writing.  

AV:  This album touches on themes of gratitude, anxiety, grief, and resilience. How did those emotional contrasts influence the tone and pacing of the record as a whole?

MM:  I tried to order the songs and present the album in a way that takes the listener on a journey, experiencing the stories musically along the way.  Starting with the theme of the entire album, moving to being blessed and then living with grace, expressing love, experiencing beauty, the joy of friendship, the joy of my kitty, and then the overwhelming loss of my kitty, peaceful moments of improvisation, remembrance of a loved one, the joy of love, the heaviness of longing, the ups & downs of life, the stress of anxiety and worry, and the triumph of overcoming.  I think all of these themes are relatable and the listeners can feel their own lives and experiences in the musical stories I’m sharing.  

AV:  You recorded the album in your home studio on your Fazioli concert grand. How does the intimacy of recording in a personal space affect the vulnerability or honesty that comes through in your performances?

MM:  I have a wonderful piano in a really nice music room.  I write in that space, I play daily in that space, and recording in that space is such a gift.  I can be free with the instrument I’m deeply familiar with, and I can take my time with my recordings, doing them when I feel ready, feel connected, and have the time to just record without constraints.  It’s so much better than having to record on the clock with people waiting on you, and to be able to record with an instrument that you love and are very familiar with.  I think when you have the opportunity to really connect to the instrument, the space, and the have the freedom to just be free with it, that translates in the performance and delivery of that recording.    

AV:  Many listeners describe your music as “musical storytelling.” When you look back at this album, what do you think the larger story is that ties all these individual pieces together?

MM:  The biggest story of this particular album is to be open to feeling life to the fullest.  Love deeply and profoundly.  Allow yourself to truly grieve and feel deep sadness.  Appreciate your friendships and companionships.  Be grateful for your blessings.  Allow yourself and others grace.  Take time to be peaceful and mindful.  Go with the flow.  Be proud of your accomplishments.  Don’t let worry and anxiety overwhelm you or steal your joy.  Notice and feel all the little things in life that make life worth living, that make life sweet, that define you and who you are.   

AV:  In a fast-paced world where attention is constantly divided, what role do you believe contemplative piano music can play in helping people reconnect with themselves or their emotions?

MM:  There’s something special about instrumental music that helps calm, relax, mellow, and create solace and peace.  It’s perfect for background music, mindfulness, relaxation, wellness, study, sleep, and all those times where you might just need some music to accompany your day but not want it to be in the forefront.  And it’s also perfect for being in the forefront when you want it to be.  It’s incredibly versatile.  

AV:  Some of the music on this album emerged from joy and connection, while other pieces grew out of loss and reflection. How do you navigate writing music from painful or fragile experiences without losing the sense of hope that often exists in your work?

MM:  The piano, and the creation of the music I write, is my therapy.  It’s where I go to let out my sorrow, my joy, my excitement, my happiness, my grief, my anger, my adventure, etc.  So the writing of painful and sad music is actually quite healing.  It helps me process and recover.   When it’s still fresh music, and when I’m still feeling the emotions tied to that music, it continues to be healing each time I play it or hear it, and then eventually, I heal from those experiences, and the music begins to speak to me differently after I’ve healed.  

AV:  With more than twenty albums behind you, how has your relationship with the piano evolved over the years, and how does The Little Things reflect where you are now both musically and personally?

MM:  I think my relationship with the piano has evolved mostly just in my playing and writing style.  I still feel as much love for the piano as I always have, but my musical voice, and the way I tell my stories has evolved and changed over the years.  

The personal journeys and the experiences I’ve had have evolved as I’ve gotten older, and the way I approach my own life has evolved as
I’ve gotten older, but the way I present those stories and the way I express my story through music hasn’t changed too much.  I just love playing piano and love that I have such a creative outlet to express myself with.  

AV:  Your music has reached billions of listeners across streaming platforms. When you sit down to compose something as intimate as these pieces, are you aware of that audience, or do you intentionally create as if the music is meant for just one listener?

MM:  I think I’m mostly aware of the audience when I’m putting together an album, but not so much when I’m writing.  The music, and this might sound selfish, but the music is mine and mine alone, when I’m writing it.  It’s super personal and emotional and just for me while it’s being created.   And then, as it gets closer to being something that I’m sharing with the world, that’s when I think about who will be listening, and who will be enjoying it.  And those thoughts don’t shape what it becomes or how it gets released… it mostly just shapes my feelings about the music and the album after it’s released, mostly in a “will people like this?” or “I hope people like this new music.” kind of mindset.  Because the music is deeply personal and created in such a raw way, it’s hard not to worry about whether people will like it, or wonder what people will think, or to feel a little insecure in those initial moments after it’s been released and people are hearing it for the first time.  You’re letting a very intimate piece of yourself out for others to experience and critique and that can be scary, but also wonderful!

AV:  The title of the album suggests mindfulness—an awareness of the details that shape our lives. Has working on this music changed the way you experience or notice everyday life?

MM:  I think I’m always evolving and changing in the way I approach life.  I’m always learning, and growing, and trying to be a better version of myself.  The experiences that shaped this album have definitely had an impact on me and how I notice the smaller details in the bigger moments.  And listening to the music, and appreciating the album I’ve created is definitely shaping me for future experiences and future music as well.   

AV:  Your arrangement of “Can’t Help Falling in Love” appears alongside your original compositions. What emotional connection did you feel to that song, and how did you approach making it feel like part of the same emotional landscape as the rest of the album?

MM:  I have played around for years with this tender arrangement of that song and thought it would be fun to finally release it.  I love that melody, and the chord structure that I added to it, and I love the quiet soft delicate version that I’ve created as well.  To me, it’s peaceful, and calming, and really expresses tenderness.  And since the story is already a part of the original versions of that song, I simply applied my own feelings of love in my own relationship to incorporate it into the album theme.   

AV:  Many artists speak about music as a way of processing life’s challenges. Did writing these pieces help you better understand or move through the experiences that inspired them?

MM:  I think the music definitely helps me process and adapt.  Since it’s my therapy and where I go to let my feelings out, it’s most definitely helping me to heal and learn and understand what I’m trying to express.  

AV:  When listeners write to you or share how your music has affected them, are there particular stories or responses that have stayed with you and influenced how you think about your work?

MM:  I think the stories that have touched me most are the ones where my music has helped people with healing and loss.  I feel so grateful that my music has been with someone through a difficult time and helped them to process and heal and survive.  As a fellow human, I am honored to be able to help people in that way, and it’s a reminder that the music is so much more than just a song I create when I’m feeling my own feelings.  It’s making such a profound impact on others and that means the world to me.  

AV:  Silence and space often play an important role in solo piano music. How do you decide when a piece needs restraint—when to let the quiet moments speak just as loudly as the notes?

MM:  For me, it’s all about how the music feels when I’m creating it.  That quiet space, those longer pauses, those held sustained notes, those moments inside the music are some of my favorites.  They convey the emotion and the depth of the feelings I’m expressing.  It’s like a deep breath in, a long hold, and then a refreshing exhale that makes you feel it just a little bit more.  

AV:  Looking back at the creation of The Little Things, what did the process teach you about yourself—not only as a composer, but as a person moving through this particular chapter of life?

MM:  I’m constantly evolving and learning about myself and I weather each of life’s storms coming out stronger, or smarter, or more able and capable.  Each of my albums has music that shares the stories of my life journey and they’re very much a musical diary of my life, and my experiences.  I think the best thing you can do for yourself is to let yourself feel deeply, be open to learning and growing, and be open to change if necessary.  This album expresses a lot of personal experience, and this album has shaped me through this current evolution I’m going through.   And I’m so grateful to know that people are loving it, and feeling the emotion, and appreciating the story I’m telling.   I’ve received a lot of wonderful comments and feedback, and I am just so happy that it’s being loved.  

AV:  We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to Michele McLaughlin for taking the time to share her thoughts and experiences with Ambient Visions. It’s been a true pleasure learning more about the inspiration and emotion behind her music, as well as the journey that has shaped her remarkable career. Her openness and authenticity made this conversation especially meaningful. 

Michele’s thoughtful and engaging responses offered not only insight into her creative process but also a genuine connection to the heart of her work. We’re grateful for her willingness to share so candidly, and we know our readers will find her perspective just as inspiring and enjoyable as we did.

 

Ambient Visions Best Viewed in 1600 X 900 Resolution