Secret Harbor on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Secret Harbor and have shared our conversation below.

Secret Harbor, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
When I was a kid, my parents would work hard all year to have money for a vacation on the beach in San Diego. It was a grand adventure to head to the ocean, especially because we lived in the Sonoran Desert of Glendale, Arizona.

As I reflect on those early times, I believe I have been chasing a feeling of wanting all to be right and peaceful in my world. While traveling through the sand dunes in Yuma, I knew we were getting close.The thought of sitting on the beach and playing in the salty water has been more than just a fun memory. It was the moment where I felt a specific place, goal and feeling all come into focus.

This was it. The alluring mystery of where water met the land. It was like a drug that has been pulling at my heart my whole life. Then later, I enjoyed sailing our little sloop with my dad as a young man in the Pacific Ocean. These trips became a priceless memories.

As I sing about the ocean in my Secret Harbor music, there are decades of emotions and deep memories that weave throughout my lyrics. I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t incorporating the sea and it’s metaphors into my songwriting.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Ahoy! My name is Michelangelo David Caggiano. I am a singer-songwriter.

Secret Harbor’s is my nautical folk music where I skipper storytelling of hope, love and rebuilding after the storms of life. I enjoy weathering together original choruses, shanties, metaphorical sea stories in an upbeat indie-folk musical style. My desire is to connect these songs and experiences with both young and salty audiences at my shows.

You can hear my music and watch some of my performances and fun videos at my website: SecretHarborMusic.com

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I made decision a few years ago that has changed my outlook on live performances. I realized that most of us are hungry to belong, have purpose and feel loved. When folks come to a concert, I believe there are so many unspoken expectations such as wanting to be entertained musically, visually and find connection. This fuels the soul and gives us a treasure to talk about and share later with friends.

As a performer, I decided I am no longer going to sing “at” people. I only want to sing too and with them at my shows. What I mean is, when we go to see a performance with live humans, I believe there is a desire to be seen and included in the moment. It’s a two way street. The performer gains energy from the audience and the audience develops a relationship and trust with the performer.

In my nautical way of thinking, I consider the lead singer/performer to be similar to a captain of a ship. The performer will steer the show’s experience taking everyone on a journey of sorts. Everyone has a job, even the audience. If done correctly, the show can take everyone on a grand adventure leaving them changed and better than before they came.

Whether I do a 30 minute set or 2 hours show, I try and keep this in mind as I plan my performance. Hopefully good things happen.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I have to say there isn’t simply one fear that has kept me down. I believe “fear” as a whole has been my biggest challenge. The phrase “death by a thousand cuts” would be more accurate with me. Many times it can be so paralyzing when I focus and worry about peripheral issues and problems I cannot control,

I recently wrote a song about the power of fear. Oh, of course it is a nautical themed song. The song is titled “The Kraken”. I’ve learned the story of the Kraken has been around for a couple hundred years. This mythological sea monster would come a swallow ships whole and drag them down to the depths of the sea.

This fascinated me for many reasons:
In the maritime community, mentioning of the Kraken brings a kind of near-death excitement in conversations and secondly, I have never met anyone who has seen the Kraken.

It’s kind of a metaphor for Fear. Often times, I may be afraid of something that doesn’t actually exist. However, the fear is real and can hold me back from answering my calling.

Here are the lyrics and a link to my song, The Kraken:

Please enjoy my video.

Link:
https://youtu.be/55wI1mp_nK0?si=JUhMGdXrdXvQ4hhP

Video produced by Eddie Chambers
HUNTINGTON UNIVERSITY ARIZONA CENTER FOR DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS

The Kraken
By Michelangelo Caggiano

1, 2, 3 Will the Kraken come for me?
4, 5, 6 Tear my ship to tiny bits.
7, 8, 9 What am I running from this time?
Take me down to a watery grave
Take me down to a watery grave

I was crawling, with my mother by my side
I was walking, by the sea inside my mind
I was running, chasing down my foolish dreams
Holding fear and tearing at the seams

I was thinking, will she come for me this time?
I was reaching, like a man that now is blind
I was drinking all my shadows far away
Sailing to the tempest that I made

1, 2, 3 Will the Kraken come for me?
4, 5, 6 Tear my ship to tiny bits.
7, 8, 9 What am I running from this time?
Take me down to a watery grave
Take me down to a watery grave

All I wanted was a story left to tell
Fear left me standing helpless like a con inside a jail
18 fathoms downward, she is plundering my will
I hear Davey’s voice a call on every swell B A E
I hear Davey’s voice a call on every swell B A E

1, 2, 3 Will the Kraken come for me?
4, 5, 6 Tear my ship to tiny bits.
7, 8, 9 What am I running from this time?
Take me down to a watery grave
Take me down to a watery grave
Take me down to a watery grave

Copyright © 2024
BMI

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
There’s an old Bob Dylan song that says ‘you gotta serve somebody.” The analogy of being an Under Rower has been a driving force in my life since the 1990’s. The idea of an under rower is simply rowing and trusting my master or captain to lead me on the sea’s journey and ultimately safely back to shore.

There are many choices of who to serve in this world and I decided to love God and love others. My whole nautical concept is birthed from this humble seafaring thought. The ocean doesn’t care how smart, rich or good looking your are. The ocean reminds me of my mortality. So traveling this life, with all of its beauty, storms and challenges, I look to my captain for guidance and crew mates as my brothers and sisters. It’s about having a servant’s heart and mindset.

Oarsman’s Sea Dirge, by Michelangelo Caggiano
(Secret Harbor record – Nauta Vela Domum)

I sail a longboat out in the ocean
I am an oarsman, I row in time
An Under Rower, I serve the Captain
Until this journey takes me to shore

I have 2 daughters, beautiful angels
I have a woman who steals my heart
An Under Rower, I serve the Captain
Until this journey takes me to shore

I’ve been to battle, flank speed and cut them
Taken their flagship and left with the scares
An Under Rower, I serve the Captain
Until this journey takes me to shore

I’ve been in irons, I’ve sung to mermaids
Fata Morgana while out at sea
An Under Rower, I serve the Captain
Until this journey takes me to shore

© Copyright 2014
BMI

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days. 
Well, maybe I’m not tap dancing to my home studio. I not really a good of a dancer nowadays. However, I did break dance as a teen to Herbie Hancock – Rockit in the 80’s.

I am very excited to be pursuing my musical projects each day and performing Secret Harbor shows all around. Hopefully I can perform at a venue near you someday.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://secretharbormusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SecretHarborMusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecretHarborMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SecretHarborMusic

Image Credits
Pirate of Love – Logo, by Anthony Banayat
The Kraken Single Photo, by Eddie Chambers
Black & Whites and Red Chair Photo, Mark Johnson