Michl – Form Follows Function

By starrymag | May 24, 2022

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I think the best way to describe my sound is diverse. I don’t try to stay in a genre. I try to just follow my instinct and let it lead to wherever it’s going. My debut EP sounds very different from my upcoming album. I feel like the new album has a lot of Beatles influences but not in a throwback way, more of just a feel.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) The Beatles, Lauryn Hill, Bon Iver, James Blake, Frank Ocean, Bright Eyes, Elliot Smith, Paul Simon

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Self.”

A) In any industry, sometimes you feel like you have to do things that are out of character to get where you wanna be. “Self” is just an open discussion about those thoughts and struggles of that feeling.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I’d hope they’d see that everyone has demons and things aren’t always perfect, but hard times do pass.

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) The escalator seemed representative of how we’re on a constant pendulum of success and failure. The song talks about giving up but also wanting to keep going, a never-ending process.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) Ya exactly, I have to have music to create lyrics. The music leads the narrative and feeling of what the song is gonna be and then lyrics follow whatever feeling that is (at least for me).

 

Q) “Self” was co-produced by Ritt Momney, but how much of a say do you have when it comes to the production of your music?

A) I have a heavy hand in everything that gets released for my project. I sometimes ask friends for help when I’ve lost all will to work on a song. [laughs] But I’m very involved in the production. I produced the majority of the album myself. With that being said, the album wouldn’t have been finished without the help of my good friend John Calvert.

 

Q) What are some themes you will be exploring on your upcoming album Form Follows Function?

A) My life has changed a ton since my last release. Overall, I’m in a better place now. I have someone I love more than anything and have created stability for myself. In planting my feet in the ground, I’ve learned to get rid of things that don’t help me grow. Form Follows Function is a shedding of skin, my process of getting to a better place.

 

Q) What tracks on the album are you excited for fans to get to check out?

A) The song “y.” It’s painstakingly honest.

 

Q) Which songs hold a special place in your heart from the album and what makes them so significant to you?

A) “Promise” and “Would You Believe Me.” I wrote them both early on in my relationship and they still give me the feeling of falling in love.

 

Q) Will you be heading out on tour to promote the album or are you more focused on livestreams for the time being?

A) I don’t have any specific plans to tour as of now. I want to do a small listening party/show for the album launch, hoping to happen in LA and NYC but not confirmed at the moment.

 

Q) What do you think it is about Form Follows Function that you think will resonate with listeners?

A) This album has been such a passion project. I threw it on my shoulders and somehow got to the finish line. I know I can’t make everyone love the music I make; I hope they at least feel the honesty in it.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Would be a dream to work with Bon Iver.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them? 

A) Fred Again has really put me in a good head space.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I’m on social media but have an odd relationship with it. At first, I thought of it as only a way to keep people updated on upcoming releases. I’m slowly allowing myself to open up and let people know me better,and I think that’s what they want. I unknowingly have been a part of people’s lives and it’s understandable that they’d like to know a little bit about the person they’ve spent hours listening to.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Thank you wouldn’t be enough. Without them listening, sharing, supporting then I wouldn’t be doing music. I’ve never had a label pour resources into my project or had a big co-sign to catapult my career. It’s only been by the people that listen and share it, it’s the only way I’ve been given the opportunity to keep making music. I’m forever grateful.