Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikey.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey as a singer and musical artist was kickstarted back home in New Jersey when I was around ten years old and first heard Elvis Presley. I was transformed from a wannabe baseball player into a wannabe rockstar instantly. I immediately began teaching myself the guitar and singing (when nobody was around). The connection I had with music was clearly something unlike anything I’d encountered up to that point. I continued to get more and more passionate and eventually started bands and played drums, guitar and sang. Once I started writing music the game really changed for me. I’ve always been someone with a lot of feelings and until I wrote my first song, I had no idea what to do with them. I began performing as a solo artist when I was around 16/17 and though my musical styles have changed a bit, I haven’t stopped since.
I made the move from NJ to LA in 2015 shortly after I turned 21 and immediately fell even more in love with writing. I made an appearance on NBC’s The Voice the year after my move and have performed all over the country and shared the stage with some incredible artists such as LeAnn Rimes, Lauv, Jacob Whitesides and ARIZONA since. I’ve had a crazy amount of ups and downs, and bouts with anxiety and depression, but music has been my one constant through it all. I’m here, 26 now, writing more than ever and releasing music I am extremely proud of.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not been and still isn’t a smooth road. I was lucky to have some incredible experiences very quickly when I moved to LA, but things tend to not go as you hope a lot of the time, especially in the entertainment business when you’re still coming up. You also unfortunately meet some people who don’t always have your best interests at heart. These things combined with the underlaying struggles with depression and anxiety have made it quite the uphill battle and I still have a long way to go. The entertainment industry is not your best friend if you are somebody who struggles with their confidence, but I have also made it a point to not let these things stop me from getting where I want to be. It’s easy to be cynical, and I’d be lying if I said I haven’t been on many occasions, however I do fully at the end of the day believe anything can happen if you keep working towards your goals.
Can you give our readers some background on your music?
I am a musical artist and songwriter. I perform at all kinds of events, whether it be corporate/private events or my own shows to promote my original music. I also a songwriter for other artists and am in multiple sessions weekly doing that. I entered that world most seriously over the past two years and discovered the magic that can show up in a room of talented writers/producers just trying to make something as good as it can be. What makes me proud of myself as an artist and creator is that I continue to hold the right things close. I work out from a place of love for the art and don’t compromise my personal opinion of quality in order to please others if I can’t back it. I want to be able to spread messages of hope for those who struggle from similar things as I do, but also be able to have fun and create music that allows you to let loose.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My parents deserve a ton of credit for where I am today. They don’t understand the music business much or all of the things that I do, but that makes me appreciate their belief in me even more. I can only imagine it’s hard to have trust in your kid chasing a difficult dream when you don’t have the specific tools or knowledge to really help guide them. They have constantly believed in me and encouraged me to keep going even through all of the crazy ups and downs. My closest friends and collaborators deserve a ton of credit for their support and making me better at what I do. There are a handful of people I work with often writing who challenge me and have helped me grow as a writer.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iammikeymusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamMikeymusic
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iammikeymusic
Image Credit:
Angel Osorio; Tommy Wooldridge
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