Mike Llerena is a singer-songwriter based in Gainesville, FL. - a musical bedrock where acts like Tom Petty and Sister Hazel first emerged.

Shaped by the local punk scene which spawned such acts as Against Me!, Hot Water Music and Less Than Jake; Mike began contextualizing his influences, mixing classic rock with punk and folk with acts like The Gaslight Anthem and Frank Turner serving as constant reference points in his songwriting. “As a singer-songwriter, I would say my music draws as much from Green Day as it does from Bruce Springsteen,” Llerena asserts.

His no-nonsense approach to music began as a teen when he started singing and playing guitar along to his favorite songs. This gave him the confidence to start writing lyrics and eventually picking up other instruments. He started playing live around Gainesville in 2011 and released his debut EP Gold Gone Black in 2014. His second EP Letter of Resignation, released in 2015, landed him an opening for Anthony Raneri (Bayside) and a slot at The Fest (Gainesville’s annual punk rock festival).

Llerena’s persona as a solo artist extends beyond backing his introspective lyrics with distorted guitars and fast drums. He is motivated by tireless DIY work ethic, only outsourcing important duties to those he trusts implicitly. Friends Brad Purvis and TJ Baker have served as session drummers and his father created his new EP’s design and layout. Absence & The Heart was tracked at Z-Chord Studios in Gainesville and was produced by Mike and longtime co-producer/engineer Jared Pennock. The album is slated for a formal release in the new year and Mike will be supporting it with shows across Florida for the next few months.