Mike Maimone Releases New Single “On My Way”
Acclaimed singer-songwriter, pianist, and producer Mike Maimone has released “On My Way”, the first single from his upcoming LP Guess What? I Love You, on March 7. The feel-good song holds deep personal significance, as it was originally written as a voicemail to his late husband, renowned PR guru Howard Bragman, during their long-distance courtship.
“We were always hopping planes to see each other,” Maimone recalls. “Just before one trip, I called him with guitar in hand and sang this little ditty that was running through my head about how excited I was to see him. He didn’t pick up, so I left it as a voicemail. He told me it was fun and catchy and encouraged me to turn it into a full song.”
Maimone’s upcoming LP, Guess What? I Love You, is a deeply personal tribute to Howard, chronicling their love story and his own journey through grief, love, and healing. The day after their wedding, Maimone held his husband as he passed away. Over the next two years, he poured his emotions into Guess What? I Love You. Reflecting on the album’s structure, he explains, “Side A is about finding love, and Side B explores loss. I knew this album would be difficult for anyone who has experienced the trauma of losing a loved one before their time. But I didn’t want to leave the listener in darkness—I wanted to find a way out.”
While working on the record, Maimone revisited their voicemails as a way to narrate their story. The “On My Way” hook was one of those recordings. Initially, he planned to simply re-record the vocal but found himself expanding the song, adding a second verse, a bridge, and layers of stomps, claps, and snaps. “It felt like Howard was nudging me to keep going,” Maimone says. Excited about the track’s evolution, he called his band back to Nashville to complete it with a full-band arrangement.
Maimone’s musical career is defined by his unwavering commitment to storytelling. The Ohio-born artist, who once played basketball against LeBron James, transitioned from a business school graduate and accountant to a full-time musician. His raw, emotive songwriting and electrifying performances have drawn comparisons to Randy Newman, Leon Russell, Tom Waits, and Warren Zevon. While living in Nashville, Lightning 100 FM named Maimone a Local Artist of the Week, and having recently moved to Los Angeles he’s already been featured in LA Weekly. His career spans performances with Stevie Wonder, tours with Blues Traveler and the Plain White T’s, and songs featured in TV and film. He has played at iconic festivals like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest, and Summer Camp, and his music has even made its way onto the Chicago Cubs’ Wrigley Field playlist.
Following Howard’s passing, Maimone released Borrowed Tunes, Vol. 2: Songs for You, an album of covers that held deep meaning for the couple. He performed three sold-out release shows in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago, donating all proceeds to The Trevor Project. His relentless dedication to his craft continued with his 2024 EP Unfollow, which featured five reimagined versions of the same song across different genres. Beyond his music, Maimone has completed his first book, a memoir documenting his year of love, loss, and reinvention.
As he prepares to release “On My Way” on March 7, Maimone sees it as the perfect way to introduce Guess What? I Love You to the world. “This song went from being a voicemail I had discarded to the lead single on my most emotional and profound album in two decades of music-making,” he shares. “Howard saw something in it that I didn’t at the time, and now I get to share that with everyone.”
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