“Words make you think. Music makes you feel. A song makes you feel a thought.” — E.Y. Hamburg.
Life is one precious gift given by the universe. It’s a source of creation that further leads to many beautiful creations. Of such beautiful creations, there comes music! We believe that we created music, but no, music has been present in the universe even before us. Music is the flow on which even the universe grooves, and it is kind enough to share music with us.
‘If life is a gift from the universe, music is the gold ribbon it was tied up with!’
The entire process seems just magical! Gratitude to all those involved in this magical creation! How otherworldly that feeling must be to exist in this cycle! Today’s guest is someone who breathes music every day and is an element of this majestic flow! Hailing from Brisbane, Australia, we have today Michaela Cook, aka Micks! Publically known and famous as Micks is a gorgeous lady from the fastest growing city and the capital of Queensland.
We humans very well know how to use the gifts of nature. It happened the same with music. We started to put our thoughts into words and combined them with the symphony. And we created a beautiful concept called songs! These songs further lit up our world. There is at least one song for every situation in life in today’s world, no matter what the situation is! Songs have been with us in every aspect of our lives.
May it be the happiest moments of your life, most profound sorrow, peaks of anger, or fun! We have at least one song to tag along with! They could motivate you in your lows while adding on in your highs. Songs help us feel our own emotions while conveying our emotions without actual conversations. It is admirable how a lyricist puts the words together while the musicians add music to it, and then a singer puts the soul into it with their singing.
Micks has finished her bachelor’s in communication and is majoring in Mass Media and Culture. She has a minor degree in popular music, which encompasses Audio Engineering. Her singing journey begins in the very basement of her house. Today, her voice soothes millions of souls with persistent efforts and devotion to music! Let’s hear about her journey in her own words!
Setting the sails in the ocean of music!
When did your musical journey take off?
Well, music has been with me even before I can remember. I have been into singing ever since I was a kid. I used to sing my favorite songs all the time. That is how I learned to sing growing up as a kid.
Further, I learned how to play guitar via YouTube tutorials, which complimented my singing. It sounded better and better. Growth has been a constant purpose of my journey, so then I started writing my songs, and thus my journey began. In the year 2014, I officially started releasing my original songs. Writing songs was just like journaling for me. It’s easier for me to write down my emotions. That way, I can process them better.
That is how it all came to be! During my undergraduate degree, I learned different strategies and theories, so I used to apply those same strategies to market my music and brand on social media. There were many old-school theories that I tried to implement in my social media and where I was releasing my music, so it was a real-time trial and error.
The funny part about my journey is when I started releasing my music. I did it on YouTube. I was not into Folk/ country music back then. But people used to comment on my videos asking if I was a folk/country singer. So, after all those comments, I eventually fell into the folk/country genre!
The Hurdles!
Which was the biggest hurdle you have come across during this journey?
I would say that the biggest hurdle I’ve ever come across has been the COVID-19 situation. It is such an uncertain time for everyone, and my heart was breaking for everyone worldwide. It also had a significant impact on my professional life, as I had planned to release an album in mid-2020. Since the Government imposed the lockdown, we could not travel across both international and domestic borders. Thus, we could not do the tours we usually do to promote the album the way I had planned and dreamt for a long.
I had to pivot quickly, and I decided to release a few singles with my fingers crossed! I’m blessed with a vast audience, even online, so I was able to connect with my listeners throughout this whole pandemic!
It’s been 18 months since the pandemic happened, but still, the live music hasn’t returned to Australia. I find it very ironic that art has to struggle a lot here! During this whole lockdown phase, people reverted to all sorts of arts, yet no one was even trying to help the art scene go live again so the artists could earn.
Micks’ Secret Mantra!
What, according to you, qualities one should possess apart from practice and vocal skills?
Honestly, there is just one thing that one needs to possess, not only to become a singer but in any aspect of life, and that one thing is ‘Passion.’ If you have that passion for the things you are approaching, then it’s my word, you will succeed for sure!
Speaking specifically about singing, there is one other thing I believe one should acquire, ‘the ability to feel and understand music.’ Not just to technically understand it, but to understand how the song feels as a whole. It will help you a lot throughout this musical journey!
Stepping into the shoes of Micks!
Since you are not only a singer but also a lyricist, what exactly goes into your mind when you create a song?
Whenever I am writing a song, usually my first thought goes like, ‘Does this make sense?’ For me, the songwriting process is journaling my feelings. Whatever I feel, think, observe, and experience goes into my songs. Also, when I write, I think of the music, melody, and lyrics simultaneously.
So it gets overwhelming for me when I have so much to say. So at such moments, I sit back and go through the lyrics to make sure that the picture or the story I wish to convey is clear. Sometimes the flow connects well, and the song is done in just 2-3 days, while sometimes it takes weeks or even months. There are re-readings, drafts, and more since the recording and releasing of music are expensive. I need to give it a lot of thought before choosing which songs to put my money and time on for development!
When fans showered their love!
Millions love you! Which is your most memorable fan moment?
It’s crazy to think that I have millions of people who follow me and love my work! I am so grateful to every one of them. My favorite moment, I would say, was back in 2015. I remember that day I just logged onto Instagram, and I saw that my fans tagged me in a fan page account! The following day, there was another and then another! It is just insane for me that people were taking time out of their day to make fan edits to show their love and support. I still have many screenshots of the edits saved. That moment is just unforgettable!
Team MICKS!
What is #teammicks? How did it start?
Team MICKS is what I call my beautiful followers. I wanted to create a community, a safe place where we could all celebrate art and popular culture together and connect from across the world, and there are quite a few from India as well! It was started back in 2015. Team MICKS is not just a fan army. We are a team! My musical journey would have been incomplete if it weren’t for team MICKS! Celebs are nothing without their fans. They make us with their love and support!
By definition, team MICKS is ’a community who spreads love and kindness, and accepts everyone.’ Everyone is welcome here and can join any time!
Inspiring the Inspiration!
Who is your inspiration? What keeps Micks going?
It might sound cliché, but my parents have always been my inspiration. Right from my childhood, I have been looking at my parents and the hardships they had to go through. They gave up a lot of things in their life for my sister and me. Twenty-four years ago, when we immigrated to Australia, my parents had to leave everything behind.
It was a massive struggle for them emotionally and financially back in the early days, but they never backed out. They always kept going no matter what and proved it time to time that you will succeed if you are consistent with your efforts! So when life gets hard, things don’t turn out the way I planned. I remember that if my mom and dad could do it, so could I!
Reading between the lines!
Your songs always have that positive outlook toward life! Is there a painful lesson that shaped this perspective?
I haven’t spoken about it much. During my high school days, those times weren’t that great. I know how it feels to be on the receiving end of people being unkind. All those stories and the pain were reflected and heard in my earlier songs. During those difficult times, I learned to try my hardest to look for something positive in such situations. And thanks to that, I’ve grown a lot in my life. I found my strength again, and thus, this perspective is also visible in my songs. One of such songs is ‘Taking back my Crown.’
The beat of Micks’ Heart!
The audience loves every song of yours. Which song of yours is close to your heart?
My recent single, ‘Let’s Go Now!’ is my favorite! The reason is my dad. My dad has sung the backing vocals in this song to make the vocal synth. My dad is my musical hero! During his youth, he was a drummer in an 80’s Rock Band, and music has always been our ‘thing’ that we do together.
Also, ‘Let’s Go Now’ has been my first single that was reviewed and featured in The Rolling Stone Magazine in India, and my mom took the feature photos for the article at my home during the lockdown! We had planned a big studio shoot, but unfortunately, my city was placed into another lockdown just a day before!
And we had the time frame deadline to submit the photos, so we just worked on it together at home. It was natural for us as my mom takes photos for my social media most of my day in the life. I love my family a lot, and I don’t think I would be able to do any of this without them. So this combined effort and support from my family has made this song special for me.
Significance of Music!
What place does music hold in your life?
It’s everything! No matter what I am doing, may it be highs or lows, whether I’m doing it professionally or in my leisure time, music has to be in it! It’s an inseparable part of my life. There is no Micks without Music!
Expressing Gratitude!
What are the three things you are grateful for from this musical journey?
Ever since I was 14, all I’ve dreamt about and wished for was to become a ‘Rockstar.’ I won’t say that I am a rockstar, but the opportunity I get every day to create art and share it with the world, that is just like my dream. So the first thing I am grateful for is the opportunity to live my dream!
Secondly, I’m grateful to have such a lovely audience who supports me in living my dream.
Last but not least, the platform this journey provided me to promote worthy causes and charity organizations.
Accomplishments!
Awards and Achievements.
I consider myself lucky to win a few awards and receive #1 charting for my singles over the years. Though I am grateful for all these opportunities, I won’t say that it’s my most significant achievement. My biggest achievement is the online community I have. A community I can connect with and be a vehicle to spread kindness and happiness to every part of the world.
Support System!
Who is your support system?
My family! Since day one, my mom, dad, and sister have always been with me. Through the thick and thin, they’ve always been with me. As I mentioned earlier, my parents gave up their life for my sister and me ever since we moved to Australia, the four of us against every odd that we came across!
An insider on Micks’ life!
Apart from singing, what other things do you love to do in your daily life?
I love being creative in any way possible! I love creating content with pictures and videos and creating art and merchandise. I also love supporting worthy causes and using my online platform to support and promote them. I have partnered with various charities over the years, and I am proud to be an ambassador of RSPCA. It is an organization that focuses on preventing cruelty to animals and promotes animal welfare.
Experience Speaks!
Being in this world of music, what difference has this experience made in your life?
I’m blessed with an audience worldwide, so interacting with them and traveling the world, I came across distinct cultures, and it has been a fantastic experience! And all these experiences have taught me to open my eyes and see how beautiful the world is!
Sneak Peek to the Future!
What are your plans?
There is something very unique very soon, and I strongly feel that it will be well received. Also, more and more music. One album that I have wanted to release for quite a while. A lot is coming in for sure!
Words of Wisdom!
To anyone reading this, the idea that you have been planning in your head to make your dream come true, maybe for a few days or maybe for years, you know what, start it! Take the leap of faith and get going. I was terrified to release my first ever single online, but I just closed my eyes and clicked the upload button. And you can see where my leap took me. I know tons of thoughts cross your mind, ‘what if it fails? What if people don’t like it? What if some problem happens?’ Don’t fall for these what-ifs that make you doubt yourself. You’ve got this!
Passion is something that can take you to the highest peaks of success if you are ready to believe in yourself and take the leap. And when you have a melody to it, what more can you ask for!
Thoughts often make us wonder whether to cry or to smile. Music is like a bridge to both. Just hang around on it for a while!
— The_Subtle_Soul
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