Mikyla Cara: "Thank You, Thank Me" (Exclusive Interview)
How'd you come up with your stage name?
This isn’t the most exciting story lol - I decided to keep my stage name the same as my actual name – Mikyla is my first name but the way I spell it is a variation of the spelling and Cara is my middle name 😊
Where are you from?
I am from a town called Luton in the UK.
How did you get your start in music?
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when, as I started singing and writing songs from a very young age, but I would say my initial start in music evolved from gigging in various venues from the age of 18. Those years of performing other people’s songs hugely inspired my artistry and overall creativity, which then transpired into writing, recording and releasing music. The rest propelled from there.
Is music a big part of your family?
Yes and no lol, neither of my parents are particularly musical, but my sister and I are both musicians, so we grew up singing and writing songs together which was a huge part of our childhood and subsequently became a part of our family life!
What artists and songs did you grow up listening to?
So many! I mostly grew up listening to 90’s and 00’s RnB, artists such as Destinys Child, Ashanti and Aaliyah who massively inspired the music I write and how I compose my melodies. I am also a huge fan of neo soul artists such as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Indie Arie! But my all-time favourite artist, who really inspired and shaped my sound is Alicia Keys! To be honest I just really love powerhouse female vocalists!
What is the biggest message you want to bring to your audience?
I’m not sure it would be considered a specific message, but I’d say the most important thing for me as an artist is to be true to myself and authentic with both my music and content. When I write, I tell stories that I hope people will connect to, therefore the authenticity of how I present myself and what I put out is very important.
What has been the most challenging part of your music journey?
I would probably say finding a team of people who I can rely on and who understand my creative vision. I am incredibly grateful for the magical people I work with now.
Any good vocal health tips you can share?
Tired body = Tired voice: Your voice is a muscle and requires rest if it is tired. You wouldn’t run a marathon with a leg injury, so don’t sing on a tired voice. Rest is key.
What are your goals for the rest of 2023?
My goal for this year is to release singles on a monthly basis to build up momentum, this includes releasing a 5 track EP which I’m super excited to share! Ultimately, I hope this leads to a larger listening community and further musical opportunities.
