MIKANO // Interview

We went to interview Mikano a talented French-Cameroonian artist with a wide range of talent. He told us everything about his career, his passion for music and his debut mixtape Melting Balloons featuring the song ‘When It Rains Glitter’ with its impressive cinematic visuals.

Growing up in different cities around the globe Mikano is the “perfect example of a third culture kid whose music has been dramatically influenced by his rootless past”. The artist is definitely one to follow.

What can you say about your musical first step?

It came gradually, I started with freestyles at 13 years old. I only started music really seriously 2-3 years ago. I learned everything on my own. I used to write a lot, and my friends had advised me to record myself and it’s what I did. I’ve never stopped since then...

How did you start writing? What were your first texts about?

At first, it was only bullshit, you know. (laughs) It was a kind of guilt-tripping, you just say stuff like that to do the same as what rappers do. Over time, you realize that you can go further than that because you have a fairly broad vocabulary and experience. This is how you end up writing about yourself and what’s surrounding you... Sometimes you don’t even know exactly what you’re thinking of until you put it on paper. It’s a kind therapy, you know.

Are you a person who usually writes a lot?

I used to write a lot but for the project Melting Balloons, I didn’t write anything because I changed my recording process. I went straight from what was happening in my head to the recording session as a one-shot without going through the writing process. I was doing it line by line so it would be more spontaneous. As we're in quarantine at the moment, I took this opportunity to get back to writing and it feels good, to be honest.

How could you define your music?

I’d say it’s an explosion of emotions. You can go through a lot of different mood and feelings without necessarily linking them together. You can go from a feeling that reminds you of past moments, to something you’ve already experienced etc. That’s how I feel though.

Can you tell me more about your origin?

Is that something important for you to share in your music? I am a French-Cameroonian guy. I was born in Paris, but my two parents are from Douala in Cameroon, but they were born in Yaoundé. I lived there for 4 years and then I did a lot of back and forth between France and Cameroon during my holidays. I’m not necessarily keen to claim my origins through my music... Music is music, you know. There’s no nationality in this art. It’s important to say where you come from, but I don’t think it is to claim it in your music.

Do you work alone, or you love to surround yourself with other people?

To be honest, it really depends on my mood. I like being alone or with my mate, but always in small committee. I always work on my music with one or two people maximum, like with my producer Svtvs, for example. I record my voice and do everything with him and once I have something “usable” I can share it with the rest of the team to discuss our ideas on what has just been created. I prefer to do everything in a “small group” same with my video clips. For example, I’d like it to be just me and the person making the video at the head of the project, and if we need to add people to the team I rather ask my mates to join us because it’s with them that we started developing ideas six years ago, you see what I mean?

Music is music, you know. There's no nationality in this art.

Talking about clips, I feel that the aesthetics of them is very important to you...

It is indeed. In my eyes, it’s as important as the music. Clips can harm your music if they suck... Your songs can be dazzling but people will look at your artistic project as a whole. It’s the reason why visuals and music are something that must be perceived as something inseparable. If I decide to clip a song, I will do my best to create something really great.

Where does your inspiration come from?

Everything inspires me basically. First, I’d say Frank Ocean but if I only focus on Rap, because Rap is really my thing, I’d say Lil Wayne and Kanye. They both managed to create a whole universe around their music, and not necessarily a universe related to Rap music. They're not afraid to shake the trends. Rap used to be focused on “money & bitches”, and they weren’t afraid to talk about other things like “I give my mom roses because she has cancer”, you know? They even talked about depression. It was another subject that was unique to everyone. They influenced me because it was more introspective and less bling-bling, like something truly “real”.

In your songs, there are loads of singing parts... Would you say that you feel more comfortable with Rap or singing?

Actually, I’d say both. I started with Rap but it’s important to try new things, not to “stay in your place”. For my project Melting Balloons I wanted to try sounds with a lot more singing to break this rapper image. I wanted to show that making music encompasses everything. On the project that I am working on at the moment, there are as much singing as Rap, it’s important to create several moods.

Instagram: Mikano_

Words © Gloria Dominiak

Photography © Yann Dubois