We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikey Schelling a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mikey, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
i started playing kendama at 13 years old, i was in state teams for sports like soccar and basketball. i dropped both those sport instantly the day i found kendama.
friends,teachers and coaches all thought i was crazy and thought it was toy. well it was and thats the problem with older people, they are to much of a adult.
being a kid and keeping the inner child is a risk. a big one. makes you almost look stupid in a sense and people question why. but they forget how cool grass and flowers were at 7 years old.
as i got older i realized quitting because others think is risky, is really not the best for you, but for them. they cant even muster the brain power to think why you do this, so why would us as creatives even ponder those thoughts when they don’t even understand?
making music now is where i started last year, i have made a album and have taught myself 99% of the piano in the first year.
everything i do is risky, taking music up at 23 years old is risky, not doing music is risky, lots of people don’t know this, but life is risky. might as well play the whole hand, because at the end of the day, every choice is risky, just be big enough to take the heavier loads.
now with me making music and getting my first album self released this year im happy with life. am i where i want to be? nope. will i get to where i want? you best believe it.
i put all my eggs in this basket, because i realize i can always get more.
Mikey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
i have been playing kendama for 10 years. i travel for contests nation wide and as far as japan. i used to sell them in 6 kiosks in states of Utah, oregan, and Idaho. i sold 1.7 million dollars worth of kendamas in 2 years of work. insane turn around. this is under my very first company called “lion head kendama’ started this with my dad whom i love very much as well as my mom. both supported me on anything and everything in life. best parents ever.
i got the idea at 13 and ran it until i was 18.
in 2015 i took 4th in the world in japan at 15 years old. i practiced for 8 months straight 7 hours a day.
graduated school early for it and took my career for kendama seriously.
as i brought kendama over the years into the EDM scene early in 2014-2015, i realized i wanted to make music.
i played and studied music for years by ear, studying online and always thought about making music. in 2022 i did. i said screw it like i did at 13 with kendama. i learned faster than even i could believe. its now my passion. i still play kendama and working with a company called “new laced kendama” and making music under the name “schelly”
i have taught myself the drums, and piano. and audio engineering inside of a DAW.
as i tackle both i promise myself to do my best for myself and everyone who supports me
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
for me, is the magical beauty in creating something from nothing. a black space of void, filled by what you think is the best and hoping others believe you to. AND WHEN THEY DO!!! Wow thats just a feeling you cant find often. when you spend the time and someone genuinely appreciates it in and out and support you.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
support your friends and family man. its not that hard, i hate saying it like this, but if you love them, support them, or even think about them and wish them well. Support them, there are so many ways to support the people you care about. its not money, its not shares, not whatever you think it is. its just seeing them do well and letting others know as you see it even. support comes in different sizes. just choose one the want. Us as artists love you guys, each and everyone of you. some days it takes support from our fans when we cant support ourselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/schellyschell
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/schellyofficial/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064028895728
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lionheadkendama
- Other: https://www.fox13now.com/2015/08/15/young-utahn-among-worlds-most-skilled-with-centuries-old-japanese-toy https://www.standard.net/news/local/2015/aug/12/utah-teen-places-fourth-in-kendama-world-cup/ https://kendocs.com/pc/mikey-schelling