Mike Dekleva is an award-winning and critically-acclaimed independent instrumental rock guitarist, musician, and composer from Albuquerque, New Mexico.  Mike has composed and recorded his original brand of instrumental rock music since he first picked up a guitar at the age of 18.  Mike’s music is the product of the years that Mike has spent developing his approach to the guitar and to music composition.  While featuring vocal-like guitar melodies and pop-style musical arrangements, Mike’s compositions also incorporate elements of the classic hard rock music from the ’70’s and ’80’s that Mike grew up listening to.  Mike's music and melodic guitar playing have drawn comparisons to guitar legends Joe Satriani, Carlos Santana, Steve Lukather, Frank Marino, Neal Schon, Dan Huff, and Eric Clapton.

 

Here's a sampling of what fellow musicians and music critics have said about Mike:

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Mike's new EP Psychedelia “contains some of the most splendid guitar playing I’ve heard this year.”  (Jacob Aiden, JamSphere Independent Music Magazine, November 14, 2018)

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"[F]rom spark to completion...Mike Dekleva's personal guitar voice, heart, and passion for life, can be heard in every note.”  Robbie Calvo (Nashville Session Guitarist, Producer, Songwriter, and Master Educator)

 

"Consistently imaginative, passionate and exciting."  Isaiah Stewart (Worldwide Jazz-Rock Artist)

 

"Mike lets his guitar sing the way we want to hear it, like Lukather, Clapton and Schon and [his music] has a big sound with perfect melodies that is a must-hear for fans of instrumental guitar based music."  Gabor Kleinbloesem (Strutterzine Independent Music Magazine, June 2016)

 

"From the minute you hit play . . . you’re thrust into Mike Dekleva’s dynamic world of instrumental guitar. . . .   The flashy guitar techniques are there, but there’s a lot more melody, timbre, tone and all-round class than your typical guitar album. . . .  When you’ve finished listening, you wonder why other musicians actually need to move their lips get an emotion or message across! . . .  This isn’t just a rock guitarist’s album.  This is one for music lovers in general!"  Rick Jamm (JamSphere Independent Music Magazine)

 

"[Mike's music] is certainly a welcome addition to the genre [of instrumental rock guitar].” Ted Rogen, (Divide and Conquer, Independent Music Website)

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"[Mike's EP "Psychedelia"] is actually one of the best guitar-led instrumental releases I've heard for quite some time."  Steven Reid, Fireworks Magazine, Issue 87 (Summer 2019)

 

In December 2015, Mike released "Synergy," his critically-acclaimed debut EP that featured four of Mike's original instrumental rock songs.  "Synergy" was recorded at Paragon Recording Studios in Franklin, Tennessee, and in Mike’s recording studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Synergy” was co-produced by Mike and Nashville session guitarist Robbie Calvo, and features performances by Mike (guitars), Robbie Calvo (guitars), Jason Webb (piano and keyboards), Amanda McCoy (bass guitar) and Grady Saxman (drums and percussion).  “Synergy” was mixed by Casey Barker at Paragon Recording Studios, and mastered by John Mayfield at Mayfield Mastering, in Nashville Tennessee. 

 

On November 9, 2018, Mike released “Psychedelia,” his second original instrumental rock music EP, which features four of Mike's new original instrumental songs.  Like its predecessor, Mike's new EP, "Psychedelia," was recorded at Paragon Recording Studios with the same great group of musicians and engineers who played and worked on "Synergy," with additional guitar overdubs done in Mike's recording studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

 

Both “Psychedelia” and “Synergy” are available for purchase in both CD and digital download formats from Mike’s web site (see the links in the web site menu above).