Rising Stars: Meet Mika Green of DC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mika Green.

Hi Mika, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been playing music as long as I can remember. I started learning guitar because my older sister started learning and I looked up to her a lot. As I started growing up, I got really into rock music, especially emo music and pop punk. However, I was sort of pushed to be a singer songwriter in acoustic and indie music. I realized this was inauthentic to who I am and when I reached college, I started a band with my best friend. After I moved from New Jersey to DC, I kept the name and continued as a one woman show. I do all of the instruments- I play guitar, bass, piano and program the MIDI drums and synths. I finally got closer to the sound that I was looking for and successfully found my niche in modern electronic rock.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Absolutely not. I am very lucky to have had incredibly supportive people in my life, but I grew up with debilitating stage fright. I don’t know what changed, but something clicked in me and saw it as fun. I also was forced to grow not just as a musician, but as an artist. As a woman in this part of the music industry, I find that people always assume less of me. I have worked extremely hard to learn multiple skills to make this project something that I do almost entirely by myself. I learned how to do pre-production work, I write all of my own lyrics, I make all of the art for merch and graphics, etc.
I also think women do have a harder time establishing that they belong in this industry. I am frequently the only woman in a line up, the only queer person in a lineup, etc. I have been hit on, assaulted, and insulted at shows. With that being said, I think it is important to loudly be who I am and to be the person I wish I had to listen to and look up to when I was a child.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am Mika of Kick Rocks. I sing and play guitar during the shows, but my passion is in the storytelling element of my music. A trademark of Kick Rocks is the blend of electronic music and rock music. Rather than using synths in an 80s way, I think it adds a fresh, almost EDM sort of sound at times.
I think my person probably sounds most different from others because of all the influences that go into it. I have a singer-songwriter background so there is a strong emphasis on lyrical content, but I also have a degree in music theory so I’d like to think that my instrumentals also have a unique perspective. Further, I listen to a big range of genres; pop punk, metalcore, EDM, kpop, indie. I think this creates a unique blend of sounds.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
As cheesy as it sounds, just keep going. “Why can’t it be me?” has been my mantra. I think too many bands/creatives get caught up in the numbers game, but I’ve found the numbers come when you stop focusing on it. Create the kind of music you want to create and be authentically you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @kickrocks.band
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kickrocksband
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7wYpI0ibITSn05SQINcsCz

Image Credits
all photographs: George Lambert
the artwork: Mika Green