Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Canaday
Hi Micah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
A good place to start I would say is back in August 2015, It was a hot summer day in Williamsburg, Virginia. I had just graduated high school a few months prior in June. Two of my good friends along with myself were just chilling at the house, trying to stay cool & out of trouble. We had our usual routine. Sit around, laugh, joke, eat, go explore, reminisce & what not, but today was different. ‘Mathematics’ by Mos Def playing in the background at the house. This inspired me to want to make a song. I was decent at rapping and could make beats a tad bit. I put the idea in the air & they replied “why not?” I had a computer I kept with me & one of my friends had a USB microphone. His father was in the house asleep, so we pondered for a quiet place to record my vocals. This place ended up being outside, in the backseat of my other friend’s white Oldsmobile. Eager to follow through with the idea, we brushed past the fact that the heat index this day was well past 100 degrees. We had no clue what or how to make it happen at first, but we put our heads together, along with what we had, & figured it out. This sparked my passion for creating music. From that point, I started learning more to further my craft.
Eventually, I attended Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Virginia in 2016 for two years. While studying electrical engineering, I worked with artists from the surrounding seven cities & a far. From engineering, to producing, to songwriting, I jumped in it all head first. This was a time where I removed myself as the subject and grew a passion for collaborating. After a life change, I moved to San Jose, California in April 2018. I worked a number of different jobs along the way, all while trying to identify my goals. Being from the east coast, there were definitely challenges to face, adjusting to a new norm, though it has all been enjoyable on my journey. So here I am, a Native of Virginia, re-planted in the South Bay, who just makes music & enjoys seeing people happy, Hoping to one day see the world doing what I love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At times, for sure, smooth is a good term to use. Now, I will say that I have come across my fair share of potholes along the way, but what’s a rollercoaster worth riding without a lil bump to It? I can say I have been blessed along the way up to this point. I have learned some lessons on my journey. Some lessons that stuck easy, while some I learned the hard way, and it all has shaped me into who I am today. From working multiple jobs to pay bills, to removing myself from environments that I love but stunted my growth, all the way to adapting to living In a new place without being able to plan accordingly. I have learned to improvise along the way due to the uncertainties my life has presented. Taking the cards we are dealt to shape the game in the best way was not always easy though I can say.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a record producer. I have produced for artists of all genres, from Rap/Hip-Hop to Soul, Reggae to Pop, all the way to Gospel. I have worked on projects with notable artists like Mike Jones, Dej Loaf, Keak Da Sneak, Grapple Mark Battles, ManMan Savage, Thouxanbanfauni, and more. Whether it Is making a beat, recording vocals, writing lyrics, to readying a track for the masses, I serve however I can to creatives in the music world. I am most proud of the fact that I am still passionate and continue going after my dream. In 2021, I was proud to hear that my track ‘Cali Inna Summer’ appeared on the GR8-L8 Show by Justin Muzack on 101.5 FM KQBH. My upbringing in Virginia sets me apart by itself. Coming to the Bay Area allowed me to see the culture in a new light which inspired me to take it a step furthermore myself. I can imagine if I allowed some setbacks in my life to set in, I probably would have quit by now. I have stayed resilient and chose the love of what I do, over the reward that most in my lane usually strive for. The thing that sets me apart from most is my willingness to create anywhere. While a studio is the sought after setting for most to create, I didn’t have that coming up. I always have been an advocate of “maximizing the minimum” or “taking nothing and making it something”. My mom is who I thank for that.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I created a large amount of my work in a Janitors Closet in my college dorm at Norfolk State University. Folks would wonder how my tracks would sound so good sonically. I was not able to book the studio on campus at the time. This led me to finding my own space to craft. This janitors closet was located away from the other residents on my hall, so it seemed to best fit at the time. Most thought I worked in a studio, but no. It. makes me laugh to this day, but more importantly it motivates me to keep going. As other students would find out, it would inspire them to come by and listen as I crafted. eventually sparking their own desire to create. You can start from anywhere, at any time.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selectfewsound757/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://x.com/micariosuave
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@selectfewsound
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mic-c-craz
Image Credits
Desman Grain
