In an increasingly online music industry, the battle to stand out rages on. Fighting difficult algorithms, over-saturation of the market, and fast-paced changes in taste, musicians like Mhic may struggle at first to find their home in the scene. Pop music in particular suffers from this challenge. In a genre defined by the ability to please large groups of people, how does one remain unique?
Mhic seems to have a solution. Working as a producer, songwriter, and singer in Brooklyn, she features lush soundscapes and high attention to detail in their productions which are described as “ethereal pop.”
As she puts it, she likes to “breathe a little bit of sparkliness” into her electronic work. “I’m like the human sparkle emoji,” says Mhic. With layers of warm synth pads, organic foley samples, and stacked vocal harmonies, their music exudes confidence and grace.
Mhic’s most recent release with John DLP
Mhic’s Influences
For her, this style of pop comes from a diverse intersection of influences. “Vespertine by Bjork changed my life,” Mhic says, mentioning how Bjork produced it as her first album with a laptop. In this case, the freedom offered by this technology allowed Bjork to alter her creative process. This represents an industry shift towards at-home bedroom producers and songwriters. Mhic mentions how so many people are becoming producers, and she thinks it’s a great development for the industry. “I love that it is accessible to people,” they say.
Press photo of Mhic
Artistic Community
For many, the advancement of at-home recording equipment has made sonic creativity a more consistent possibility. “Anything I know as a producer is out of school,” they emphasize, mentioning how their music degree wasn’t centered in music technology. Their first main recording setup used a vocal pedal instead of an interface, however she leaned into this lo-fi energy in the service of developing a style.
Of course, this methodology that Mhic uses relates heavily to the way Bjork approached Vespertine. In many ways, creativity can exist above the technological or aesthetic differences in gear quality. “Can you use Ableton stock to your advantage?” they wonder, describing how inexpensive equipment can create high-value results in the right hands.
Even though Mhic describes her artistic journey as “very solitary,” the community and education she has also contributes to the high quality of her work. “I had these very intimate classes in poetry… they really taught me how to speak your truth,” she describes. This truth comes across seemingly effortlessly in the music she writes.
Mhic looks forward to continuing to build community in Brooklyn, mentioning the importance of surrounding herself with people that encourage her. “Other people push you out of your comfort zone, but only you can speak your truth,” they clarify. Their multifaceted approach to creative purpose helps prove their determination as an artist.
Mhic & Ethereal Pop
To Mhic, ethereal pop is often composed by combining individual parts. “I work in layers, I think layers,” she says, describing the composition process like crafting a landscape. In their case, the production aspect of making a song feels intrinsically tied to composition. Along with that, the freedom to work at home makes simultaneous songwriting, composition, and production more possible for them. “We can do it wherever we want,” emphasizes Mhic.
Beyond Bjork, other artists remain important to Mhic’s creative process. Regarding cover songs, they say, “it’s everything… It’s the way that I learned how to do this.” For Mhic, covers offer a chance for her to put a unique spin on a song she already loves. “I’m not creating a soundalike… [I’m] developing my sonic palette,” they explain. When they have an artistic concept to work with, branching out into their own unique territory can feel just as freeing as writing a song from scratch.
Sonic Palette
This sonic palette that Mhic has built works as an integral part of her artistic process. “Now, when I approach things, I have this stuff in my pocket that I’ve curated over time,” mentions Mhic. From synth sounds to Ableton templates, Mhic has an unmatched level of preparation that solidifies their artistry. Beyond sonic decisions, Mhic typically incorporates a visual element when she can. “My upcoming album is going to have a really, really heavy visual story,” she says.
Much of Mhic’s previous work helps define what a visual story looks like for them. John DLP helped Mhic record the visual element for Bloodlines EP in her backyard. “It had to be recorded multiple times… it’s very volatile when you record outside,” they add. Nonetheless, the result looks gorgeous. It pairs perfectly with the stripped-down, ambient vocal songs of the EP.
Oftentimes, artists like Mhic plan visuals and sounds for a project around the same time. In an age where music videos and visual content remain increasingly important, Mhic seems to have a clear grasp on their style. “A lot of times, it starts with a color palette that I’m using to label all the regions and tracks,” they mention, “there’s not necessarily one way to create… I tend to be a little chaotic.” Just as her music flows effortlessly between tension and release, Mhic’s creative process is fluid and ever-changing.
Mhic’s Vision
Mhic also uses mood boards in the service of creating a cohesive artistic vision. “It’s like sonic painting- you’re creating the landscape. It’s something that’s not just cerebral,” she emphasizes. They mention how when they show friends in-progress demos, they typically include the mood board as part of the presentation. The complete Mhic aesthetic seems to exist as part of what sets her artist project apart from others.
Another core tenant of Mhic’s artistic vision is the purpose behind her songs. “Every musician now is expected to be a content creator, and not everyone is cut out for it,” describes Mhic. They add that “it’s difficult to balance between creating valuable and qualitative work and also putting out a quantity of stuff” for social media. This is where her track “Algorithm” is born, a futuristic, exploratory song about the pressures of social media. In an admirable way, Mhic took their frustration with the endless frustration of the music industry and turned it into a song.
Against all the difficulties of working as an artist, Mhic remains motivated by a variety of external hobbies. “I’m such a hobbyist… I made a very clear distinction between my work, my life, and my vocation,” they explain. Though their hobbies keep them happy and satisfied, music ultimately remains at the core of their purpose. “We could all literally drop dead any moment… why aren’t we all following our passion?” they wonder. She says she doesn’t feel like she even has a choice- like many artists, she feels that music chose her. Mhic hopes to continue to fulfill this artistic purpose with the release of new singles and projects.
