It was difficult to deny our quickly amassed adoration for this Los Angeles-based singer/songwriter. With apparent influences of Sharon Van Etton, Daughter, and Angel Olson Miya Folick led us down a long listening experience, getting us helplessly lost in her undeniable charm.
Even though we dug deep into her Soundcloud, we stopped after one listen through “Talking With Strangers,” and this was only to immediately request a Q&A to learn more about this intriguing artist. Before we went too far, we had to make sure to get that set up, which is what we have for you today.
Press play and enjoy the read and what will soon become of your new artists to watch.
TMN: Hey Miya! Thank you for taking a moment to answer a few questions for us. We’ve heard your full EP and we’re simply enamored. How long have you been playing music?
MF: I’ve been singing my whole life, and I started playing guitar about 5 years ago.
TMN: We dug back through your Soundcloud and checked out your older stuff. “Oceans” is hauntingly beautiful. What’s your journey been like from that first upload to the most recent, “Talking with Strangers.”
MF: It’s been many things. I think, when I uploaded that demo, I was just beginning to think of myself as a musician or as someone who could make a career out of songwriting. I was teaching myself how to play guitar through writing songs, and discovering how much clarity bottling a feeling down to chords and melodies could bring you. But, now that I say that, I realize that I’m sort of in the same place now. Some days I still feel like I don’t know how to play the guitar at all. Some days I feel like I’ll never write a song again. Some weeks I don’t touch my guitar and all I want to do is to make beats in Ableton live. It’s hard to tell you how it’s been because I still feel very much in it. I’ll let you know in a couple years when I have some perspective.
TMN: You seem to have so many different parts of your past that influence your music, from religion to studying theater in college. Talk to us about the one aspect that guides you the most.
MF: Yeah, I think growing up Buddhist has influenced me in that I’m able to let go of ideas that aren’t working in the moment. Acting training teaches you to make strong decisions and make them quickly. I think that’s important in music too. But, I think I’m most influenced by the people in my life and mostly led by intuition.
TMN: We can’t help but shake associations with Sharon Van Etten and Daughter, both of which are amazing. Do you ever catch yourself associating your music to acts you enjoy? Or do you try and clear those connections from your mind when writing music?
MF: I think Sharon Van Etten can do no wrong. I heard her music for the first time when I saw her play Newport Folk Festival a few years ago and during “Give out” when she sang “put it on your knee” my heart and brain were both doing somersaults. The phrasing and simplicity of that lyric are so genius but in a way that is so natural, so unforced. So, when people compare me to her I’m thinking, “No, you don’t understand the greatness of Sharon.” But, I don’t think about other artists when I’m writing. My music is very personal. I’m just writing.
TMN: So, we’re always curious with new artists. Were you reading music blogs and checking out The Hype Machine before you started releasing music? Or did you just start checking it all out after you put up your first song?
MF: When I first started, no. I was in my own world and wasn’t interested. I listened to a lot of Joni Mitchell, Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, and I was embarrassingly clueless about most music. I started educating myself and now I have an insatiable appetite for new stuff.
TMN: After this EP, what’s next for you guys? Do you anticipate knocking out some local shows before heading out on the road? Or are you just going to charge ahead across the US?
MF: Yeah. I’d love to play local and tour. I’m writing a lot of new songs specifically for live shows. That’s the plan.
