INTERVIEW: Mike Edel — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Mike Edel

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I have been spending time with Mike Edel…

who has been telling me about his new single, Go with You. I ask the songwriter which artists inspired him to get into music and how he divides his time between Canada and the U.S. – he shares a particularly ‘memorable’ event from his time in music.

Edel reveals his tour plans and what he wants to achieve before the end of this year; whether there is any more material coming later; which new artists we should watch out for – Edel ends the interview by selecting a great track.

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Hi, Mike. How are you? How has your week been?

I am good. I am currently in California for a couple weeks and lots of stuff going on. It’s really great to have a song I love so much come into the world

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourself, please?

Mike Edel. I am Canadian but currently live in Seattle.

Go with You is your latest track. Can you reveal its story and origins?

It’s about change and about going into the unknown with the people you love beside you. The song was written on an acoustic guitar fairly quickly but underwent a deep transformation sonically with a kind of '80s hi-hat drumbeat and SYNTH. I really love it.

It is a bit of an upbeat track. Do you think there are too few positive and optimistic songs in modern music?

I really like that it is hopeful. It’s not easy to be up-tempo or positive without being cliché or cookie-cutter I find.

How did you come to work with Chris Walla? Is it true he was living in the Arctic Circle?!

I had last seen Chris after his last show with Death Cab two blocks from my house at Rifflandia Festival in Victoria in 2014. I emailed him and eventually sent some demos I had worked on pretty for quite awhile. Yes, he WAS living in the Arctic Circle, no lie.

Will there be more material coming a bit later? What are you working on?

I have more music, yes! I’m really interested in giving some of these songs some extra lives and this one, in particular, I would love to make an acoustic version of it. I’m working on lots of music release plans other than that.

You divide your time between Canada and the U.S. Are there big differences in terms of the music of Seattle and British Columbia?

It’s crazy how much the border is a real thing that divides. I would love if there was more cross-over between artists and scenes etc. Seattle is very interesting to me because I’m still figuring out the music there and there are so many fundamental differences that I’m learning.

Who are the artists that inspire you and led you to get into songwriting?

I’ve had some really great mentors in all aspects of music and life. I think, now that some years have passed, I really appreciate these people whether it’s my first drum teacher or current producer.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

Musical World Domination, of course.

Have you got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?

I’ll tell you my most un-favourite. I was playing a show in California last week and my acoustic guitar got knocked over, took a spill and the neck broke. I am very sad.

Which three albums mean the most to you would you say (and why)?

Sufjan Stevens - Carrie & Lowell I really loved.

I loved the new National and War on Drugs albums.

There is a band called Nature Of from Edmonton whom we’ve played with - and I love their record and it’s fairly unknown.