In the shadowy realm of American Gothic music, it’s impossible to overlook the rising star of the dark wave underground scene, Mica. With around 100,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, his melancholic melodies and darkly poetic lyrics resonate with a growing number of fans, transporting them to a world where eerie beauty and unsettling emotions converge.
Mohawk Hat: Christian Dior AW2002
Shirt: Raf Simons
Bondage Leather Vest: Gianni Versace SS1992
Vinyl Zipper Gown: Jean Paul Gaultier AW1995
Multi-Lace Derbies: Raf Simons AW201
As a fashion stylist, I’ve had the privilege of working with Mica, witnessing firsthand how his sonic and visual identities intertwine. In Los Angeles, I sat down with him for Fucking Young! magazine to delve into his creative process, explore the inspirations behind his Gothic anthems, and discuss how he’s carving out a unique path in the dark wave scene.
Your new single “vampire” has a raw, almost primal energy. What inspired the sound this time around?
My friend said it sounded like organs moving from inside of the body. I think it’s because we mixed the bass to move up and down subtly the entire song so it feels like blood flow at an elevated heart rate. This vampire narrative…not all vampires have to be hot and corny, they can be more disgusting too.
How do you balance the chaos of touring with maintaining your creative process?
I don’t play more than one show a month in the same city. Right now I’ve only played SoCal so they’ve not really been more than once a month. We spend a lot more time rehearsing and mixing more than anything else though. Songwriting usually happens quickly, it’s making the packaging and presentation that takes the longest for me.
Custom Cowboy Boots: Talent’s own
Net Set: Comme des Garçons
“Cock n’ Tail” Ring: Chrome Hearts
Leather Sleeves: Raven Crave
Your stage presence is magnetic—how much of that is performance versus your true self?
It’s more of my true self than how I am on a regular basis. I was a psychotic, hyper little kid. I think it’s me getting to have fun and be present without being questioned about it or told no.
Fashion has always been a big part of your image. How does your style evolve alongside your music?
I really value personal style, it’s not that I let my clothes speak for me but I do think there are subtle communicative properties about the “outfit”. I don’t value comfort, I like form and playing with contexts. I love putting two things together that should never be next to each other. To me, it’s as fun to put together a new outfit as it is to write a new song, so as long as I’m making what’s fun for me at the time, that’s all that really matters and ideally that will always be changing.
Extended Sleeve Wrap Top: Helmut Lang
Pendant Combat Belt: Raf Simons SS2002
Cut-Up Gum Pants: Swampgod
Belt: Rick Owens
Kiss Boots: Rick Owens
Collaborations in the music world are becoming more common. Who would be your ultimate dream collaboration, and why?
Sky, Theo, Nabihah, Dev, Sade, MIA, Ye, Bjork…flowers all the way, all legends to me in their own rights. Their influence was so strong that they made me want to do this whole thing in the first place. A lot of things have come full circle so far and I look forward to any collaborations to come.
Your lyrics often delve into darker themes. What draws you to explore these aspects of life and the human experience?
My dad passing away at 3 years old had me thinking a lot about death, god, love and spirituality my entire life. I didn’t realize I’m a textbook existentialist until I sat down and really read into all my lyrics on this new album. I was also made to study theology for 13 years of my life and I questioned all of it…and still don’t have an answer. So, a lot of these lyrics are just me asking questions. You’ll find a lot of interrogative statements and question marks in my lyrics.
Rock music has seen many phases over the years. How do you see your music fitting into the current landscape?
I don’t fit in at all and I don’t want to fit in with rock music, I never really listened to rock music with very few exceptions. I love Joy Division and that’s always going to be inside me but I listen to Molly Nillson, I listen to Dean Blunt and Florence Sinclaire. We’re guitar-heavy but would I call it rock? Not at all, this is something new that doesn’t have a name yet. We’re post-punk but we’re not, we’re darkwave but we’re not. We use guitars but in the way Sade used guitars on the Soldier of Love live shows. As soon as they tried putting us in a box, we dropped Midnight and now we’re dropping American Gothic which will totally change how people see us but it’s expanding on the narrative and sonic language in Twin Peaks. We want to push these genres forward into uncharted territory, that’s the ethos of post-punk anyway right?
Net Set: Comme des Garçons
“Cock n’ Tail” Ring: Chrome Hearts
Leather Sleeves: Raven Crave
What role do visual elements—like your music videos and album art—play in the overall experience of your music?
We’ve reached a point where we can make an idea into 3D so quickly, I think that’s the place I’m at now is like, I wanna create an entire world for people to go to…something more romantic and dreamlike than reality can be sometimes. Not like Disneyland or something but a new place in your head that can bend to make your own life feel cooler. We live in the real world and most people can’t just go off to the woods, do ayahuasca with a “spiritual teacher” from Silverlake and find themselves. People have families and responsibilities, kids have to go to school. Let’s decorate time and space with music and visual art. Let’s make the sickest hoodie, it all adds up to something life-changing for someone. I know it did for me with people like Tyler and Bones, I want more of that energy in the world and I’m more than happy to try my hand at that.
If you could go back in time to give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Nothing. I wouldn’t have wanted my life any different than it is now, I wouldn’t mess with fate. My struggles are my own and have taught me so much and I value all the hardship that triggered self-discovery. But what I would tell young kids nowadays is to tell people you love them while you can. If you like someone’s hair or glasses, just tell them that. We don’t have enough time for too much pride.
Your fanbase is incredibly loyal and passionate. How does their energy influence your performances?
I think of my performances as a theatrical play. I trust myself to know what the right tone and mood should be for each show given the venue, time of day, capacity, and my set list followed by how I’m feeling and trusting that intuition as well. The show will exist as it is and you either like it or you don’t, both are okay. I do like it when people sing the lyrics though.
How do you stay grounded amid the gigs, fans, and the rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle?
Rock n Roll lifestyle doesn’t exist anymore. Everything is so competitive now, you have to be on your A game 24/7 if you want to beat everyone else. This isn’t the 90s anymore, fentanyl is the #1 cause of death for people under 40 in this country (US). We’re going to the gym so we can play longer sets. As for fame, I’m going to stay unfamous for as long as I can but I do have my guard up. You don’t know where I live unless you’ve known me for years and I’m changing my number soon. I’m lucky enough to have friends that loved me before any of this so I’ll keep them close forever.
You’ve been known to push boundaries both musically and stylistically. What’s the next frontier you want to explore?
I want to improve. I want more output. I want to feel better for longer periods of time. I’m really donating my body to science here.
I bare my soul to what I do and I just want to be around long enough to get enough out. I want to leave the next generations to come with at least 100 great songs. More physical frontiers though please, I want to see the whole world and meet everyone.
Is there a mantra or philosophy that guides you through the ups and downs of the music industry?
Yes. “This is when people quit”. Every time I doubt myself, feel burnt out or someone crosses me, I say this to myself “These are the exact moments that break people”. If I push through this, it could be the final boss. I’m always being asked by the universe how much I really want my spot. I want this more than anything and when I have a 14-hour day, I ask myself “Would you want it any other way”? and the answer is always “No, the inverse of this would be smoking weed and drinking beer on someone’s couch”.
If you weren’t making music, what other artistic avenues would you be exploring?
Fashion. I did design and styling at a fashion label pre-pandemic and I loved it. My merch line is starting with printables right now but we’re moving into cut n sew as soon as possible. Or, getting a graveyard shift at 7/11 and hitchhiking for a year and writing a book about that.
