Mikalyn is an artist of many talents, with a one-of-a-kind style and unwavering drive, this indie pop star should be on your radar! Initially, she gained unconventional traction when a Brazilian record label discovered her original piano-driven music on Soundcloud and offered to transform them into EDM hits. Following her discovery, she began collaborations with various artists including Zuffo and Evokings which became unexpected steppingstones in building her career. The Canadian songwriter creates relatable songs which touch on relationships, love, or lack thereof, and everyday experiences and emotions. One of her latest releases, “Ready to Love You”, was written about needing to backtrack on a relationship. This song has a shimmering and catchy tune while Mikalyn’s soulful voice exudes honesty. In addition to her talent and devotion as an artist, Mikalyn is dedicated to working with cancer research charities, mental health initiatives, and The LivWise Foundation. Continue reading below to learn more about Mikalyn, her creative writing process, and how she gives back!

Where are you based?
I’m based in Toronto, Ontario! I live in Guelph, and go to school in London, but do most of my work out of Toronto.

How did you develop a passion for music?
I honestly think that my passion for music has always been in me. I started singing very young and played piano from age five. I always loved reading and writing, so songwriting was a way to combine everything I loved into one. Music has always been the thing I love most, and I’m lucky that my friends and family are extremely supportive.

As an artist of many talents, what is your creative process for writing new songs?
I think it depends if I’m writing by myself or collaborating. I love doing both equally, I’m a very melody driven writer; so, usually I will come up with a melody and work from there, freestyling random words until something sticks. Usually I start with just guitar and piano, but I hear the other parts in my head, and I have amazing producers that help come up with the final sound. Right now, I’m teaching myself how to produce, so I think that’ll be good for my creative process.

You recently released your new single “Dangerous”; can you tell us a little bit about this song and what inspired it?
Dangerous is a song about my producer and I’s romantic relationships at the time. Luckily we were in the same place, and were using writing as an emotional outlet. It came very naturally because we were both living it! It’s basically about the struggle of wanting to be with someone that you know isn’t good for you. Maybe they’re not treating you right, and you know it, but for some reason you can’t walk away entirely yet. The reference track for the initial demo was “Cherry-coloured Funk” by Cocteau Twins. If you’re familiar with that song, you’ll know the version that was released sounds very different, but the vocal melodies have some similarities!

“Dangerous” has a lot more vocal modification vs your other songs, what made you decide to go this way with “Dangerous”?
Dangerous has an interesting story in that the version that’s out now sounds super different from the first demo. It was a very atmospheric ballad. I absolutely loved it, and to this day that version of the song is one of my favourite creations, but it didn’t fit on any of my projects. I wanted a way to get it out into the world, so when the producers reached out to me about remixing it, I loved the idea! The producers were super creative with the vocal stems, and I’m so impressed with their ability to take a ballad and make it fit into a dance track.

Earlier this year you put out “Ready to Love You”, this song’s message seems like a different message. Are these about the same person?
It is a very different message, that’s for sure! I would say that they actually do correlate in a way. The person who inspired Dangerous was officially out of my life, and I entered a new phase where I really enjoyed being alone, and the independence that brought. I was in relationships for five years straight before that, and had spent the majority of my teenage years being with someone, so being on my own for the first time was a big change, but I actually love it! Murray Daigle (my co-writer) and I were playing on that, and “Ready to Love You” was born out of the idea of not wanting or needing to be in a romantic relationship. “Ready to Love You” is not about a specific person or experience, but about relationships in general.

How did the individual you wrote this about respond to it?
If anyone specific thought the song was about them, they didn’t ask me or say anything! I actually have only once had someone call me out for writing a song about them, and it was over my song Blame. It was partially inspired by my friend's relationship, and she said “did you write this for me” as a joke, and was surprised when I admitted to it! Then she helped me promote the song, and got back together with her boyfriend. I wonder if he knows?

What do you hope people take away from “Ready to Love You”?
In a way I see “Ready To Love You” as a self empowerment song. You’re allowed to not want to be in a relationship, you do not have to spend your time on people you don’t want to! It’s your life, you can do what you want with it.

Jejune loves that you are dedicated to giving back. You regularly work with cancer research charities and mental health initiatives including Music Beats Cancer, Project Give Back, and the LivWise Foundation. What led you to focus on health and mental health initiatives? How did you get involved with these organizations?
The Cancer organizations were a natural thing for me to get involved with. In February of 2020, my grandma got diagnosed with cancer. She had just been at our house at Christmas, and I had heard my parents talk about how she was having some stomach pain but didn’t want to worry anyone yet. By the next month, COVID hit North America, hard. She was undergoing rounds of chemo and radiation, and we couldn’t be there. My family was taking shifts of people to go up to Northern Ontario and care for her, because we had to be very careful not to get her sick. The whole family went up in June, and she passed away with all of us there, in her home, on July 7th, 2020. This was my first big big loss. A few months later, I got a call while away at school that my other grandma had Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. I remember thinking that God was playing some sort of sick joke on me. Fast forward to now, and she beat it! My grandmas are the best people I know, and I want to give back any way I can and raise funds and awareness to fight this awful disease that has touched almost everyone's life.

In terms of mental health, I think it’s so important. I have struggled with my mental health, and I know so many others who have as well. Bringing awareness, and breaking the stigma around asking for help is very important to me. A lot of these organizations I found online and submitted myself to get involved, others reached out to me and I knew I just had to get involved.

Additionally, you do live performances at various fundraisers and charities such as opening for Tyler Shaw and Virginia to Vegas for a fundraiser for the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital and doing a livestream performance for a Bowie Tribute fundraiser. Can you tell us about this experience? What is the most rewarding part of doing these live or virtual performances?
These experiences were so valuable to me. Raising money for Hospitals like SickKids hits very close to home, since my cousin, my best friend's sister and one of my close friends are patients there. I had a health scare when I was 14 and went to SickKids, and I remember walking around the hospital before my appointment. The hospital itself is beautiful, but it was so heartbreaking to see such young children who had spent most of their lives there. I always knew that hospitals like this existed, but seeing it for myself changed me. Tribute Fundraisers are so important because you’re raising money for something that deserves every last cent. Funding goes such a long way for these hospitals and researchers that could really change someone's life one day. If I can help in any way, I want to. The people are always so lovely, and it’s very rewarding to see so many people come together to create a beautiful event out of something that can be so sad. The Tyler Shaw event for LivLoveLyrics was one of my favourite events as an artist, because Liv’s family was so lovely and the way that so many people came together to remember and celebrate her life was truly beautiful.

Music Beats Cancer is a really great organization. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
Music Beats Cancer is one of the organizations I’ve gotten involved with more recently. The goal is to raise money for cancer research by combining forces with artists through crowdfunding. I first met with the head of Music Beats Cancer, Dr. Mona Jhaveri, and she explained to me how so many potential cancer treatments can never be seen because they do not have the proper funding. So basically, an innovator comes up with a great idea, starts to test it, but cannot pay to fully see their idea out. By combining forces with musicians through crowdfunding, Music Beats Cancer can use the money raised by the musicians to donate to the innovators and start to get these technologies to people that need them most!

We are sorry to hear about your grandmother being lost to cancer. What do you hope comes of your being more active with non-profits connected to cancer research and awareness?
A big way that I’m involved with these organizations is through fundraising concerts. I want my audience to know that I’m really passionate about the causes I support, because I think that makes them more likely to check out the organizations and donate. When I’m active with non-profits, I want to show my audience that this is something that they should invest in, and support if they can. Of course, I can donate myself, but it would be even more help for the various non-profits if I can direct others that might not have known about them in the first place to donate and support as well. I also know that many people are touched by cancer in one way or another, and when my grandma passed away I had so many people reach out to tell me that they had experienced something similar. By talking about my experience, I hope that I can also help people going through it feel less alone.

You put together a really sweet song for 11 year old Meg through the Sing Me A Story Foundation. Her and her family’s responses were priceless! Can you tell us about this whole process and what inspired you to get involved?
It was such a great experience. Sing Me A Story is for organizations that serve children in need. These children can write a story about anything they want, and songwriters take their story and turn it into a song. They actually reached out to me through email, and I checked out some of the stories and came across Megs. Her strength, determination, and outlook on life despite the challenges she has faced brought me to tears. Meg’s story is about finding the beauty in everyday things. She also talked about how it’s okay to be sad sometimes, because there’s no rainbows without rain. I thought that was a very important idea to write about! Getting to talk to Meg, her cousin & her grandma was lovely. I plan on doing more in the future for sure.

Were you given Meg’s story or did you choose it?
I chose it! There are so many stories for artists to choose from (any songwriters reading this right now, I urge you to check out Sing Me A Story). Meg’s story really spoke to me, she is a very gifted author as is, so there was a lot for me to work off of. I could have written a song about every page individually!

How have you been staying positive during shelter in place? Are you back to normal now?
In Ontario, we’ve been in and out of lockdowns a lot up until very recently. I’ve been staying positive by keeping myself busy, even when things are shut down. I’m a student as well as being a musician, so I always have a lot on the go to keep myself occupied. I also have used the lockdowns as a way to reflect, and spend more time with myself. We are lucky to live in an age where so many things can be done online, and I’m really grateful for that. I don’t want to jinx it, but right now I am almost back to normal! Once I start doing gigs regularly again I’ll feel completely back to normal, and I have a bunch booked.

What is your motto in life?
I have a few. C’est La Vie is one, my grandma used to say that to me all the time. It reminds me not to sweat the little things! Everything tends to work itself out in the end. “This too shall pass” is another one that ties into that idea — but it also reminds me to really take in and enjoy everything as it comes. “Be kind, you never know what others are facing” is another one. It’s important to be kind to everyone you come across — I worked as a barista, and a kind customer would always make my day!

To learn more about Mikalyn, please follow her via the below platforms:
Instagram: @mikalynmusic
TikTok: @mikalynmusic
Twitter: @mikalynmusic

Photography by Michael Hay.

Shimmering Indie Pop Star Mikalyn