About
I’m Mike Harmon, I’m a musician and producer originally from New Hampshire, raised in MA, and I’ve traveled the world playing music. I have been making records for 20 years, and now I’m continuing that work out of my home studio: an 1850’s storefront that’s been in my family for 75 years, rebuilt by me in 2023.
I was born in 1988 and spent my life growing up on Cape Cod (think offseason, boredom, isolation). I wasn’t particularly musical until about age 11 when my parents got me my first drum set for my birthday, and I practiced constantly. I took weekly lessons studying with Martin Vazquez, who eventually brought me to the Spirit of America marching band to tour the eastern U.S. and Australia by the time I was 14.
In high school, I enrolled in music theory electives, orchestra, and chorus at good ol’ Barnstable High School. I had my first experiences jamming with friends, played my first gigs, and spent my time absorbing as much about music as possible. I made self-recorded demos on a Fostex MR-8 recorder and eventually I set foot in my first real recording studio in 2006. By that point, I knew that this is what I want to do for the rest of my life.
I got in to Berklee College of Music in 2007 as a drum set principal, and double majored in Music Production & Engineering and Music Business. My band at the time, Green Line Inbound, wrote original music and played college parties and popular venues around Boston and down the east coast. My time at Berklee could be summarized as time spent learning • how to be a better listener, • how to see the big picture as a producer, • how to listen with critical detail, and eventually, • how to have the confidence to choose the life path of professional musician.
In 2013, I took the biggest risk of my life and decided to open a recording studio. For 13 years, myself and producer Roger Lavallee operated Wachusett Recording. We had the opportunity to work with hundreds of artists to record thousands of songs, some of which would be heard millions of times. We transformed an empty workshop into a creative space, and left behind a legacy that extended beyond the four walls. It was a chapter of living the dream, and I’m grateful for the memories and connections made operating the studio until 2026.
I am available to discuss working together on album projects, session work, audio engineering, and occasionally, performance opportunities. Get in touch here.
My production/engineering/musical credits include collaborations with Grain Thief, Four Year Strong, Ese Peters, Jake McKelvie, The Clements Brothers, Carlos Odria, The Talking Hearts, FFO Chillin’, Ed Balloon, All Jokes Aside, Gemello, Steve Rondo, Seaway, Like Pacific, Lenny Lashley, Giuliano, Dan & The Wildfire, Versive, Dumpster Debbie, Ben & Ruth Stringband, Ricky Duran, Flight Club, Spencer LaJoye, Jonas the Cloud, Briezy Jane, Rick McCarthy, Susan Ursprung, and more.
I have had song placements in Virgin River (Netflix), Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu), My Way To Play (Nintendo)
I have worked with nonprofit organizations like One Mission: A Pediatric Cancer Charity, and Avaloch Farm Music Institute.
My first gig: a school assembly on the last day of school, 1999.
Rocking out with my grandparents in my childhood home. Photo by Robert Morrill
My senior class photo, 2007. The jury is still out whether or not this is the lamest, or the coolest picture I've ever taken. Photo by Robert Morrill
Jamming with my friends at my high school graduation party.
Looping drums, bass, and guitar at a high school talent show, 2007
Playing Bass with my brother Andrew (right) for the Barnstable High School Orchestra.
Crowdsurfing while singing Sweet Caroline at The Lansdowne Pub in Boston, 2012
Performing with Green Line Inbound at Seacrets in Maryland, 2013
An accidental renaissance photo taken while on tour with Four Year Strong in Germany, 2017
Performing with Four Year Strong in Manchester, England in 2017. My first time playing to a room of 1,000 people.
Playing at Koko in London with Four Year Strong in 2017. Sold out show. Photo by unknown.
Performing with Four Year Strong at Unify Festival in Victoria, Australia, 2018. The largest crowd I've performed for to date (7,000 festival attendance).
Showing some skin on tour in Japan with Four Year Strong, 2018
Performing in Tokyo, Japan with Four Year Strong in 2018.
Playing drums for Four Year Strong in Osaka, Japan 2018
Performing with dB at The Met in Rhode Island, 2019. Photo by K.C. Bower
Recording Grain Thief's 2020 album 'Gasoline' at Wachusett Recording. Photo by Harry McCarthy Giles.
Jamming with friends in my driveway in Boston during Covid. Strange times. Photo by Harry McCarthy Giles
Engineering a record at Wachusett Recording, 2021.
Performing with Grain Thief at the Spire Center in Plymouth MA, 2023.
Photoshoot for the 2023 album 'Dandelion Breeze' by The Clements Brothers. Photo by Toan Trinh.
Performing in Worcester MA with Grain Thief in 2023. Photo by Steve Benoit.
Playing with The Talking Hearts at The Burren Backroom series, 2024.
Warming up on set of a live recording for Grain Thief at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, 2024. Photo by Tyler Ayers.
Playing Irish music in Bangkok, Thailand with The Irish Session Bangkok, 2024.
Singing some Bill Withers with a band in Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2024.
Jamming with some locals in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2024.
Performing at the North Gate Jazz Co-op in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 2024.
Sitting in with some local musicians in Agadir, Morocco in 2025. Playing "Chop Suey" by System of a Down.
Playing at The Burren front room in Somerville MA with Grain Thief, 2026. We have held the Wednesday night music residency since 2017.