Interview with Michee

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

My grandfather gave me an accordion when I was six years old which sparked my passion for music. If I hadn't chosen music then I would definitely have chosen painting.

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

I like doing some exercise and physical activity. It relieves the mind.

How long has your band been around?

I began playing with Claudio Cervino, my guitar player, at the age of 18.

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

I currently live in Zurich, the musical capital of Switzerland, where there are many concerts and street music. I am originally from Italy and so I was strongly influenced by Italian music.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Michee is an abbreviation of my real name Michele. It is what my Italian friends call me.

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

It was with my band on a moving train from Zurich to Geneva. We had to move between 3 wagons with our instruments.

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

I love smaller clubs because I have direct contact with the public. I would like to play at the Moon & Stars Festival on the Piazza Grande in Locarno.

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

Michee with Toto.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Be curious, there is a lot to learn, and always be yourself, the audience will appreciate your honesty.

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Have more courage and don't wait so long to release the first song.

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

‘Pennies’ because of the story behind the song.

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

‘On Fire’ and ‘Elettrica’.

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

Situations or problems that had a strong impact in my life. I try to underline all of those feelings with the arrangement.

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

I want to convey the feelings that I had in the situations that I wrote the songs about.

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

The hardest part is leaving out long intros and solos because of the radios. There are always long discussions.

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

I will release an LP this year with seven new songs that will be available before Christmas.

Links:

Instagram: instagram.com/michee_musica 

Facebook: facebook.com/micheemusica 

Website: michee.ch 

Spotify: spotify.com/Michee

YouTube: youtube.com/michee