Mick Southerland is a Texas-based Deep Retrowave artist inspired by classic electronic pop sounds. Riding the wave generated by the turbulence across the globe, Mick delivers a slice of funky synth-pop beckoning ‘Sweet Change’.
How have you refined your craft in 2020?
So far, I’ve focused a lot on my production skills and developing my voice. I’ve been playing instruments my whole life, but singing is new to me in the past few years, so I’ve been working to find my voice. It’s really doing a good job of hiding.
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanied you through the creation of ‘Sweet Change’
Oh man, where to start. I’m an organic gear slut, with a collection of over 20 guitars and basses, synths, old amps, drum sets… And then there’s the tech, endless VSTs. I try to split my production efforts between organic and electronic elements to give everything a human feel but still take advantage of the sonic range and dynamics of modern electronic instruments and samples. For example, I will use electronic drum samples, and add a ring from my snare to the tail. Sometimes, I record room noise and use it as a bed to add life to the track, just ambient noise.
What was the inspiration behind this new single?
I think the protests going on around the world definitely inspired this song, though there are no direct connections. It was originally called “Sea Change” but Beck had that album, so…
Is there any “non-musical” ingredient that has been essential to your creative process of late?
When I’m recording lately, I chew tons of nicotine gum. I am so addicted to the stuff, but I’ve never been a smoker.
Do you consider the Internet and social media as fundamental in building a career in music today, and what is your personal relationship with the internet?
That is all there is these days. I started life as a developer, so I’m pretty in love with the technologies. The paradigm shift that has happened over the past 10 years provides wonderful new opportunities to be heard. I fully embrace it all.
What are you looking forward to the most when you can take this material out on the road again?
The road.. Such a foreign concept these days. I actually just had a European booking firm show interest, and while there was a time when I would have been excited, today it just seems meh. I don’t know about the road. I’m focused on pushing more of my singles to 1 million streams and beyond.
What does success look like to you? What would you still like to achieve with your music?
It is more of a challenge to myself. I want each new song to be the best I have done. I want to get my work to a point where I don’t cringe when I hear one of my songs stream.
Please suggest an album for us to listen to.
Red Line by Trans Am
Please share any news of upcoming projects/releases etc. you would like to promote.
This Winter, I’m releasing my first full solo album, so look out for it. I’m going to call it “Greatest Hits Volume II”
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