Michaux

Interview 3 April 2004

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Hi Michaux, how you doing?

I’m great, just a little tired. We have been sleeping only about 4 hours a day and working the rest of the time preparing for the release of the record. Yeah, it’s true, artists sleep during the day but that doesn’t mean we’re all lazy!

I see that music became important to you at a very young age, both the performing and the technical side. Tell me about that.

I started singing solos in church when I was 9. I came from a musical family and performed with my mother and sister growing up. At 12, I began learning about sound and mixing. I guess I was around 16 when I got into home recording and made a lot of demos.

I don’t know too much about BJ Phillips – tell me about him and what you did, and how important music was in spreading the word. Where did you go, I believe a lot of work was in Russia. He’s now deceased isn’t he? How old were you at this time?

B.J. was a motivational speaker to youth back in the 90s. He was a great person and one of my best friends. He spoke in high schools, youth camps, churches, conferences, etc. all over the world. My sister Laura and I traveled with him here in the states. We were just kids, really young! I must have been 19 or 20 at the time. We were very inexperienced and immature but B.J. gave us a chance. Our music was very important to him as part of his speaking engagements. We would kind of set the stage for him with our music. He was also a great comedian and the kids loved him! He passed away from cancer in 94 or 95; I don’t remember the date. It hit me really hard and I even stopped singing for a year after that. He was my mentor and I was kind of lost for a while. I will always love and cherish my memories of B.J.

The Church was and still is very important to you? Tell me about some of the work that you have carried out, and how this has helped expand and enhance your musical direction.

It’s not so much the church but my relationship with God that is really important to me. Some churches can be too traditional just for the sake of being traditional. I’m not into that, but as long as they are serving God, actively helping people and especially reaching the youth, they are OK with me. The youth are the future; if we don’t try to help make their lives better, they have no future. I work with a lot of youth that society has no use for, throw away kids. These are youth that have been convicted of violent crimes and are in prison or a halfway house. I believe that it’s never too late for them. I have been a volunteer Chaplain for 2 years at Texas Youth Commission Turman Halfway House in Austin Texas. I have seen first hand the results of positive music, and brought in many other artists and people to speak to them about Christian values. I use my work with youth to influence my music and my music to influence the youth. It works both ways. I refuse to write typical Gospel or Christian music because it doesn’t always relate to what’s really going on with these kids. If your spiritual songs aren’t relevant to their issues, then you are probably making Christian entertainment or worship music which has its place. It’s just not what I do. I’m not saying that you should do what I do. I am saying that we all have a different role to play and I know that this is my calling.

You do a lot of Youth work. Clearly music can and should be used positively. I believe that there’s a whole heap of talent out there but often direction is tainted by the images - in other words the marketing, the images, the stereotypes even, the ‘bling bling’ world, gives the wrong image of positivity. Do you agree?

Oh Boy! You just hit a hot button with me. I will say this; I have a hard time believing that some artists really care about youth when I see their videos and hear their lyrics. I hear a lot of talk about giving back and being role models but their actions scream so loud I can’t hear what they are saying! I know all about the freedom of speech and expression arguments, but you can have your freedoms and still make a positive impression. Let’s face it, SEX SELLS RECORDS! That’s the bottom line about all of this, not artistic freedom! As a result, our teens think it’s OK to dress like prostitutes, treat females like prostitutes, be part a violent gang, use drugs, alcohol, and profanity because the see their idols doing it on TV. Youth are the target market of the record labels. We have sold out the innocence of being a child to make more money!

Where do your musical influences come from – both in your upbringing and out there right now?

I listened to a lot of Black Gospel as a kid; Andre Crouch, The Walter Hawkins Family, The Clark Sister’s and Shirley Caesar. I also listened to Christian music like Russ Taff, The Imperials, Sweet Comfort Band and Bryan Duncan. I grew up in a fundamental Christian home and my father forbade secular music. I can remember being about 9 or 10 years old hiding under my bed and secretly listening to Rick James, Michael Jackson, Kool and The Gang, Hall and Oates and the Sugar Hill Gang. I had a really nice pair of Koss Hi-Fi headphones back then. Do you remember the ones that were all metal and weighed about 10 pounds? One day my dad caught me listening to this ‘devil music’ as he called it and smashed them to bits! In the past several yeas I have been listening to a lot of classic Soul such as Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, Al Green and The Isley Brothers. Maxwell is my favorite current artist. In my CD player right now you will also find Myron, Remy Shand, Erykah Badu and D’Angelo. Dad, if you are reading this, stay away from my headphones! I love my Dad very much, we have had our differences, but we are good now. He never understood my taste in music but that’s pretty typical of parents and children. Oh, let me clarify something, I do not condone the beliefs and lyrical content of most of the artist I mentioned but I do like their style of music. This is why I am trying to do a new thing with Gospel and Soul music. We need an alternative to what is out there on both sides; secular and Gospel.

You’re album – this is the first one right? Tell me about how you put it together, who you used and how long it took. What made you do it and what do you hope to achieve?

Yeah, this is my first full length LP. I recorded the album in my home project studio with about 14 musicians from here in Austin Texas. I spent a year and a half working on it full time which included the writing, pre-production, recording and mixing. Tom Coyne of Sterling Sound, in New York City mastered the record. Tom was awesome! He masters records by Maxwell, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, Remy Shand, Sade, Beyonce, Jessica Simpson, Britney Spears, Aretha Franklin, George Benson; he even did the classic Kool and the Gang, Ladies Night back in 1979! I’ve always felt this was one of the best sounding classic R&B songs on the radio. The list goes on and on like The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest and many other great hip hop groups. He’s the very best in R&B/Soul mastering, hands down. I can’t say enough about Tom. I put him through a lot too because I am a very difficult and eccentric customer when it comes to my music. He was a perfect gentleman and never got frustrated with me!

I made this record to bridge the gap between Soul, Funk and Gospel. It all came from the same roots; I’m just trying to bring them closer together. In this post 9/11 age, we are focusing more on spiritual growth, an introspective look at our lifestyle, and what is truly important. The ‘me first’ attitude of America in the 90’s has less appeal when we look at the ‘big picture’ and ask ourselves; What really matters in this life? The record stimulates this kind of thinking. We need much more than the shallowness of ‘booty shaking’ R&B and the ‘New Age’ messages many Neo-Soul songs offer, but we still want to feel the rhythm, to love, move, and be stirred by the soul of great music.

You produced it, wrote it, did everything yes?

My wife Arlana and I wrote ‘Toni’, and I wrote or co-wrote the rest of the songs. I produced the record with the help of Chad Paxton who co-wrote and co-produced ‘What You Wouldn’t do For Love’, ‘Love You the Right Way’, ‘Resti 2 tion’, ‘Stay’ and ‘Payment’. Perry Lowe wrote and co-produced ‘He Paid it All’. We are all friends and have worked together for a long time.

There’s a whole heap of styles in there gospel thru hip hop and many bits in between?

Tell me about how you put your songs together and what you draw from

How’s it going down – what are the reactions so far?

I draw from all kinds of music that I listen to and musicians I may be working with. I like to write and record in jam sessions with other musicians. I like the organic approach to writing and recording; although, sometimes I start with the sequencing of drum samples and create the song on my own track by track, then bring in other musicians. I did the first 4 tracks on the record this way which sound more commercial R&B than the others. The lyrics all come from my real life experiences. I’m basically an open book. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in life but I’m not afraid to let people hear what I am feeling or dealing with. Chances are, they are dealing with the same issues and just maybe I can help by offering some suggestions or solutions.

Sometimes I start with a vocal hook or a simple melody and build around it. The rule is there are no rules for me in writing, production or recording! The whole record is like that, they were all done very differently. I don’t like to be predictable and I don’t like conforming to any format or system. I’m really into experimentation in all aspects of writing, producing and recording. That makes it more fun for me. I’m like that in a lot of other ways, like the way I dress. I may wear a suit one day and bell bottom jeans and sandals the next. I may feel like a pair of polyester lime green slacks and platform shoes; it’s all about the way I feel at the time. It doesn’t matter if I’m going to church or to the grocery store. I really don’t like traditions, but I’ve already said that! We’ve been shown a lot of love from the Neo Soul fans as well as the Christian and Gospel music fans. A. Scott Galloway from the Urban Network wrote that although I am delivering spiritual messages in my songs, they would fit smoothly in most Urban AC and Quiet Storm formats, so I think we are covered quite well.

Tell me about how you’re promoting the CD, and the admin behind the sound – Michaux Music, distribution, Arlana and so on – are you looking to build a label with other artists?

Currently, Arlana and I are promoting the record ourselves full time. We send out thousands of e-mails to radio, media, internet music sites and fans. Arlana is the genius behind the marketing. 2 years ago she didn’t know anything about music marketing and promotion but she started researching full time on the Internet and literally devoured 10 books on the subjects. She is self taught and extremely sharp, my secret weapon. I just make the music and do whatever she says; she’s The Boss! We work very hard together as a team. We don’t have children so we can be extremely focused on this 24/7. We have been approached by some distributors but we are placing the first thousand CDs ourselves in stores in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio while we weight our options. We are going to be very cautions about choosing a distributor. We are also selling it from our website at http://www.michauxmusic.com/, CDBaby.com and SoundClick.com. Ultimately, we will have national and international distribution of this record. We are getting that kind of feedback from the industry; it’s just a matter of timing. We currently don’t have any plans to expand the label, MX Records, with other artists. To do so, we would have to expand our overhead and time resources. We would rather stay lean and mean focusing on MichauX. Besides, I’m an artist. A lot of artists expand into indie labels with multiple artists on their roster but should they? I want to concentrate on what I do best and put everything into that. Like building my studio, I started the label out of the necessity to release my music the way I want it to be. I think of MX records like starting a consulting practice or opening a store. We are entrepreneurs and the business is going do be what we make it do. A lot more artists are starting to think this way and taking control of their own careers. It’s not like in the old days where you couldn’t make it without being signed to a major label. Now with the Internet, your opportunities are endless if you are willing to work hard enough and not give up in the tough times. You have to give up your day job though, promoting a record is a full time job for both of us. We literally work 16 to 18 hours a day! Oh, you also gotta have good credit because spending that much time promoting costs a small fortune!

Tell me about your studio? It’s a working studio isn’t – who have you had in?

It’s a working project studio with a control room, and a live room, pro gear and Pro Tools. It’s comfortable with a homey feel to it. I recorded Tyrone Vaughan’s first project after he left Breedlove. Tyrone is Jimmie Vaughan’s son and the nephew of the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. I’ve recorded various local artists from the Austin area. I also worked on a Gospel project with LA Dre from Los Angeles who was one of the original producers of NWA, Too Short, Easy E, Michel’le, DOC, and Above the Law.

How about you as a live act – you do a whole heap of gospel and Christian ministry work – do you have a band and are you going out specifically to promo the album?

We have a lot of gigs coming up. We will be going to the Lounge in Toronto in May. The Lounge is an upscale club that brings in inspirational groups a few nights per month. We have a huge gig in Dallas coming in June; ‘Dallas for Jesus’ Mega Conference at the American Airlines Center Arena, June 16-20. Fifty thousand people are estimated to attend. Proceeds will benefit Centers for Pregnant Teens, Battered Spouses, Overweight Children, and the Aids Foundation. We have various gigs scheduled here in Texas, and we hope to get to the UK soon! (Hint, Hint!)

When I am doing a church gig I usually sing with my tracks, however, the musicians that worked with me on the record are eager to tour with me when the budget allows. We will be doing a bunch of stuff to promo the record in Houston and Dallas over the next few months.

What things do you like to do?

Arlana and I love to shop for vintage 1970’s clothing. We are big into the whole retro scene and there are a lot of vintage shops in Austin. Our favorite is Blue Velvet on The Drag (Guadalupe St.) at The University of Texas. It’s fun to dig around and find cool original pieces, not reproductions. I’m also a movie fanatic. ‘The Passion of the Christ’ was the last movie we saw and we highly recommend it. I’m fairly low keyed. I like to hang with Arlana and watch old 70’s TV re-runs like The Rockford Files, the early ones are the best. WGN Chicago airs it every morning at 1:00 a.m. and we never miss an episode. We especially like the ones staring Isaac Hayes because they have the best music, fashions and slang!

Anything else you’d like to add.

God Bless you man! Thanks for your support and to everyone out there who loves good Soul music, Right On!

Good luck in all you do and thanks for your time.

Thank You!

 Mike 

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