Mike Linsky on Music, Military Roots, and the Jacksonville Creative Scene
The Jacksonville music scene has always thrived on raw talent, reinvention, and stories that stretch far beyond city limits. In this episode of The Contrast Project Lounge Podcast, Tracy Rigdon sits down with Mike Linsky. He is a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and Jacksonville native. His journey spans military life overseas. It includes church youth bands, conservative political roots, and a deep love for West Coast culture.
This conversation isn’t just about music. It’s about identity, evolution, and empathy. It also explores what it means to create art in a world that keeps shifting under your feet.
Growing Up Between Jacksonville, Bahrain, and South Korea
Mike Linsky was born in Jacksonville in 1990. He spent much of his early childhood abroad because of his father’s service in the U.S. Navy. He lived in Bahrain from 1994 to 1996 and later in Daegu, South Korea, during elementary school years.
Those formative years—moving between continents, cultures, and classrooms—left a mark.
Military families often live between worlds. You adapt quickly. You learn to observe before you speak. You develop empathy because you’re constantly the “new kid.” That cross-cultural exposure shaped Mike’s worldview long before he picked up a guitar.
And yet, Jacksonville remained home base. The city’s evolving creative scene would eventually become the backdrop for his musical identity.
Discovering Music: From Listener to Multi-Instrumentalist
Like many musicians, Mike’s love for music began as a listener. But at age 12, that admiration turned into action when he started learning guitar .
Over time, guitar became his primary instrument—his comfort zone. But that’s only part of the story.
Today, Mike is a true multi-instrumentalist. In addition to guitar, he plays bass and drums, even tracking drums on his more recent solo releases . His earlier projects included hired drummers, but as his confidence grew, so did his creative control.
That evolution reflects a challenge every serious artist eventually faces. Do you stay in your lane? Or do you learn to build the entire road yourself?
Within Our Nature: Collaboration and Chemistry
Mike has played in multiple Jacksonville bands over the years, including Orange Air and Secret Cigarettes. Currently, he performs with Within Our Nature, a collaborative band effort that blends individual strengths into a cohesive sound .
Their recent single, “Fond of You,” released on Valentine’s Day, reflects the band’s polished dynamic and shared creative energy .
Band work forces musicians to listen differently. It demands compromise. It rewards synergy.
Within Our Nature operates as a true collaboration—not a one-man project with supporting players. That distinction matters. It changes how songs are shaped and how ideas are challenged.
Solo Work: Total Creative Ownership
While band life thrives on chemistry, Mike’s solo work operates differently. Under his own name, he writes and arranges everything—vocals, guitar, bass, drums .
Solo artistry exposes a musician. There’s no one to hide behind. No shared authorship. No deflection.
But it also grants freedom.
Mike’s solo releases showcase a willingness to experiment and take full responsibility for the final product. That level of ownership builds discipline—and confidence.
Covering Taylor Swift: Expanding Artistic Boundaries
In 2024, Mike collaborated with local artist Tori Nance on covers of Taylor Swift’s “Fortnight” and “Don’t Blame Me” .
Cover songs can be deceptively difficult. You’re working within a familiar structure, but you must reinterpret without imitation. It’s a balancing act between honoring the original and injecting personal style.
The collaboration highlights something important about the Jacksonville music community: artists supporting artists. That spirit of mutual respect fuels a thriving local scene.
The Jacksonville Music Scene: Nostalgia Meets Momentum
One of the strongest themes in this episode is community.
The Jacksonville music scene continues to evolve. Venues come and go. Lineups shift. Genres blur. But what remains consistent is connection.
Mike’s journey reflects that layered ecosystem. It includes church youth bands warming up with Velvet Revolver in 2004. There are garage practices, local gigs, and eventual streaming releases.
Nostalgia plays a role, but so does forward momentum.
Church, Faith, and Identity
Mike’s parents divorced when he was nine. After that, his mother found religion. She began taking him to various Baptist churches in Jacksonville.
From ages 9 to 14, he regularly attended church and read the Bible extensively .
Today, he identifies primarily as an atheist, occasionally leaning agnostic depending on the day .
That journey—from forced religious structure to independent belief—is similar to the experiences of many young adults. They grow up within rigid frameworks. Later, they reassess these frameworks.
Interestingly, music remained the thread.
He recalls enjoying one part of church the most. It was the youth band warming up with secular rock songs. They played songs like Velvet Revolver’s “Slither”.
Even inside institutional walls, art found a way in.
Political Evolution: From Conservative Roots to Nuanced Perspective
Mike was raised in a Republican household. He watched Fox News personalities like Bill O’Reilly, Hannity & Colmes, and Glenn Beck with his family . He listened to Michael Savage radio as a teenager . He attended a George W. Bush campaign rally in 2004 . He voted for John McCain and Mitt Romney .
But evolution is part of growth.
He also expressed admiration for the bipartisan respect between Barack Obama and John McCain. McCain’s public defense of Obama against racist accusations was noteworthy.
That nuance stands out in today’s hyper-polarized environment.
Rather than positioning himself as an expert, Mike approaches politics with curiosity—interested, observant, but not doctrinaire.
Fascination with the Presidency and the Secret Service
Mike is fascinated by the presidency itself, beyond partisan politics. He is particularly interested in the technology and procedures used by the Secret Service. These methods are employed to protect the President of the United States.
For some, that curiosity might seem niche. For others, it reflects a deeper interest in systems, structure, and history.
It’s the mindset of someone who studies how things work—whether it’s guitar tones, drum patterns, or institutional protocols.
Love for Los Angeles and the West Coast Creative Energy
Mike openly admits his affection for Los Angeles and the broader West Coast culture .
For a visual-arts-minded musician, L.A. represents possibility—music videos, film production, iconic bands, and creative crossovers between disciplines.
Many of his favorite bands originate there .
There’s a magnetic pull toward places that amplify creativity. Jacksonville may be home, but L.A. fuels inspiration.
The Power of Empathy, Kindness, and Collaboration
The episode circles back repeatedly to one theme: empathy.
Growing up overseas. Navigating divorce. Experiencing church culture. Shifting political perspectives. Playing in bands. Collaborating with peers.
Each chapter builds perspective.
In an industry often dominated by ego, Mike’s emphasis on collaboration and kindness stands out. Artists, he suggests, carry a responsibility—not just to create—but to uplift communities around them.
Final Thoughts: A Story Still Unfolding
Mike Linsky’s journey reflects what makes the Jacksonville music scene compelling: depth, diversity, and reinvention.
His journey spans a military childhood abroad to performing on local band stages. He transitioned from conservative teenage influences to a nuanced adulthood. From church youth groups to Taylor Swift covers, his story isn’t linear.
It’s layered.
And that’s what makes it interesting.
If you care about:
- The Jacksonville music scene
- Multi-instrumental musicians
- Political and religious evolution
- Local artist collaborations
- The intersection of music and empathy
This episode is worth your time.
My sincere thanks to everyone who gave their time and contributed to this work.
The Contrast Project Lounge Podcast exists to amplify voices, foster open conversations, and examine the issues that shape our communities. Through interviews and dialogue, our goal is to inform, challenge assumptions, and inspire thoughtful change.
This post may be updated as new information becomes available. Contributor anonymity is respected unless individuals are quoted from publicly attributed sources. All content is informed by extensive research, verified sources, and personal interviews.
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