Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Mike aka mic : I heard about about Exposed vocal from the internet when i was searching for music scholarships , i got interested when i saw the word( Exposed vocals) written it captured my mind because i have always wanted to prevail in music. that is why i decided to sign in.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Mike/mic : I grew up in Nairobi Kenya in the family of five siblings of which i am the second last,
our parents died both when i was just boy the year 2000 on a road accident of which we were scatted to different relatives to take care of each of us , unfortunately i was mistreated and abused and i had to go stay in the streets .
later on i got a friend,i used to go to his shop then he would give me some food to eat,he loved me after hearing my story and took me back to school at his rural area in Kisumu i also completed my high school and attained a mean grade of B plain. he wanted to take me to cumpus but he went financial bankrupt i did not get the chance to go to the university because of financial situation. then he had to release me then i went back to Nairobi and lived in the street for one year until i settled.
i grew up loving music and people used to tell me to release album when they could heard me singing,i later develop interest on musical instruments of which i first learn to play basic piano lessons in one of the local churches i use to attend,being taught by the pianist who use to play in that church. later i started playing piano and singing in the church after they discovering my talent ,and that is how i started getting my bread from my music. since i discovered my talent Ive always dream t to pursue music professionally because i believe that i was born an artist.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Mike/m.i.c : i always wanted just to use my original name so when i saw my name “mike” then i thought of a (microphone) then the fact that i/people use microphone to sing i finally came up with (m.i.c) as my stage name also because its close to my real name and (mic-rophone) is my inspiration.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
mike/m.i.c: online music sharing helps to expose new artist enables them to connect. and also people get informed on the new styles and talents rising up day by day, and to me is good. Yes i do give my music away for free because to me i want to give people my message and get them entertained,that is my joy.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Mike/m.i.c: yes i definitely can give local bands and artist tips.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that ?
Mike/m.i.c: yes i have make mistakes during performance but i have learn t to cover them up without audience noticing then make sure that the same mistake doesn’t occur next performance.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Mike/m.i.c: i have not come across much tour because am still an upcoming artist.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Mike/m.i.c: my inspiration of writing songs come from my day to day life experience and things that happens around me,i get my message from them. sometimes also when i play music instrumentals song just comes out of it then i write,sometimes also when am asleep as a dream or meditating what is happening around me .
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Mike/m.i.c: No i don’t have a band website. i share my music using my email ,Facebook and sound-cloud.
Exposed vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Mike/m.i.c: None .
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Mike/m.i.c: i would divide the money into two..10% to my music projects works then 90% goes to the community work e.g building orphanage and school for the orphans because i have also felt the pain of being rejected as an orphan . and then rehabilitation center for street children and drug addicts and entrepreneurship programs. i would begin community work immediately.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Mike/m.i.c: yes i have planned for studio upgrades,currently am just working with a local recording studio.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Mike/m.i.c: currently am using word of mouth and through internet,and am also seeking for advisers who can advice me on how to promote my music.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Mike/m.i.c: if i could perform with Stevie wonder in any big concerts in this world i would be the proudest man ever…. because his type of music and performances really inspires me ,i would love to be be even better than him vocally and performances and make him proud , he is one one of my greatest roll model.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Mike/m.i.c: yes, i am working on Swahili funky-rock style with a little jazz in it but not complicated, the song is talking about ‘people/nations coming together as one’. i believe its gonna be one big song.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Mike/m.i.c: i would be maybe working with security forces.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Mike/m.i.c: yes i remember buying Michael Jackson album and i was wishing one day i be performing and singing like that .
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
mike/m.i.c: okay i believe as i perform to people some of them need to be taken care of physically like their basic needs,so that i what motivates me to work hard in my music as a priority and take care of them.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
Mike/m.i.c: my fans should look forward to see the beginnings of my new different style of music.
