Artist Spotlight: Mikalyn Hay Ripples & Shines
Featuring
SB (StarBeat): Hey Ms. Hay! Tell us a bit about you so we can warm up…
MH (Mikalyn Hay): I am a grade nine student from Guelph ON. I am tall for my age and play basketball a bit – but more real sport is singing and songwriting!
SB: Through this Rippled Mirror… Enough said, how did the bolt strike?
MH: Rippled Mirror lyric just came, and sounded more uncertain that broken mirror. Also I loved the imagery of looking at things through waves or ripples. I am young so things are not really crystal clear in my head.
SB: Also, your piano playing is so spontaneous. Was it singing before playing – or the other way around?
MH: I started playing and singing at the same time – I can read sheet music but I dont really need it – my piano teacher Ben makes sure though that I play from books as well as from my head or intuitively. Its neat that you picked that up.
SB: Outside music, what do you like to do most outside?
MH: I usually play with my younger sisters or go cycling a bit or just hang out, or if I am really lucky, go downhill skiing.
SB: Cat or Dog? No choice, one’s just gotta go, you’re always playing music! Cat or Dog?
MH: Dog, cause I have one named Skye who is very cool!!
SB: Bach or Mozart?
MH: Mozart cause he improvised a lot on the fly.
SB: On that note, if you could graft a perfect artist from two, in any fields or arts?
MH: The Weeknd and Leonard Cohen.
SB: Well let’s lighten it up a bit. Fav Comedian?
MH: Amy Schumer!
SB: Back to music. Who’d be your dream collaboration?
MH: Oh that is tough – at the moment – maybe Halsey and the 1975.
SB: I noticed one comment on your StarBeat “Mirror” re: a daughter singing your song for 3 straight days. That hit me. How does that sink with you?
MH: Honestly I love that, and it motivates me to keep writing and recording and sharing. Its very cool when people react to the music I write. I am thankful when it happens.
SB: Fame, how do you perfectly frame fame?
MH: I see fame as enjoying what I am doing and being able to support myself somehow so that music can be the focal point of my life. That is how I want to be famous.
SB: Thanks Mikalyn! A quick shout out – and I see you are back in the StarBeat Canada contest, so it matters! (But note: we will play music at 5 lines!)
MH: Thanks StarBeat.tv for the awesome opportunity to have fun, meet and see some talented Canadians!! Best of luck to everyone.
Mikalyn’s StarBeat Links
Artist Profile: http://contest.starbeat.tv/users/view/4057
Audience Fav (video): http://contest.starbeat.tv/videos/view/201
Ontario Contest Winners: http://contest.starbeat.tv/blogs/view/34/official-results-top-talent-in-ontario
Mikalyn’s Social Channels
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/67mhay/
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/mhay67
Reverb: http://www.reverbnation.com/mikalynhay
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mikalynhay
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mikalynhay
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mikalynhaymusic
Website: http://www.mikalyn.ca
Mikalyn Hay – Singer Songwriter Press Release
Mikalyn is a unique artist, old soul and world weary and yet so young and fresh. She comes at every song with a deep sense of herself as an artist with an alternative view of what is cool and classic in the same breath – Zack Werner, Industry Professional
Mikalyn’s smooth vocals, flowing melodies and harmonies are instinctive and she operates at a speed and capacity at a level much beyond her years. Mikalyn combines this natural ability with relentless learning and is constantly seeking to collaborate and study from the best. Already a seasoned performer, she spends weekend jamming at open-mics, festivals, and gigs, accompanying herself on the keys doing originals and covers ranging from Radiohead to Cohen. Her 5 songs released over the past year have been earning accolades and awards and inspires her to continue writing and performing, in order to connect artistically with her growing audience.
A Few Recent Accomplishments
Interviewed on The Drew Marshall Show – Joy Radio
Feature act on Jane Harbury’s Discovery Series
Finalist in the ISC 2015 Song writing Contest (Teen Category) Carnival
Winner of IISC Songwriting Contest 2016 – Anyway
Second in the UK Songwriting Contest 2016 – Save Yourself
Winner of TalentWatch Songwriting Contest
Projects underway with TableTop Records LLC
3 Featured Songs on ReverbNation Homepage Top of Charts for Indie in Canada
2016 FACTOR Artist Development Grant
Scholarship to attend the 2016 Song Studio Songwriting Camp (Toronto in July)
1st place Guelph Kiwanis Festival 2016
Factor Demo Grant to record original song written with Murray Daigle (releasing Apr 29th on iTunes) called Save Yourself
My Cover of Melanie Martinez’s Dollhouse is at 140,000 plays on SoundCloud and counting
830 subscribers on YouTube and counting, and posting regularly
Opening act for Tyler Shaw at Liv, Love & Lyrics Event, Nov 2015
Guelph Mercury 40 under 40
Semi -Finalist Teen Category – Unsigned Only 2016 for Free as a Bird
Feature Act for Youth Day Toronto 2016 at Yonge Dundas Square
Winner of “Rising Star” award at Song Studio 2016, Toronto, ON
Featured Musical Guest and Performer for MoMondays Guelph
Featured Performer for Nashville Style Songwriters in the Round, Toronto ON
Live Radio Interview on Erin Radio FM 91.7
http://www.tunedloud.com/2016/11/27/mikalyn-hay-save-yourself-if-flows-the-aim-call-this-track-a-bulls-eye/
Featured guest on Black Sky Radio with Nightmare
Opened for Earle and Coffin at Free Times Cafe, Toronto
Featured artists at Doll House Showcase, London
http://www.dharmicevolution.com/new-blog/2016/12/6/mikalyn-hay-14-year-old-girl-with-25-year-old-work-ethic
Featured act at Liv Love Lyrics 2016, Mod Club, opening for Virginia to Vegas
Endorsement / Support
“I have spent a little time with Mikalyn and was immediately very impressed with her young talent and sense of commitment to the challenges of both songwriting and performing. She is not a “copy cat” artist type, she has a very positive vision about herself, her future and understands the work ethic needed to grow.” – Don Grierson, A&R Consultant, Los Angeles, CA
“I’ve watched Mikalyn perform at several events over the past year, while she was singing at SongStudio and open-mics around Toronto. She is a natural songwriter and performer and very comfortable on stage. A hard working artist who I believe has the talent and drive necessary to succeed in the music industry. I am excited to have her as a guest at a new Nashville-style monthly songwriting event I am hosting in Toronto starting in November where she will perform 4 of her original songs. I am confident that we will all be hearing a lot more from this young talent from Guelph in the near future”
Roger Beckett, Songwriter
Coordinator, Toronto Chapter – Nashville Songwriters Association Intl (NSAI),
Coordinator, Toronto Regional Writers Group – Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC)
“I have known Mikalyn for about 18 months, and in that time she has surprised me with her talent, strong work ethic, and enthusiasm for developing her skills as a performing songwriter. She is already advanced for her age, and vigorously pursues opportunities to work with professional artists, songwriters and producers. I have every confidence that her ability, tenacity and her open mind will pave the way for her to have a successful career as a songwriter and a performer.”- Allister Bradley, Singer/Songwriter/Studio Operator and Technical Director of SongStudio (Toronto)
“Bobby John and I sat down to write and record with Mikalyn after hearing one of her songs during a SAC Date with a Demo session where I was a panelist. We are impressed with both her natural instincts, ability, and passion, and professional attitude. She shows up to work and get it done, and is at ease with both writing and recording. She shows a level of maturity beyond her years. She makes my job as a producer productive and fun. Bobby and I look forward to working with Mikalyn to help her find her centre as a recording and performing artist.” – Murray Daigle, Toronto, Canadian Music Industry Veteran
“I’ve written songs and recorded vocals with some of the best in the country. Mikalyn is just so beyond her years talent wise, it’s mind boggling. On the spot harmonies, quick to follow producer comments and adjustments, an amazing pitch and all the while always keeping her natural vocal tone and incorporating her personal flavour in every take. She’s got raw talent you can’t teach or learn and she’s a pro. Undoubtedly a songwriter / producer’s dream to work with who is bringing real game to the table every single session.” – Bobby John, Montreal, Singer Songwriter
