At Talent Is Timeless, we’re constantly inspired by the personal stories behind the songs. This month, we’re celebrating 55-year-old Toronto-based songwriter Michael Turajlich, who joined the community in 2023 and placed joint third in the Lyrics category with his moving piece Back 9.
The song carries deep personal meaning.
“It’s a story about the last time my dad and I went golfing before he passed. It was his last round in his life, and after that I didn’t play for over seven years. Then, when I was living in Playa Del Carmen, I decided to pick up the game again as a tribute to him — and now I’m hooked on it, and on my own back 9 of life at age 55.”
When Michael found out he had placed in the 2025 Talent Is Timeless contest, he described it as a deeply personal moment:
“I felt like it was a gift from my old man because it was a story about him.”
Michael’s musical journey began decades ago in Nashville, where he moved from Canada to manage an artist, Jon Raven. But it wasn’t until he and his wife retired at 47 and began spending time in Mexico that songwriting became a passion. “I picked up a guitar, started to play and learn, and began writing as a hobby,” he recalls. His wife quickly became his greatest inspiration.
“The moment I met my wife, that’s when my world changed. She is my biggest supporter and muse for many of my ideas for songs.”
One of his proudest songwriting achievements so far is a song called Miles, recorded simply with guitar and vocals in a small studio as a Christmas gift for his wife.
“She loved it because it was our story,” Michael shares.
You can listen to that song here: https://youtu.be/x-ABm683Ds0
Joining Talent Is Timeless has given Michael new motivation. “It’s made me want to improve and learn to write better with each song,” he says. And while his story already spans Nashville, Mexico, and now Canada, he and his wife are planning to take the adventure even further — with a move to Europe next year.
Asked what advice he would give to other songwriters over 50, Michael keeps it simple: “Have fun.”
You can listen to Michael’s winning song here: https://youtu.be/OuvQLwAvy2Y
And Connect with Michael on Talent Is Timeless here: https://www.talentistimeless.com/members/mturajlich/
Talent Is Timeless is a global community of 29,000+ songwriters aged 50 and over, proving that creativity doesn’t come with an expiry date. Our members connect with like-minded artists, participate in monthly songwriting challenges, attend expert-led masterclasses, and compete in our annual contest—with winners recording at iconic studios like Abbey Road. Whether you’re returning to music after years away or writing the best songs of your life, you’ll find encouragement, feedback, and genuine connection here.