Hi Mimi, how are you doing?
-thank you for asking I’m doing great, as usual I have a lot of great ideas. I’im just waiting to put them in action. Right now I’m actually writing a script to my very first music video, it's going to be Bollywood inspired and very colorful, I hope it turns out as cool as I’m planning it to be.
Who is Mimi and how did you get involved in music? Did music play a role in your childhood?
-I am a girl who has had music in her life since the day I started growing in my mothers womb! seriously, she was a dj so obviously she loves music, and I inherited that from her. My very first drawing that I did was Michael Jackson, my very first lp and cd were by Michael Jackson. When other kids watched cartoons I watched Michael Jacksons concerts singing along and dancing. Sometimes I apparently even cried over him. I was just so in love with him! when I was one year old I told my mom that I want to be like Michael ; sing and perform, since then that has been my goal and singing has been my passion. I really own my life to Michael and to my mom.
What influence did music have on you as a person?
-I think music was the thing that made me realize what I wanted to do with my life and it helps me to get to know myself more and more every day still. I am developing as a person and as a performer everyday and it is sometimes scary, because sometimes it can feel like I don't really know who I am, 'cause my feelings and thoughts can be so different every day. When I do music or sing, I always remember; this is who I am and what I want to do and it has never changed and never will, so that always makes me grow little bit stronger and better every day. cheesy.
Every person has an addiction, we know yours is shopping, what is the weirdest that you ever bought?
-well shopping is just one of my "bad habits", and I do it so much I can’t possible remember all the stupid items I've bought. I have to say that it's always weird when I shop because I usually don’t have a lot of money but I rather buy new shoes than eat. . . Now that I am thinking about this, I once bought a fake fuck to my ex boyfriend, he was an ass and I dumped him and gave it to him like "this is all you’re ever gonna get" so that was for me a pretty odd and funny situation, standing in the shop, a fake thingie in my hand. . ."how much is this? I'll take it" !
Space Witch Pop isn’t your first musical experience, what have you done before Space Witch Pop?
-a lot of people don't know this and them knowing me and how I’m not a religious person, they might be surprised but I started singing in a church choir when I was a kid. We performed a lot and that’s how I became more comfortable being on stage. When I was 15 years old, I was performing in Mr Money’s music video called "unbelievable" and there were some other musicians as well. Mr Money actually was my neighbor and they had all heard me singing in a party at their place before. Out of nowhere Mr Money’s guitarist "Snake" comes to me and says that they are thinking that I would be perfect for a band that they had just put together. At this point I was a little bit surprised of course, since I was only 15 and they were between 27 and 35! I said yes and we did some very great stuff together. I really believe that the music we did in 4-5 years, was so great that we could have made it to the top of the world, but unfortunately they had other bands and two of them had families, so they came first of course. That is why I lost my faith in our band, because I was willing to do what it would have taken to make our break through happen. I couldn't do it alone so I made a very hard choice and quit. Now I know it was the right choice, now it's all about MIMI and I can really practice myself and do what I believe in, to really give my 100% and get that career that I've always dreamed about.
Why did you quit with “my divine creature” and did you already had a plan in mind of what you wanted to do? What are your goals for Space Witch Pop?
-I think I got a little bit carried away with the question before this one and told you already why I quit MDC. To answer to that other part, I have to say that I really didn't have much planned other than I’m still going to continue doing music. I always wanted to make electronic music, so a friend installed a program on my computer a few years ago. One night I just started to play with it and tried to learn how to use it, and one hour later, by accident, I had my very first song "bubbles" done. Then I realized that I’m kind of good in this and I need to do more. . . so now my goals are to go as far as possible and beyond!
How did you come up with the strange name Space Witch Pop?
-Maybe a week had passed since I did my first song and I already did a few more in that week because I couldn’t stop working on songs It was so new and exciting and I really felt like I was on a zone.
I started to think about a name for myself and thought of a nickname that I had online when I was about 13 "space witch" I just added pop in the end and thought that’s my name and so it happened, almost accidently, as all the rest of the good stuff I've done. It took me maybe 10 minutes to realize my name.
How would you describe the music of Space Witch Pop yourself, we discovered even a little hiphop influence on it, in the track Rainbow?
-This is always the hardest question for me, being a space witch pop and before when I was in MDC.
It's so hard because there are so much feelings and thoughts Involved in my music for me. I would really like to know how to explain that instead of just listing genres. .
But yeah, there are influences of everything happening in my life in my music. I love to listen to different kinds of music and mix some things up little bit, to confuse my listeners and to try new things. I think I have a very unique sound and I really want my music to sound like me. It would be awful if someone would come up to me and tells that I sound just like somebody else. So I would say that my music sounds just like Space Witch Pop and if you don’t know what that means, you need to go to my myspace pages and find out ;-)
What inspires you in making music, who are rolemodels?
-I really can’t say, I have some musicians that I look up to. To name some names and bands, it would be Michael Jackson, Kate Bush, Muse, Pete Burns, Abba, Iron Maiden, Type O Negative and Army of Lovers. Sure there are much more but these are just what comes to my mind first :-) When I start doing a song it usually just pops into my mind. I sometimes just realize that I’m humming something and I just record it in my cellphone. When I feel like it, I get it done with my computer. I sometimes also hear songs in my sleep. I wake up in the night and write it down and in the morning I make it happen with my computer. One of these songs that I've heard in my sleep and made is "the engine". It’s probably the most near to my heart of my own songs. I really can’t say what it is that inspires me to do music. I just do it and it comes straight from my heart. My rolemodels help me to have hope and to demand more from myself, but I think that’s all.
Does a musician needs pain in order to create good music, how does this work for you, can you also write about good times?
-I think that a musician needs experience in life to make good music and of course it involves a lot of pain. For me I really couldn't say anything else than that I have had a lot of pain in my life but I don’t want it to show in my music too much 'cause I listen to music because it makes me feel good. I want people to feel good when they listen to my music. It is a way to forget your problems, and have fun, and to dream. I want to keep my music and my life as separate as possible but there are times when it's impossible and then I just let it all out. but ultimately yes, a musician needs pain but a good musician should be able to turn that pain into something that makes you feel good.
You just released your first album, how do you look back on the making of it?
-It took me a lot of time to put things together because this was the first time I was really doing things on my own. at the same time it was so relieving and so much fun. I love the fact that I can decide how my music is mixed and done unlike before. Of course I was tired and frustrated all the time, like most people are when they’re working. In the end I didn’t even want to hear my songs anymore because I was so fed up with listening to them everyday every- hour -every minute. . . but it payed off and I can start making the next album :-D
What was the hardest for you to do since you did it all on your own?
-I think the hardest part for me was the fact that I had no one telling me if I did something wrong and I also had no one to tell me if something went well. I am a really self critical person and there was a point where I became to understand that I would never release this album if I didn’t stop being so critical and unsecure. I made the album which in my opinion has more flaws in it than it's even possible but I’m still very proud of it and I’m very proud of myself.
What would you do different the next time?
-I honestly do not know, of course I always want to get better and better. We will see how I can accomplish that :-D
Is this the style of music that you want for Space Witch Pop or will it evolve further in the future, can you give us some ideas what kind of progress you would like to make?
-It will be a surprise for me too, like I said, I get these ideas and rhythms and just have to do my songs based on my intuition. I will always try to grow and learn and try everything new, but what happens in the future happens. I really feel like I’m not in control that way that I could really decide. I have to follow my dreams.
To reach the next level in music, what do you need for that?
-I believe that to achieve my goals I just have to stay busy and always try to remember who I really am and not take bullshit. Just work, work and work.
You already did your first live show, how did it go?
-I was shy ! there weren't as many people as I would have wished for but that’s life :-D The audience were mostly my friends so I was really nervous. It's always easier to perform to a bunch of people that you don’t stay in contact almost everyday and who don’t find it so hard to tell you the truth :-D By the end of the day I think it went well. I had a lot of fun and so had my friends, it was one more experience for me, now it's only a road up from here :-)
You decided to do live shows on your own, how will you handle music and vocals and still make a show that is enjoyable to watch?
-For me it is all about the music and the show. Untill now, I have done my backgrounds so that they will be played from mp3, but some day hopefully I'll have my own dj playing them for me. I always sing live! I would like to have other performers coming to my shows to dance and do some crazy stuff, but without them I am still able to do an enjoyable show with my lasers and smoke machines. I don’t really know any other way and I feel like I’m enough so I just have to hope that that feeling transforms to the audience as well and people will have fun at my shows. I want people to dance , so they don’t have that much time to watch to the stage anyway :-D
Where did you learn to hoolah and do you have more hidden talents?
-HaHaH I just picked it up and hoolad away :-D It's actually very easy and I’m thinking of buying a hoolah ring for myself because it’s a really good and easy exercise!
Of course I have all sorts of hidden talents but they are hidden for a reason ;-)
You made a special package of the album, wrapped it up in pink fluffy carpet, put some fake money in it and sprayed perfume on it, do you always take this effort when someone orders an album?
-Of course! not always in the same way but I usually just do whatever pops up in my mind. I never send just a plain cd that is so boring. I want people to remember me and to have a smile on their face when they receive my cd. I know it’s sometimes a little childish and maybe I sometimes go a little bit over the top, but there’s Mimi for you !
How can people purchase the album?
-they can contact me on myspace or facebook and I will give the instructions. Basically if they order it straight from me it costs 5 euros plus postage, but if they happen to live in Finland they can also buy it from cyber shops in Helsinki for 3 euros :-)
If you could throw one euro in a well to make a wish come true, what would you wish for?
-Lasagna, wine and money.
What will be next for Space Witch Pop?
-next I hopefully can get my music video ideas in action, record some new songs, dance, eat well, sleep well, work a lot but also party hard and wait for somebody to discover me :-D
Any last words for our readers?
-Always when you have the change, go outside and look for ufo’s. Try to get a picture for me if you can and please go also to my myspace/facebook pages and add me.
I am a girl who is trying to break through on my own and show everybody that it is still possible to do this without any idols/x factors etc. . . let's show them! peace, no reptiles <3
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