A Sit-Down with Mike Bourne
If you’ve ever walked past the West Trojan Center lawn on a afternoon and heard electric guitar echoing across campus, chances are you already know Mike Bourne. With his amplifier set up outdoors and his riffs in your ear, Mike has become one of DSU’s most recognizable musicians. What started as background noise turned into a crowd, as students slow their steps, listen for a moment, and sometimes stay for a full song.
Mike is a sophomore pursuing a degree in Computer Information Systems, as well as minors in the Center of Excellence and Computer Science, specializing in web applications. Though involvement with technology and programming fascinates him, music has actually been a lifelong involvement prior to college. The first time Mike began playing his guitar was when he was 13 years old, just prior to his entry into eighth grade, and he has been playing ever since.
His favorite genres of music include classic rock and metal. Artists such as Y&T, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Skid Row, Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Sammy Hagar have all contributed to his style, and Y&T is one of his all-time favorite bands. Although he still loves playing loud rock and metal, he is currently introducing alternative elements to attract more listeners to his music. He upgraded his equipment, incorporating a pedalboard and processor, to play the music he wanted to produce freely.
In the more professional side of his life he got more. He is working as a Second Street Diner employee during the school year in Madison. Summer jobs that he holds in his hometown are varied and extensive. He has jobs in Zort’s Fireworks in North Sioux City and golf courses in the area. One of the most unusual jobs that he has is performing guitar outside the fireworks stand during the Fourth of July celebrations. For the individual, music brings him both joy and enables him to reach out to more people.
While Mike usually performs by himself, he would like to put together a full band. He actually already has a bassist lined up and is looking to find a drummer, a rhythm guitarist with lead vocals, or a keyboardist with guitar skills. Mike hopes to put together a five-piece band that incorporates the spectacle of hair metal with the power of heavy metal. He’s been tossing around some ideas on what to call the band and takes inspiration from the rock history of his state, Bon Jovi.
Outside of music and academics, Mike is involved with Cru, a Christian student organization that meets weekly on campus. As part of the community team, he helps plan events that bring students together, from casual food nights to larger themed activities. He also lives in Zimmerman Hall and has been involved in Residence Life discussions, including a potential run for Hall President. While that role isn’t finalized, he says being involved has been both fun and rewarding.
Mike describes himself as outspoken and acknowledges that he can sometimes be misunderstood. Last year, he received mixed reactions on anonymous platforms like YikYak, where criticism can spread quickly. Rather than letting negativity define him, he says the experience motivated him to improve and stay focused. This year, he feels more supported and driven, both musically and personally.
Faith is the central part of everything Mike does. He considers himself to be a strong Christian, and his relationship with God and family affects his choices and aspirations. He aspires to come closer to God and enhance his technical know-how to achieve an internship and ultimately succeed as an expert in the computer information systems field. Simultaneously, he also aspires to front a rock band and compose his own music that would reflect his background and inspirations.
As far as Mike is concerned, DSU is about so much more than his academic pursuits. It’s given him an environment to nourish his interests, connect with others, and develop as an individual musician and a musician as a whole. Whether it is coding through the night or performing his guitar in the warm sun on the West Lawn, it is evident that Mike is a young individual who wants to stay true to himself and turn the volume up.
