Mik Ivy is fast becoming one of the most exciting pop artists in the UK right now. Born in Geneva and now living in London, the 20-year has just released his highly anticipated debut record 'DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS' and it has not disappointed.
Full of fresh and confident acoustic pop jams such as 'Howard', where Mik unveils his full songwriting personality in this intimate and rich offering, it's in lead single 'Superman' where Mik takes full flight. It is a vibrant and modernised piece of alt-pop that is infectious from the off and keeps the listener intrigued, which is one of the most impressive things about this young troubadour.
In a world where music moves faster than ever, Mik Ivy keeps you right there in the present moment with these pop-infused gems, and we sat down with him to learn more about his craft, what this album represents and much, much more, exclusively for FLEX. Sit back and enjoy!
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Hey Mik, welcome to FLEX! How are you doing?
What’s up FLEX ! I’m feeling amazing, running on 3 hours of sleep and a croissant right now, so super excited to chat with you.
Sum up your debut album "DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS" in three words for us please!
Vulnerable, Ecstatic & Bold!
Mik, your debut single '837' was released when you were just 17. How has your journey evolved since then, leading to your debut record "DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS"?
I think there’s always sort of been a distance between the music and me as a songwriter. I had the ideas and stories but was unable to specifically pinpoint what I wanted the music to feel like. I feel like the process of making this album has confronted me with being more emotionally tied to the music and letting it go where it needs to, both in the lyrical and musical aspects. For the longest time, I felt afraid to be truly exposed and say things how they really are in my music, and I feel like writing “DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS” forced me into a corner where I couldn’t run away from these emotions anymore, and had to somehow channel them into the music.
Your music blends indie pop and alternative rock elements with influences ranging from Arctic Monkeys to Mac Miller. How did you develop this unique sonic palette, and what can listeners expect from your album in terms of style and themes?
I grew up on 80s music, like The Cure, the Clash, the Smiths, & Michael Jackson, which led me to discover indie rock and hip-hop during my teen years and eventually shaped what I perceive as cool in music & sounds. Alex Turner and Mac Miller’s songwriting definitely also influenced mine from a perspective of themes and choice of words. I think I’m just in awe at how the bands I grew up with were able to convey so much vulnerability and real, relatable emotions without the songs feeling soapy or self-indulging, and I think it’s the challenge I attempt to tackle in parts of this project.
'Superman' is such a joyous and infectious modern pop song! Can you share the creative process behind this track and how it fits into the larger narrative of your album?
Absolutely! “Superman” first came about when I was trying to attempt a new method of writing, starting from a guitar riff and further expanding into melodies later. The pre-chorus riff came to be and it just felt so special, so I decided to lean a little more into the acoustic/pop feel of the hook & chorus, and make it a fun listen that gave me similar vibes as the 90s anthems they play at the club and makes everyone go wild (shoutout NSYNC). I think the end part of “Superman” really puts in evidence why it’s a part of this album, as I feel like the feeling of trying to save a relationship despite clear signs of its imminent end is something everyone who’s ever been attached to someone volatile can relate to. I don’t necessarily think the whole album has a properly chronologic narrative through every song on it, but the main character (aka me lol) definitely is in a more grown-up and less naive spot at the end of the project in songs like “KARMA”, “Superman” & “some might just go away”.
Current favourite song on the album?
That’s straight up like asking me to choose between my kids, but if I’m completely honest, “sms” has such a unique quality to it. It re-transcribes exactly the headspace I was in when I wrote it (which for context consisted of me locking myself in my studio with the blinds shut for a week and just tryna get my feels out). It’s also just a super fun listen and gets me hyped every single time I hear that intro riff start.
Your lyrics often explore themes of young love, hope, and self-acceptance. How do these themes resonate with you personally, and why did you choose them as focal points for your debut album?
Whenever I think of being a little kid, I just remember the world being overwhelming constantly. Love felt scary, as I didn’t feel like I fit in and therefore deserved to be loved, validated, or appreciated by my peers. I think I was always a bit of a weird kid, but the struggles I had to communicate my feelings properly with other people didn’t help my social case. I don’t know, maybe it’s subconscious, but I think a part of me is always trying to write songs I wish kid me could’ve heard and would’ve related to. I guess I’m just tryna ease people’s loneliness when they face similar feelings of self-hate, insecurity and never looking at the bright side of the future. I think this project is my best attempt at showcasing the tough aspect of growing out of the teen mindset & relationships and feeling lost as a young adult hesitating to trust other people with his heart & secrets.
We love the production across the record. How did you come to collaborate with BALTHAZARD on the album?
This whole project takes its roots in a writing session that happened in December 2021. BALTHAZARD & I had recently reconnected through uni and had both come down with a nasty case of Covid When confronted with the idea of spending a week locked in our rooms and not doing anything with that time, we said absolutely not and bunkered down in my first London flat’s living room and did our best to turn into a DIY recording studio. I think that week put into perspective our natural ability to collaborate together, and how smoothly our creative workflow came along. It’s like the more we opened up to each other and grew closer as mates, the better the music sounded. Fast forward three years, and we’ve played countless shows together, made so many songs I can barely remember all of them, and most importantly, became irreplaceable parts of each other’s lives. This project & myself wouldn’t be the same without him, whether it be as my executive producer, homie, occasional bully, or life mentor.
Stream 'DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS' in full here:
As a young artist, how do you navigate the balance between staying true to your artistic vision and experimenting with different genres and styles?
I think it took me a couple of singles to get past the constraint of genres & styles. When I was writing & producing my first couple songs, I always had the conflicting feeling of wanting it to sound more rock and heavy, true to my musical identity at the time, and also fearing not sounding pop as it would’ve meant people around me wouldn’t necessarily have enjoyed the music. To young artists reading this right now, this is literally the worst way you could go about making music. I think the reason the songs on this album all sound so different in terms of genre is that I really decided to lean into the natural aspect of my writing and let the songs take me where they wanted to. It also really helped to have the ears of my friends and co-writers BALTHAZARD, Jon Lekole & Téo Ziga in terms of musical cohesion for the whole project, and really turning these songs into varied experiences, yet consistent within the narrative of “DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS”.
Your debut album marks a significant milestone in your career. What message or emotions do you hope listeners take away from this record?
I hope people can take a moment after listening to the album and reflect on how much bullshit they let ruin their mood or take up energy on the daily. I feel like I’ve struggled with anxiety throughout my late teen years, and channeled it into the frenetic energy of tracks on this album. I just hope it helps people take a break from the overwhelming rhythm of everyday life and offers comfort in the fact that it’s ok to not like yourself all the time. It takes time, and you learn it through a lot of difficult, sometimes painful experiences that leave you wondering if you’re good enough for people or your environment. To which I dare say you are, and if it doesn’t feel like it, you’re hanging around the wrong people and should GTFO !!
And finally - looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations following the release of "DO NOT TAKE THE FLOWERS"? What is planned for the rest of 2024?
I’m so incredibly excited for people to delve into this album, and for these songs to become an integral part of their daily routine in their playlists, car rides, and bittersweet summer afternoons listening sessions. Personally, I’m off to New York City in September, with high hopes of meeting more incredible people and living more insane stories I can later tell in my songs and share with my audience for all of us to dance to together. I’m hoping to have new projects I can share with you soon, and can’t wait to see what you make of this album I’ve put so much of myself into. 2024 has hopefully a lot more in stock for me tho, and I shall return with new things soon (but not too soon, you gotta take a moment and enjoy these tunes first haha).
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