We recently connected with Mike Cyril and have shared our conversation below.

Mike, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’m not sure if I’m “happy” as an artist, I’m not sure happiness is what I’m after.

The satisfaction of brining something to light is more important than the joy it could bring. Happiness is certainly touched during the process, I think most emotions are.

I do think if I was on the path of having a regular job, at least a job that was five days a week from 9-5 it would clear a lot of room in my mind. I tend to get overwhelmed because of the possibilities, ways explore a craft and within that craft a particular project can sometime seem endless.

The precision of a “regular” job, knowing what you’re up against might be boring but it also allows for so much more freedom. My mind never detaches itself from the work, the problems that a certain song or piece present spin around my head all day, I wake in fever dreams of mixes that need tending to and parts that need to be changed, new songs come rushing in and I want to get them out as soon as possible but this other work is not finished, its a vicious cycle.

That’s without broaching the subject of the business of music, which feels like its own body of water. As an independent artist we are meant to be the manager, the booking agent, the PR team, there are so many moving parts it’s hard to balance.

Mike, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My musical journey Started about fifteen years ago in New York City. Growing up outside of Philadelphia I always had a proclivity for the arts, first drawing and then discovering photography in my youth. However I always heard songs, not others songs but my own. I can remember being really young maybe six or seven and writing a song on the back of an envelope. From there I would use tape recorders to hum melodies and lyrics to began processing these thoughts, I don’t know what I thought would come of it, but I knew I needed to purge these ideas.

I moved to New York City in 2005. Working at nights as a bartender I had my days free to begin exploring music. From there I started to understand the mechanics of song, mimicking my favorite artists. It was all an exploration. It was here that I began building a community of like minded musician’s and creatives. I cut my teeth playing in several acts such as Agent Strange, Skylines, O Paradiso and Cy The Monster. During that time I also created many immersive multi disciplinary events merging Music, Performance art and Dance.

In 2022 I released my Debut solo EP titled Goodbye My Maze, which can be found on all platforms under Mike Cyril. It’s cinematic sound lead me to score a feature length film in 2023 titled ‘Greetings From Arizona’ which debuted at Lonely Seal film festival in August of 2024. I’m currently finishing my Debut LP which will be released in the spring of 2025. It was recorded in New York City and Milan, it. It is an exploration into my inner world, from grand orchestral gestures to gritty and raucous drums, showcasing more sides of myself, fighting to get closer to the source.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think society can do a better job at engaging with art. There are so many people that fear art or are simply bored by art because it doesn’t access the same place as playing a video game or even playing a sport, it requires more. People seem to easily write off anything that doesn’t feel familiar. I think it should be the objective of small towns and places in between the big cities to expose people to as much art as they can. Getting to see new bands, new pieces of work, new films can all be terrific ways to expand your depth, we need to avoid the shallow end at all cost.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission for me has always been about getting thoughts out of my head and finishing the work. The hard part is finishing the work, it can take a tremendous push to get it there. The outcome, who might listen, whether there will be financial compensation doesn’t hold any weight in my soul. I will always make music, in some way I have always made music and I don’t feel like I have a choice in the matter.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mikecyrilmusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikecyrilmusic/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mikecyrilmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/mikecyrilmusic

Image Credits

Mo Daoud