We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikey Rotten a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mikey, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Ive always just been my self where ever i go and i keep thing brutally honest. Its a gift and a curse but i’ve learned to tone down the harshness of my realism a little bit over time so i’m a little less offensive. On the other hand i cant not keep it real even when keeping it real goes wrong. I would rather do me and be my unapologetic self rather than adjust who i am to fit in with who i’m with unless i feel its actually constructive for my character and in my best self interest. Always follow your heart, always be your self, and never feel bad for it. Even if you come off as a d*ck some times honesty helps people grow more than lying to make them feel good or faking your interest to avoid conflict. Real ones keep it real even if its not what people wanna hear.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Im an underground music artist based out of downtown LA, from the south but lived in the midwest for years before moving to the west coast. Gathering influence from place to place I’ve conjured a unique dark aggressive sound you probably wont find anywhere else. Doing my own production, recording, mixing, mastering, and artwork i’m able to guide the sound and style to the direction that resonates with my soul and other like minded individuals. With a taste of darkness atop of street influences and a defiant DIY mindset my music sets the perfect mood for the aggressive underground live shows i’m known for. With anticipation for my next tour with Idontknowjeffery and Black Smurf this fall my next project “Impending Doom” is set for release around the same time. So be ready for disaster this October because i have a lot in the chamber for the unsuspecting masses.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think realizing your self worth, believing in your art, hard work, and persistence is probably the most important traits i’ve gained over time as a musician. If i can give any advice to people wanting to peruse the same goals, it would be keep at it and believe in your work even if no one else does. Lastly you don’t need to know it all, you just need to know enough to get the job done so keep at it. You don’t fail until you quit before you make it.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I have to give it to Eddy Baker and Xavier Wulf for opening many of the doors that aloud me to do what i’m doing today, although I have many more who have helped me along the way. Shout out to everyone who has believed in me and the art i make. Without them i’m not sure i would have grown to be the artist i am now. I feel truly blessed to have made so many great friends along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: MikeyRotten.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyrotten/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/akamikeyrotten/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/akamikeyrotten?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPk9vGhW300vxuVtK7GOIIA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mikeyrotten
- Other: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/1zHT9y9IMhDCl0j6TSkZ1m
