Meet Mikano
photography MAXENCE RENARD, art direction BENJAMIN DAUGEARD
styling EDDY SOILIHI, grooming & nails EMELINE MORELLET
production MOLLY ROSE APPLE, talent MIKANO
artist management GABIN DUCOURANT & ATHÉNAÏS RUBIO of 45 RHODIUM
location manager SACHA CARÉNOU, styling assistant LEELOU GARNIER
Mikano is the rising Parisian rapper you should already know and this is why he is the cover star of this AURAL Issue, relating to the ear and the sense of hearing.
Since his first EP released in 2018, Blind Man Dreams, Mikano has never ceased to amaze with his energy, sensitivity and mix of influences. With highly visual writing and a unique sense of rhythm, with each project he documents his personal evolution between France, Cameroon, Abu Dhabi and Egypt, where he grew up, and Seoul (South Korea) where he has spent quite some time lately. An English-speaking artist at the crossroads of genres, Mikano is an alien in the French musical landscape, constantly exploring new sonic and visual frontiers. Each of his clips is imagined as an artistic experiment or cinematic object, and with each new musical creation, he impresses with his maturity, confidence and emotional power.
Since his AKWA EP series, released in 2022 and named after the Douala district of Cameroon from which he hails, Mikano has evolved without constraint to reach the purest form of his creation. So it was about time we put him on our radar.
For this special issue of MERDE Magazine, we thought that we would let the two people that listen to Mikano the most and are the closest to him in his quest for new sounds and new heights: Athénaïs Rubio and Gabin Ducourant, his two managers (and friends).
Athénaïs & Gabin : What is your first memory of sound, and how has that memory played a role for you in becoming a rapper ?
Mikano : First song I remember that really caught my attention was Gangsta’s Paradise by Coolio. It’s ironic you’re asking me this considering my hairstyle for this shoot lol even though my initial reference was ODB. But The Last Meal album by Snoop is really the first eargasmic experience I’ve had. From the lifestyle skits and street noises to Dr Dre’s production, Snoop’s immaculate flow navigating between dirty, distorted synth and smooth soul samples and background singing vocals … it’s safe to say this album made me a fan of rap music, no doubt. A&G : What is the first sound (or track) that you ever recorded ? What did it feel like ?
Mikano : Some shitty song I made in Douala (Cameroun) during some holidays with my cousin where the producing scammed the shit out of us lol. Thank God I forgot the lyrics ! But the feeling was great though. Felt like I had the best song in the world at that time.
A&G : We’ve seen you recording in many different settings, from a shitty house in the forest to proper music studios in Paris or in Seoul. What’s your ideal environment for creating music – do you like to be cozy, do you like to get hyped up, what’s your favorite vibe for creating?
Mikano : I loooove being cozy ! I’d take a cozy dorm room over a fancy studio any day. Not that I don’t like being surrounded by dope equipments and all but I just feel like what if I don’t have that? I could still manage to get cozy which I feel is the most important if I’m trying to create. A safe space is going to influence my tone, my lyrics, melodies etc. I love creating with my brothers but also feel great being a loner at times and just vibe on my own when I’m more introspective.
A&G : We have so many demos in stock (so many bangers tbh) that we are always wondering when you’ll be ready to drop. So when do you know that a track is fully done ? And when do you feel that a project is ready to be mixed ? Do you see yourself as a perfectionist when it comes to creating music ?
Mikano : It’s done when you decide it is, I guess. There’s no secret formula. It just depends on you and your gut feeling in my opinion. As far as the mixing goes, I like to do it around a month or two prior to the release so it’s still fresh in my mind. And yes !! I’m a perfectionist. And in my opinion it’s never too much as long as I keep in mind that the purpose is to actually drop and share the music lol because perfectionism often flirts with insecurities. So at a certain point, you’re gonna have to let it go.
A&G : We always get to hear different versions of the tracks you work on. With different beats that you distort on your your own. Sometimes it even feels like you’re doing collages and that it’s the craft aspect of it is that you enjoy most. Even when it comes to videos you’re doing your own mock-ups with existing videos. So I guess the exact question is : Do you consider yourself as a DIYer ?
Mikano : That’s basically the core of my whole musical DNA, especially recently. If I don’t do it, no one is going to fully understand where I’m trying to go with it. Experimenting is how I remember my truest intentions. And as far as creation is concerned I just stay puzzling pieces man. I like to have control and as opposed to what a lot of people feel it’s not a bad thing. I got my vision no matter what and the only way I could get better at this is by trying to master a lot of different skills in my lane. Therefore I can be understood by professional video editors, directors, colorgraders, beat makers etc. It just makes the process more fluent and helps my ideas come to life in a more precise way. I’ll come to a studio session with an idea I already worked on so the producer knows where I’m trying to go. Same thing with any other creator I’ll ever collab with.
A&G : Do you consider your visual aesthetic to be as important as your sound aesthetic ? Is it a whole ?
Mikano : Yeah they go together for me. Theydon’t necessarily have to if you don’t want to. But I love it because most of the time it’s adding a deeper meaning to the song.
A&G : About your relation with social media. You don’t really care about playing by the rules and
feeding the algorithm. Why ?
Mikano : Don’t know man I just don’t wanna be a product or get labeled as an internet influencer, respectfully. I decide I’m a unique artist, I can’t be following that route. It’s scary at times when you realize a lot of profiles look way too similar but they’re owned by different people. Just let me be me, if you like it that’s fine and if you don’t it’s also fine, but I’ll do me for sure.
A&G : What’s so special for you when it comes to performing live ?
Mikano : Connection with the audience is the core. It’s also a celebration, and a reminder of why I’m doing this. + I always share the stage with some very talented friends so it’s always a pleasure. I feel like I’m in my living room blasting music lol.
A&G : Does it still make sense to put you in a category, to affiliate you to a genre ? Do you define yourself as a rapper only ?
Mikano : I don’t know. It’s not up to me to say it. As a matter of fact, I don’t think it’s up to anyone lol. Just feel the music and stop looking for categories. It just doesn’t matter. As far as I know I’m a rapper and also anything else you can think of while listening to my music.
A&G : Do you think your music style influences your fashion style? Is fashion a way for you to express yourself too ? (Whether it’s clothing/hairstyle/gems)
Mikano : I don’t know if it does. I believe it is influenced by my state of mind in the first place. Depending on how I feel it’s gonna have an impact on my music and my style at the same time.
A&G : What does the Ghillie look you’re wearing on the cover of the magazine say about you ?
Mikano : It’s a camouflage that represents my need be able to adapt to any type of genre while experimenting sounds. I built my artistic foundation but I don’t like to be expected because it kills the freedom. It’s a safe space and the Ghillie represents it well.
A&G : What’s your end goal as a live-performer, and as an artist in general ?
Mikano : I’m just developing my craft day by day and the evolution never seems to have an end goal. The opportunities are just limitless and I just want my live performances to feel the same way. I just want every experience to be better than the last one. With a bigger crowd each time because I need this feeling of communion. It’s an everlasting feeling I’ll just never get rid of.
A&G : If you have to lock in with 5 artists in a studio for a week, who do you pick ? Why ?
Mikano : Frank Ocean, Charlie Wilson, Alabama Shakes (the whole band), Thundercat, Noah Shebib and Ian Andria. It’s more than 6 lol but if it ever happens I’ll be on cloud 9 for the rest of my life.
A&G : Your entourage is like your family. Who would you like to give a shout out to right now in this interview, so that people can go discover their work ?
Mikano : Ian Andria (musician), Laurent Segretier (photographer), Fatherrobbi (Human Fantasies Jewelry), Ferina (video director), Sutus (my main producer), Unborn Sounds (DJ Collective based in Seoul, Korea), Yung Wing (video director), Tapz Gallantino (singer, artist)
