Conversations with Michael Saleta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Saleta.

Hi Michael, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all began in 1972 where I was born and raised in the country town called Sale, 134 miles east of Melbourne, Australia. Surrounded by music and an extended musical family, I remember rock n roll music was a staple in our house, spinning on the old record player, as my mother was a rock n roll dancer. I picked up my first guitar at age 12 and never put it down. Living with my Mother and Father, I was the youngest of 3 with two older sisters. I was bullied throughout school and so music became my safe haven and songwriting took hold. At 16, I formed my first rock band, Phoenix Rose.

After Pheonix Rose (It was spelt incorrectly to make it work on our banner) broke up, I joined my next band, Innocent. Innocent’s biggest success was being the support act for The Screaming Jets, as well as releasing a recorded album which was released on cassette. After succeeding in our hometown, Innocent moved to the big smoke of Melbourne, Australia, a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Sale. Unfortunately, that adventure was short-lived as Innocent broke up within six months of the big move. Next, Christian Klaus(lead guitarist from Innocent) and I formed Tribal Scream. As Tribal Scream, we recorded a single at studio 52, which was featured on rural radio and TV. Tribal Scream later went on to be known as Cheyenne performing at many of Melbourne’s top live venues. In January 1995, Cheyenne became a contestant on a popular Australian TV show, Channel 9’s Pot of Gold. Three months later, just after her 50th Birthday, my mother suddenly passed away. This was and still to this day is one of the most heartbreaking moments of my life. My mum, Faye Saleta, was my biggest fan, supporter and the love of all who met her. A year after her passing, I took a timeout to travel the USA for ten weeks. Little did I know the country I fell in love with would eventually come to be a place I called home.

In 2001, I joined Melbourne band Square One, who in 2004/2005 signed a recording contract in U.K & Japan for their debut album Supersonic. The lead song from that album was featured on FOX FM, a prominent commercial radio station. Square One played at the last ever FOX FM beach concert in front of 10,000 people. Following this success, we supported artists such as Toto, Taxiride, Killing Heidi, Jimmy Barnes, Hanson, Eric Martin (Mr Big). Post this success due to differences in management opinions, I left to form Someone Else’s Life. My songwriting skills came into play with our original song “How Does it Feel”, featured through major Australian radio stations. Following this, we were chosen to be the act for Thirsty Merc’s Australian tour.

In 2003, I wrote and recorded the song “Stronger Now” for Bali Bombing survivor Nicole McLean. This song was featured on the 60 minutes anniversary special. We also performed the song at several Bali bombing memorials, including one at Parliament House in Canberra for the Australian Prime Minister and heads of state. This was featured on ABC National television. The story behind the song was included in Nicole’s book, which she also titled “Stronger Now.”

Above all my success, my true greatest accomplishments are my beautiful daughters Taylah born in 2000 and Chaunte born in 2003.

Fast forward to 2017, after being a club DJ, a Children’s Entertainer, a Music Teacher/Mentor and in the cover duo’s with Christian Klaus in Mid-Life Crisis and Sandee Facy for Detroit.5, I reconnected with a mate, Steve Gordjin, who Christian and I had gone to HighSchool with. Steve was also a band member from Innocent. Steve had asked Mid-Life Crisis (Christian and I) to play at his wedding. This became a day of kismet as I met my wife, Sarah Saleta at this wedding. Steve, his wife Natasha Gordjin and their son Xavier had decided to move to Nashville after their wedding, which piqued my interest and research into what Nashville had to offer as a musician/songwriter. This, in turn, reignited my passion for songwriting and with Sarah’s love and support, we put plans in place to get married and move across the world to follow my dream in becoming a professional songwriter. The groundwork started in 2018 when I became a Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) Member. This began my true songwriting journey.

2019 brought on two trips to Nashville, one with my now wife Sarah during a six-week USA trip where I proposed to her in Central Park, New York City. Next was a three-month trip over summer to really dig deep into the Nashville songwriting scene and make sure this was something I 100% wanted, by the end, I had no doubt. After that successful trip, I began co-writing with people from Canada to New York, Nashville and Australia through Skype. All before Zoom became the norm throughout the pandemic.

2020 Kicked off with an up-and-coming Australian Country Artist Emily Hatton cutting one of her songs I cowrote called “Maybe”. This was released as her new single in January 2020, reaching the top 10 on Australian Country Radio. Some recent key highlights for me have been awarded the Nashville Songwriters Association International’s New Member of the Year 2020. 2021 kicked off with having two songs in the Top 10 for the CMT 21st Annual NSAI song contest, and both those songs making the NSAI Top 40 presented by The Bob Kingsley Estate.

Since then, I have been nominated several times as a “one to watch” writer on the rise by NSAI and co-written songs “Grandma’s Kitchen,” “Low Country Night,” and “What took you so long” recommended for consideration for NSAI’s Publisher Luncheon.

Many of my co-written songs have been taken for consideration at Pitch to Publisher events in Nashville with such publishing companies as Curb Word Music, Sony Music, Cornman Music. Creative Nation, Peer Music and MV2 Entertainment. The co-written song “Drink to Remember” was a top 24 finalist in the 2020 Tin Pan South Seminar song contest in Nashville.

February of 2021 saw myself and co-writers Julie Reiner and Billy McDowell sign our first single song contract with SBD Music Group in Nashville for the song “All Blessed Up.” I believe my songwriting is influenced by my love of wild hair bands back in the 80s and of course, the Beatles. My sound is a mix of Country, Rock and Americana. My long-term goal is to be a published songwriter and moving to Nashville made sense for this to happen. It’s not easy, but damn it’s worth it.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The journey to get to where I am now has definitely had its bumps and challenges, wouldn’t say it was smooth. My biggest obstacle was definitely my Mum passing in 1995. She was my biggest fan and always encouraged me with music so I was pretty lost after her passing and I still continue to have days I just wish I could talk to her, I’ve now spent more than half my life without her in it and that pain never goes away, you get used to that parent not being there but it doesn’t make it easier.

Becoming a parent in the early 2000’s to two daughters and trying  to balance a music career was also challenging, there was a time where I took a step back from the music life to be with my girls. The relationship with the mother of my children was a strained one and we didn’t stay together so maintaining my relationship with my daughters unfortunately became more and more difficult over the years.

My current challenge is my wife Sarah having her permanent residency in the USA and my application  currently under review, which is good news but I am in Nashville as a visitor for the time being and have to return to Australia to get my Green Card interview. I was due to go back to Australia in July but tested positive for Covid and have suffered some ongoing minor health problems since. At this stage I will be returning in September with the hope of getting my Green Card interview before the end of the year so I can return to Nashville full time to be with my wife Sarah and our Cat Seiko. Time spent back in Australia away from my wife now we have set up a new life in Nashville will be an ongoing challenge over the coming months that’s for sure

 As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a songwriter and Multi-Instrumentalist whose strength is music and melody in the writer’s room but  I can definitely throw out some great titles, ideas and lines. I am in the ongoing learning process of tracking/demoing songs I cowrite. I’m probably known for my Melodies and guitar playing and the vibe I bring to the room and my bad Dad jokes.

I am most proud of the fact that I continue to keep chugging along like the little engine that could and haven’t given up on music through the highs and lows. I believe what sets me apart from others is my work ethic, commitment, and determination to working towards being a successful professional songwriter and being a good hang.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Well, I would google to find out about what you are into and go from there. Google is a great source to start with. I found NSAI through a google search as I was looking to find an organisation to help me be able to work on my craft. Through the education, song feedback and mentor sessions, I was able to learn where my weaknesses and blind spots were as a songwriter. NSAI has also been a great networking tool for me attending in-person events in Nashville as well as Zoom events.

I would also say Brent Baxter from Songwriting Pro has served as a great mentor over the past couple of years and, more recently, Nancy Deckant from Discover Sooner. NSAI, Songwriting Pro and Discover Sooner have given me personally the most value to understand the craft of songwriting, the business of songwriting and developing my craft as a songwriter.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelsaletamusic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelsaletamusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVWMChYaaM5Y7f7f-2_6sdQ
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mikalrock
• Other: https://linktr.ee/michaelsaletamusic

Image Credits
Main Photograph – Chowie (https://www.chowie.com.au/)