We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Honeycutt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, what do you attribute your success to?
I believe the most important factor behind my success and the success of Honeycutt Southern is staying true to who I am. The songs I write are deeply personal—they come from real experiences, whether they’re happy, sad, or somewhere in between. I think a lot of people can relate to those stories because they’ve been through similar things themselves.

The music we create is also designed to feel familiar and inviting, like sinking into a well-loved, cozy recliner. While we include modern elements to keep things fresh, I always aim to write songs that feel timeless. Pairing that with meaningful lyrics that tell a story and tap into genuine emotions makes our music resonate with listeners on a deeper level.

Whether you’re at one of our live shows or streaming a track at home, I believe that authenticity shines through. That’s what makes the connection real.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Honeycutt Southern is, in many ways, an extension of my life—built on personal experiences, things I’ve done or heard, and the colorful characters I grew up around in the South. I soaked up so much of that environment, and when I got my first guitar at 16, it gave me a creative outlet to channel it all. I started writing songs almost immediately. As an only child, I spent a lot of time alone in my room with that guitar, letting the influences of southern rock, classic rock, and R&B shape my playing style.

My journey as a vocalist was a bit unplanned. When I moved from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Houston in 2018, I searched high and low for a singer who could bring my music to life, but I kept coming up short. One day, Carl, my bassist, suggested I give singing a shot. I wasn’t so sure at first, but here we are now. Over time, my voice has grown stronger—both literally and figuratively—and I’ve embraced it as part of our sound.

Being in an original rock band isn’t easy. It’s a grind, and let’s face it, often thankless. Most nights, we play for peanuts, and sometimes, to nearly empty rooms. It’s tough to stay motivated when you’re staring out at a sea of empty chairs, but I remind myself of the moments that make it all worthwhile—like when someone comes up after a show to tell you how much a song, a line, or a riff meant to them. Those moments are priceless, and they’re what keep me going.

In today’s world, being a musician means being a marketer too. We’re constantly working to push our music online and grow our presence here in Houston and the surrounding areas. We believe that building a solid local following is the first step to getting the word out. And when people hear us, the feedback is often the same: “Wow, you guys are amazing. You should be on TV or something.” Comments like that fuel our drive.

I know it’s just a matter of time. We’ll keep writing, keep playing, and keep grinding. One connection at a time, we’ll get there.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting from out of town, the first thing we’d do is plan the trip around a great local show. And if my band is playing? Even better! Experiencing the local music scene is always a good time.

After that, it’d be all about exploring some of the local watering holes and diving into the car scene. I’m a big car enthusiast, and I know plenty of others who share that passion. We’d probably hit up a car meet or two to check out some incredible rides.

A rooftop bar would definitely be on the list—there are so many great nightlife spots in the Houston area with amazing ambience. And, of course, we couldn’t skip out on some Tex-Mex. That’s my ultimate guilty pleasure. Chips and salsa hate to see me coming!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a special thank you to my wife, Missy, for believing in me and standing by my side through everything we’ve faced in our marriage. Let’s be real—being married to a creative person isn’t always easy! But you can’t experience Heaven without going through a little bit of hell, right?

I also want to thank my son, Zachery, for being the reason I stepped up and became the man I am today. I hope I’ve made him proud.

And, of course, a big thanks to my bandmates, Carl and Andy, for believing in me and sharing the vision for what this band could be. I couldn’t do it without any of you.

Website: https://honeycuttsouthern.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Honeycuttsoutherntx/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhoneycutt85/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoneycuttSouthern

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC61MejgNDOeD-XGR4xRsHqQ

Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4nT0Q0LJZR3PZ85OXMikm4

Image Credits
Elena Beaudry
Greg Holleman
Chad Bogues

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutHTX is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.