Mikky Ekko - Bristol interview
Posted on: 25 Mar 2014
Adam: How are you finding the UK?
Mikky: Love the UK, I spent a good bit of time in London, Manchester, Bristol and Brighton before and I’m really looking forward to being on tour here.
Is it the first time you’ve been on tour in the UK?
I played a few dates here a few months ago as a sort of warm up not really a tour but I have played a few dates in the UK.
Is it true that Kids is inspired by London?
Yeah that was my first trip, I woke up the next morning and the riot kicks off. Like I thought it would be. When I grew up London was going through the punk scene that was what I'd remembered seeing on the TV. I now love London an it’s pretty chilled. I woke up that week and Kids was just there.
Where do you get your inspiration for your songs?
You know, for me it goes every which way; I’ve always been an artist first and foremost however I’ve scaled down recently to really focus on my song writing. For me it’s about finding a point of inspiration and keeping it alive.
Why Mikky Ekko?
I wanted something simple that was easy to say and it represents a lot of things for me but I want people to form their own opinion.
What has inspired you most working on your album?
The producers the most, especially Pharrell he’s insane. Such a classic guy, for me it’s about learning and every time I’m in with these incredible producers I learn so much. One of the things I learnt from him was to get it down and not overthink it. Sometimes that works for me and sometimes it doesn’t.
What the best piece of advice that you have received?
I once heard somebody say that if you could imagine doing anything else you should do that, and that has pushed me to be great because when you know there really isn’t anything else you can do with your life you push yourself.
What do you think you’d be doing if you didn’t have music?
Nothing I'd have shrivelled up into a little raisin probably. I really have no idea, there was no alternative.
Has gospel really influenced your music?
Yeah, everything has shaped my music and even my life really. There is an importance of how music can people bring people together and that really inspired me.
What artists do you listen to yourself? Maybe your top 3?
Oh God, my big three that I would always come back to over the last 3-4 years would be – Marnie Stern, Actress and then I mean there’s a lot of listening to pop and analysing what going on there and realising where I fit in.
What about Guilty pleasures?
I don’t really feel guilty about any of them but let’s see, I love Michael Bolton, I loved him growing up I don’t care what anybody says. For whatever reason mom and dad had this greatest hits tape and that’s what I always listened too.
Have you ever been caught starstruck?
I’m not the sort of person to get starstruck, I will say the first time I met Rihanna, I wouldn’t call it starstruck but for me I was definitely in awe, I never really pictured being in the same room.
Would you like to work with her again?
Yeah I loved working with her, I loved the whole thing. They work super, super fast and so hard and she’s crazy and a go getter and I really respect her.
Was Stay written for someone else? Or did you have plans for you to release it yourself?
I get asked that a lot but I never plan to write for anyone else, I don’t really see the point. I want to be singing the good songs. Sometimes the song doesn’t quite fit or there is something else you could do with it. I like to work with people I respect
Is there anyone else in the next year or so that you would like to work with?
There are tons of people that I’d love to work with but it’s about timing and the right song. I’m open to working with anybody.
What do you do to try and keep you grounded? Hobbies outside of music?
I don’t like being grounded, that’s the best bit. I like living the dream, I don’t like coming down. It’s like magic; I never want to lose that magic.