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Mikky Ekko interview: 'Rihanna collaboration was difficult for me'

Mikky Ekko

This time last year, US singer-songwriter Mikky Ekko was holed up in a studio recording a duet with Rihanna.

The result was 'Stay', which went on to dominate charts across the globe earlier this year, as well as giving the Louisiana native the chance to break into the mainstream with his own solo career.

Digital Spy grabbed some breakfast with Mikky to talk about his new single 'Kids', his experience writing songs with Sia, and whether he would consider working with Rihanna again.

Hi Mikky! How are you enjoying your time here in London?
"I love London. I spent a lot of time writing here last summer, so it's become a second home in many ways. I actually wrote 'Kids' on my first trip here, which was during the riots. I'd been here two days, then the riots started!"

So your new single 'Kids' was inspired by the London riots?
"Yeah, so for me there's a lot of melancholy associated with it, so hopefully it can be taken either way - terrifying or happy!"

Congratulations on your breakout success over the past year. After working in the industry for a few years how have you found the sudden influx of attention?
"Thank you so much. I feel really blessed. When you try to work at any profession you really try to meet the challenges you've been given and push to the next plateau. Being there now, I'm just trying not to take it for granted."

Can you remember the moment that you first decided you wanted to try and make it as a musician?
"No I honestly can't. I wasn't planning on it for a long time and then I eventually realized it was the only thing I'm good at. I started a few bands when I was younger and I couldn't wrap my head around what I wanted to do with them, but then I realized if I wanted to say something that was really meaningful, I had to be the one to say it. I had a lot of areas where I had to work really hard to get to a place where I could get that across."

You were a working songwriter before you decided to become a recording artist in your own right, so what was it that made you decide to make the switch?
"There was a period where I was writing for me and for other bands, but I pulled back because I realized it was crucial to my development. Production can be a little cheesy sometimes, but if the song is really powerful, it transcends so much and it really goes on to take a life that manifests in different ways. So I really wanted to pull back and understand songwriting and work with some of the best songwriters I possibly could. It also gave me the opportunity to allow other people to use stuff that I've done, that's not quite right for me."

One of the big-name producers you've worked with is Greg Kurstin (Pink, Lily Allen, Kelly Clarkson). What did he bring to your songs?
"Greg's versatility and understanding of pop sensibility is really informed in approaching the song just after it's written. I have a tendency to fight what modern pop has become - it's pretty boring for me - but he has the capacity to create really interesting sounds. So we worked really hard on the tunes we did together. It's nice to be able to breathe a little bit easier and trust someone to bring out the song in a way that's going to give more people access to it."

Mikky Ekko press shot 2013.

Did you ever think about handing one of the songs you worked on together to another artist?
"It's inevitable that you have those moments. I did a session with Greg and Sia for instance, and what was interesting about watching Sia work was how quickly she goes in and manifests what she does. The best of what she does is what she does - do you know what I mean? It's not her idea of what I need her to do. It's sort of take it or leave it and that's a really important attitude to have as an artist, because it allows you to go in surgically. If I'm a brain surgeon there's no point me going in to fix a broken arm, and so I think it was really cool having that experience with her. What it taught me was, if I'm writing the best stuff I possibly can, I can decide after the fact whether it is right for me, then I don't have to question whether the song is right for someone else."

'Pull Me Down' and 'Kids' are quite different songs in terms of mood. Are they a good reflection of what we can expect from your debut?
"Yeah, I think sonically it is a fair representation. As more stuff comes out I think the thread will be relatively clear. 'Kids' will lead into that sound and hopefully it will feel like a natural transition."

What has inspired you during your time working on the album?
"It's a brave new time for music. I think we're ready for it and we're a little tired of the same old stuff being fed to us. We don't mind it, but I think people are getting a little antsy. I'm always looking for stuff people have never heard, because I find that stimulating. Regardless of what other people think of it, it's important for me to feel like I'm exploring new territory. That's what inspires a lot of my songwriting."

Rihanna 'Stay' music video still

Rihanna takes a bath in 'Stay' music video

Mikky Ekko press shot 2013.

Mikky Ekko

Obviously collaborating with Rihanna on 'Stay' was a huge opportunity, but did you ever have reservations about it?
"Yeah, definitely, because I struggled so much with that song. It came from a really vulnerable place for me and I don't like writing that kind of stuff. So when I heard Rihanna wanted to record it, it was difficult for me, but I realized it was such a magnificent opportunity. It was a huge affirmation for me. It was an opportunity to marry what I do with arguably the most visible platform on the planet. That was so cool to me, because that was the last song you'd expect."

What were your initial expectations for the song?
"I tried not to have any, as much as it was possible. There were a lot of people working hard to get on that album and I just 'oops'd my way into it! It's not the easiest way to make friends, but the doors it opens... We all viewed it as an opportunity for me to run through."

Is it something you'd ever do again, either with Rihanna or another international star?
"Yeah, for me it's all about timing. I wrote that song for me initially and collaborating always makes me nervous - especially if it's for another artist. I guess I would do it. It's new for me as I'm coming from a place where I've just been working on my own stuff. If it feels right, then I'd go for it."

Mikky Ekko's new single 'Kids' will be released in the UK on September 1.

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