Canadian Indie singer/songwriter Mikalyn Hay is 15 years old and already she has the voice and the writing talent of a seasoned artist. She learned to play the piano while she was in kindergarten and after she performed in a school talent show, she never looked back. Although she has been singing and writing from a very young age, she is constantly looking to study and collaborate with the best.
A prolific songwriter, Hay has placed as a Finalist, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in numerous worldwide songwriting contests from 2013 – 2017. Hay released 16 original songs in 2017, including many from her current album, that were critically acclaimed in worldwide songwriting contests. As a result, she was a finalist in the 2017 UK Songwriting Competition in the Indie Category as well as in the Teen Category with her original songs “Gone” and “Fall In Love Again”.
Hay has also been top-ranked in the ReverbNation charts in Indie in the world. On SoundCloud, her cover of Melanie Martinez’s Dollhouse, which she arranged and recorded at age 12, is currently at 157,000 plays and counting.
Her latest album, 12:15, was released in November 2017. She is currently prepping for upcoming shows as well as being involved in some rebranding projects and looking to put together a band. Hay doesn’t have any immediate tour plans but she does perform at open mics, house concerts, coffeehouses, and small gigs, playing original songs and covers from Radiohead to Cohen on her piano.
I recently interviewed Mikalyn about her new album’s trick title, future tour plans, seeking band members, song inspirations, her favorite gig, and much more.
Congratulations on the release your album 12:15. The concept is “12 original songs at 15 years”, which you mention is a bit of a trick title. Can you explain why and how you come up with it?
Thank you! When I knew I wanted to put out an album, I started brainstorming possible titles. Originally, I was just going to name it a title off a song from the album, but my dad mentioned the idea of playing on my age. That’s when we came up with 12:15.
Why are there 13 songs on this album? Is there a special significance to that number?
That’s actually a funny story and it’s pretty embarrassing. The album was only supposed to have 12 songs, but we ended up mixing and mastering 13, so by the time we realized, all the album art had been made. It’s a bit of a happy accident, and now I just say it’s 12 songs and a bonus track.
In 2017 you had released 16 original songs that were critically acclaimed in songwriting contests worldwide. Explain how you write so prolifically. Are any of these songs on the current album?
I’ve been writing for years now, and have had so many amazing mentors to help me learn tips and tricks for writing. All my life, I’ve told stories so songwriting was a great way for me at a young age to mesh the two things I love: singing and writing.
A lot of the songs I entered in songwriting contests are on my current album, including “Mirror,” “Anyway,” “Gone,” “Now that it’s Over” and “Home.”
You have been a Finalist or placed 1st, 2nd or 3rd in many worldwide songwriting contests in 2015-2017. Explain the strategy behind entering these contests each year.
My strategy is to enter as many contests I can, and always learn from them. Usually, in contests, there’s semi-finalists or finalists where you can listen to other entries, and it’s a great way to see what other people at your level are at.
Tell us about how the name ‘Hayters’ for your fans came about.
It’s kind of a funny story actually. When I was 8, I thought of the name out of nowhere really but didn’t tell anybody. A few years later, Jim Catalano actually brought the idea, and how we could play on “be a Hayter, not a hater” which is pretty clever.
You have said that you write songs based on the real lives of those people you live with or the news. Can you give an example of one based on the news? What have you written that is based on something happening in your own life?
I have lots of unreleased songs that are based on news stories, just because I don’t want to polarize in any way, and news can be pretty controversial. I have a song called “Mindless Zombies” about the 2016 Election for example. More often than not, I base my songs off of experiences I see my friends have, or my own experiences.
“Everything’s different” is a story of lovers growing apart, which I don’t have direct experience with, but I see my friends go through it. “Home” is more personal, and I wrote it in a venerable time when I was travelling to Northern Ontario after being away from home for a couple of weeks, and knowing I won’t see loved ones for a few more weeks to come, and it’s a song about coming to terms with that.
In a prior interview, you mentioned that you aren’t ready to tour yet until you reached your 5-year goal of having a lot of great professional songs and built up a solid fan base. What is the strategy you are implementing to accomplish both of those?
Of course, like any young artist, I would love to tour, but I’m not ready to yet. I have lots of songs I can perform, and I’m comfortable on stage, however, I am working on building a widespread fan base who will want to come see me perform. I’m trying to learn from as many established artists I can, writing non-stop, and posting on social media to expand my social reach.
As of 2016, you were looking to put together a band for live performances. What progress have you made? How are you looking for those musicians? Auditions?
Great question! I’m always on the look for new musicians to work with and since 2016 I have been trying to find a band, but there aren’t a lot of shows that I’ve been playing lately that require a band along with me. However, since I play keyboard, a lot of the time I will have a drummer or guitarist play with me. In terms of auditions or finding musicians, I usually find them online via Facebook or YouTube. However, if there’s any musicians out there reading this, feel free to message me! I love finding people that way too.
You play piano but have expressed an interest in learning guitar. How is that going? Have you had time to pursue that?
I have been super busy lately, but I’ve actually learned a few songs so far! I haven’t had the time to buckle down and learn all the chords, but I’m getting there!
Why do you have a guitarist for your bigger shows rather than just you and the piano?
I find that it fills out the sound more when I have a guitarist with me. The songs have a different feel, and I can actually get up from behind the piano. It’s a different aspect of the show that I love doing and brings a different feel.
You said previously that using online tools to write songs will help you as a writer. If you do use them, what tools are they and how do they help? If you don’t, will you in the future?
I use Rhymezone and MasterWriter to help me write. Rhymezone is a website that you enter a word, and it gives you a bunch of rhymes. It’s a really great resource to use when you’re stuck. There are lots of other features that you can use, but I use the rhyming one the most. MasterWriter is a way to keep your songs organized, and it also has many of the features Rhymezone does, which makes it cool.
What books are you currently reading? Why is ‘Looking for Alaska’ your favorite book?
I just finished “Still Alice” by Lisa Genova. I’ve wanted to read it for a while but it was always gone from my local library, but the other day when I went it was there! It is a super touching novel that I would definitely recommend reading. Looking for Alaska is my favourite book because I loved the storyline and Alaska’s character. I really like John Greene’s style, so a lot of his books are my favourite.
How are both of your parents musical? Are they musicians?
Both my parents’ families are musicians. My mom and her sisters sang in a band with her sisters and played piano all her life. My dad’s family is all involved in music, through choir and traditional music. Both my parents are big music lovers and huge influences on my early music taste.
You mentioned in an interview that you were thinking of entering The Shot — a reality TV singing competition in Canada when you are 16. Are you still considering it? Why or why not?
Ya, I’m not sure! I think it’ll be a cool way to meet new young musicians, so we will see. Only time will tell!!
You recorded your first cover song in a home studio at age 10. Was it your studio? How was that experience?
I actually recorded my first original at my piano and vocal teachers house. It was a song for my best friends 10th birthday. However, I started recording covers of just me playing the piano around that age too. I always loved doing that.
What happened with the idea of driving up to Seattle with your father and touring small venues on the way up?
That is still in the works! We have to work out the details, but I will keep you posted in the future.
Explain why your favorite gig was at the Toronto Center for the Arts for the LivWise Foundation. What does the foundation do?
That gig was my first experience playing for a big crowd that was sitting there listening. It was an event that I was proud to perform at, and I got to play alongside Tyler Shaw, who I really admire. Another big thing is the people I met while at that gig. I made some great friends that night! The LivWise Foundation is a fund in the name of Olivia Wise, a young girl who lost her life to cancer. It is a great foundation and supporting an amazing cause, which is cancer research.
Explain your experience with the Discovery Series is and how that opportunity came about.
I heard of the discovery series a while back, I think a music friend mentioned it to me. I ended up going out to a Discovery Series show, and I met Jane there. Jane is in charge of the discovery series and she is a super great lady, and the shows she puts on are amazing. My experience with it was great, and the other musicians who performed were amazing. It was a great night.
How do you think women in indie music can be supported?
I think that as a young artist I have been supported by the people that I have come across, both men and women. I have also been warned by lots of artists about some of the problems with the way that female artists have been treated by the business. I feel lucky that I have thus far not been subject to this – but
I am grateful to all the women that have shared their experiences with me, so I kind of think we are creating a positive sharing supportive environment for women in music.
What advice would you give to women pursuing a music career or thinking about one?
My honest advice to someone going into music is that it won’t be easy, but it’s worth it if you love it. There will be a lot of people trying to do the same thing as you, and it’s competitive but that doesn’t mean you won’t make great friends.
If you want to pursue a career in music, work hard and go for it.
What projects do you have planned for 2018?
I have a few rebranding projects in the works, and a bunch of shows planned. Nothing too big yet, just lots of prep.
Any shows planned for 2018?
Yes! Check out my website and all my social media for details on release – @mikalynhay and www.mikalyn.ca
Thank you, Mikalyn, for the opportunity to interview you.
Mikalyn Hay’s 12:15 album is available on iTunes
Purchase a physical CD of 12:15 available on Mikalyn Hay’s website.