Michael Franti was born in Oakland, California, and raised in a large, loving family that valued music, sports, and community. Adopted at seven months old, he grew up surrounded by lessons in hard work, faith, and resilience. His father’s recovery from alcoholism taught him that real change is possible, while his mother, a longtime public school teacher, showed him the power of authenticity and compassion.
After graduating from Davis Senior High School, Michael attended the University of San Francisco, where he played basketball before choosing to follow his true passion—music. He started performing at 18 and has spent more than four decades traveling the world as a musician, connecting people through uplifting and meaningful songs. “The greatest education I’ve had is travel and meeting people all over the world,” he says.
In 2010, Michael expanded his creative vision by opening Soulshine Bali, a resort and retreat center that blends wellness, mindfulness, and hospitality. As both a musician and hotelier, he leads with empathy, creating spaces—on stage and in business—where people feel inspired and connected.
Together with his wife Sara, he also founded Do It For The Love, a nonprofit that brings people with life-threatening illnesses, special needs, and wounded veterans to live concerts.
Today, Michael Franti stands as a leader who turns optimism into action. He continues to show that joy, purpose, and business success can come from the same place—living with heart, gratitude, and a commitment to helping others thrive.
Q&A with Michael Franti: Redefining Success Through Music, Mindfulness, and Meaning
Q: You’ve had a long and diverse career—from musician to hotelier to philanthropist. How do you personally define success?
Michael Franti: For me, success has never been about money or fame. It’s about joy, purpose, and how much I can give to others while staying true to myself. I grew up in a mixed household—five kids, two adopted—and from an early age, I learned that success starts with how you show up. My mom, who taught elementary school for 30 years, used to say, “Being human doesn’t mean being perfect; it means showing up as your authentic, messy, emotional self.” That stuck with me.
Over the years, I’ve learned that success isn’t something you reach once and stop. It’s a daily practice—showing up, learning, failing, forgiving, and trying again.
Q: How did your upbringing shape your drive and resilience?
Michael Franti: My father was an alcoholic who later found recovery, and that journey taught me a lot about perseverance. Watching him rebuild his life showed me that people can change, no matter how far gone things might seem. He showed me that hard work and humility go hand in hand.
At the same time, being a brown kid in a mostly white community forced me to learn early how to navigate difference—how to belong without losing yourself. It was tough, but it gave me empathy. It made me more aware of the struggles others face, and that awareness became a foundation for everything I do—music, business, and philanthropy.
Q: You’ve mentioned that travel has been your greatest education. Can you talk about what you’ve learned from the road?
Michael Franti: Absolutely. I went to the University of San Francisco and played basketball for two years, but when I left school to pursue music, my real education began. Traveling the world, playing for people from every walk of life, you start to understand that everyone is looking for the same basic things—connection, love, and belonging.
In one sense, travel keeps you humble. You see how people live with less but still smile more. You watch communities come together in the face of hardship. It shifts your definition of success from “what can I get?” to “how can I contribute?”
I’ve been performing for over 40 years now, and the most valuable thing I’ve learned is that no matter where you go, kindness translates. A smile, a song, a moment of honesty—it breaks down barriers faster than anything else.
Q: You’ve built a successful hospitality business with Soulshine Bali. How did that idea come about, and what lessons has it taught you about leadership?
Michael Franti: Soulshine started as a dream—a space where people could reconnect with themselves. In 2010, we opened in Bali, and I wanted it to be more than a resort. It’s a place where music, mindfulness, and community intersect.
Running a hospitality business taught me that leadership is about listening. I lead the same way I make music: collaboratively. You don’t build great songs or great businesses by trying to control every detail. You build them by empowering others to bring their best selves to the table.
We’ve had guests tell us their time at Soulshine helped them find new direction in their lives. To me, that’s success—not because of the revenue, but because something we created helped someone else heal, reflect, or grow.
Q: You and your wife founded Do It For The Love. How does that fit into your philosophy of success?
Michael Franti: Do It For The Love is all about giving joy back. We bring people with life-threatening illnesses, children and adults with special needs, and wounded veterans to live concerts. The idea started when we realized that music can heal in ways medicine can’t.
When you see someone who’s been through years of hardship light up at a show, it changes you. It reminds you that success isn’t about accolades—it’s about moments. If you can create even one moment of real happiness for someone else, that’s success on a soul level.
Q: What habits or routines keep you grounded and focused?
Michael Franti: My day starts with movement. I train with weights, do yoga, or play basketball. That physical discipline helps clear my head. I also write songs every day—it’s my form of meditation.
And, honestly, spending time with my son Taj grounds me the most. We fly kites together, which sounds simple, but it’s magic. It reminds me that success is just being present. You can be running a business or touring the world, but if you can’t be fully there for the people you love, what’s the point?
Q: What advice would you give to someone chasing their own version of success?
Michael Franti: Start by defining what “success” means for you, not for anyone else. For me, it’s about love, service, and creativity. For someone else, it might be security or freedom. But be specific.
Then, build habits that support that vision. You can’t wish your way to success—you have to work through the discomfort, self-doubt, and setbacks. The key is consistency and gratitude. My father’s recovery taught me that success isn’t a straight climb—it’s a spiral. You revisit lessons again and again, but each time, you rise a little higher.
And finally, don’t wait to celebrate. Success isn’t the finish line—it’s the small victories that happen every day when you choose kindness, authenticity, and purpose.