Listen in: www.blogtalkradio.com/avaliveradio/2013/12/08/ava-live-radio-behind-the-music-artist-helena-micy
Listen in live as host Jacqueline Jax speaks with UK artist Helena Micy.
Getting up close and personal with UK music artist Helena Micy..
What gets her hot, A leap of faith from Greece to the UK, and What it’s like to be flawed. Listen in now…
Music: Don’t Change, Leave Me Alone, and Listen.
GETTING TO KNOW HELENA MICY
1) What are three things that would surprise us to know about you?
Good question this one!
1) I’ve always been singing in English even when I didn’t speak any since I was born and raised in Greece.
2) I quit my two universities to study music and
3) I left my country after 25 years of living there, to come to the UK and chase my dreams. It’s Never too late and so far it’s going really good! 🙂
2) Name three words that best describe you and why?
1. Stubborn because I always do what I want without listening to what others advise me to do (it’s not a good thing by the way),
2. Very spontaneous. Most of the times I say and do what I feel which is not a good thing to have again and 3. Passionate! If I do something I really love, I give my heart, soul and life to it without thinking that the outcome might be a negative one.
As you can see, I’m full of flaws. hehe
3) Who was the single most influential person in your music journey so far?
Cristina Scabbia from Lacuna Coil.
4) Any backstage, pre-show rituals? How do you get “in the zone”?
H: I don’t really have any specific rituals but I’m giving a general pep talk to myself most of the times. Before a show I am always nervous because I want it to be perfect but nothing is perfect in life so I am saying to myself that I did the best I could to be prepared for this moment, that I am here to enjoy the show, give my all on stage and do my best, and most importantly to entertain the crowd in order for everybody to encounter a wonderful experience. 🙂 I guess now that I have my full band, we’ll maybe start doing pre show rituals all together. hehe
5) Have you collaborated with any other artists? Who have been your favorites to work with. OR who is on your wishlist? If you could collaborate with anyone in the industry right now, who would that be and why?
H: I collaborated with many wonderful artists from Greece so far such as Stereo Mike (MTV awarded rapper – producer) , Maxi Nil (VOA) and Johnny Zero (Elysion) but the collaboration with Stereo Mike was a big lesson for me because he has a very good knowledge on how things work in the music business so I learnt a lot from him. Our collaboration is an on going process for 3 years now. He did a feature on my EP 3 years ago, then I recorded vocals for his album, currently he is producing my debut album and recently became the bass player in my newly formed band too which is amazing.
I would love to collaborate with so many artists I respect but if I had to pick one, it would be Lacuna Coil because they are the first who inspired me in order to follow the music path and chase my dreams.
6) Indie or mainstream? As in would you like to remain an indie artist or is the goal to eventually break out into the mainstream music biz? why or why not?
H: hmmm this is a really good question but I really don’t know which way I will go in the future. I believe you can have a great career both ways but every situation has its pros and cons. I mean.. I am unsigned and indie for now and it’s great because I have 100% control over my career moves. Everyday I am learning something new about the music business and it’s really helpful for an artist to acquire the business know-how but the bad thing is I do not have the time I need to focus on writing music. On the other hand when you’re signed to a label, you don’t have the absolute freedom to do what you want with your music career but I am not against contracts with labels at all. If a good deal comes my way, I will grab the opportunity for sure. 🙂
7) If you do have plans to release your music mainstream, why do you think its so hard for indie artists to break into the mainstream market?
H: Even when you’re signed to a label it’s still hard to break into the mainstream market as things are very competitive and you have to have the right team around you as well, plus you need a bit of luck too. As an Indie artist, most probably you do everything yourself or with the help of few people who most of the times will be friends or die hard fans. It’s very hard for an emerging artist to be creative and to have a business mind too and I think this is why most indie artists won’t do a mainstream breakthrough. Let’s face it. Music becomes a business when you do it professionally and with the help of the right businessmen/women around you, you can have great fame.
8) What is the single biggest compliment or piece of advice you have received from a fellow artist?
H: “Always work for the song. Let it take you where it wants to go.” – Stereo Mike on how to compose music.
9) If ever you decide to hang up the microphone/instruments what is the single most important thing you want people to remember about your artistry? what legacy do you want to leave?
H: I really want to inspire people with my story actually. I’m from a small town in Greece called Elassona where there was no music school around. English is not my native language, yet I write lyrics and sing in English. Greece doesn’t have an R’N’B/Soul music legacy at all so having said all that I would like to be remembered as an artist who defied all odds and did the best she could to achieve her dreams. I want to inspire people to achieve their dreams because I really believe you can achieve anything, if you believe in your own power and work hard enough.
Social Media links:
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Justin J Grant is a singer/multi-instrumentalist from Newry, N.Ireland. He has been performing in public from the age of fifteen, formerly as the front man of a locally acclaimed six piece band and currently as a solo artist playing all over Ireland and the U.K. Justin is a prolific writer and has an extensive Catalogue of wonderful melody driven contemporary songs of which fourteen are presented on his debut album, “ Break The Wing “
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