Interview with Gary Mictian

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

• I remember from a very young age music would have a huge effect on me.  Around age 12 my school was holding auditions for a rock band and I auditioned as a singer just for the experience not thinking I would be chosen. Sure enough, I got picked and that’s when I decided what I wanted to do with my life. It’s impossible to tell what I would do if not music because I’m not really capable of anything else! But I think I would be a restaurateur or something, I love food and being a great host.  

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

• I mostly spend time with my friends, and redeeming any social life that I don’t get as a result of being stuck in the studio. Interacting with people has a huge influence on my creativity because I’m experiencing human connections and that’s what I discuss in a lot of my music.

How long have you been making music?

• Far too long, more than 10 years  

Where are you based and how did that influence your music?

• I’m London based, I think the electronic music scene here is really vibrant and cutting-edge. It’s a great place to be if you want to push boundaries.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, and what is your vision for a  live show?

• My most memorable shows are always the ones in smaller more intimate venues, I’m always more nervous to play those settings but there’s something special about them because you really feel the connection between you and the audience. On a bigger scale, my vision for a live show is for it to be just like a  rave, lots of strobe lights and psychedelic visual effects!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

• My dream venue would be Alexandra Palace, it’s such a beautiful space!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

• Definitely The Weeknd, and perhaps Charli XCX, then Calvin Harris.  

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

• Dont hold back! And don’t be afraid to be your true self. When I was starting out I struggled with authenticity, the more you can inject your honest personality into your music the more people will be able to connect with it.  

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

• It’s actually my next single called “Only One” I wrote it at a time when I was seeing someone who I had a really deep connection with that I hadn’t experienced before, but my habits of sabotaging my relationships got in the way of that and I got my heart broken. This is the first song I wrote that’s essentially like a diary entry, a stream of unfiltered thoughts and feelings.  

Which songs are your favourite to play and which get requested the most?

• A song of mine called “Dont Make it About You” which is a really loud and gritty techno-inspired song, it’s so fun to do live. People always love when I do my  song “Crime.” When the bass hits, it melts your face!

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

• I usually create the backing track first, and then a week or so later I’ll write the song on top of it. As a producer, I’m inspired by aesthetics, songs, movies,  books etc. Anything that feels gritty, dystopian, and hard-hitting. As a songwriter, I’m inspired by complex relationships, either with yourself or another person,  the dynamics of wanting to be understood and loved by someone.  

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music? If so,  please tell me about them.

• Definitely, a lot of it is seeking to understand relationships, either with yourself or with others. For a long time, I struggled with intimacy and that affected my ability to write compelling songs. Now I’m always striving to be as genuine as I  can to convey what really goes on within because love and self-love are a part of the shared human experience and that’s what makes music so universal.  

Do you have any new singles, videos, or albums out that you would like to tell me and your fans about?

• Yes! My debut EP Vertigo is coming on the 26th of May, and it’s a collection of my most honest and raw songs yet. I can’t wait for people to hear them!

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

• I’m already halfway through my follow-up EP, which is heavily inspired by techno. I think people are going to be quite surprised by it.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

• You can find me on everything! Just search my name Gary Mictian and I’m the only one that pops up!