Q&A: Mickey Darling’s Austin Medrano on the Making of Debut Album, ‘Let’s Dance Until We Get Scared’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
Photo By Faith Luevanos
AFTER RELEASING SINGLES SINCE 2018, INDIE POP DUO MICKEY DARLING – has finally released their debut album, Let’s Dance Until We Get Scared. The release of the album signifies an exciting new chapter for the band, slowly straying away from their iconic, Boy Pablo-esque upbeat indie pop sound to something new altogether. While this album still holds on to the unique sound that the band has cultivated over time, they’re beginning to build on that solid foundation and develop a sound for themselves that shows growth and maturity.
Truly a rollercoaster of emotions, the album takes listeners on an introspective journey, the first half of the album being dance-y, upbeat, 80s-sounding pop. “pipe down” and “Broken People Breaking Hearts” puts listeners into a trance, invoking feelings of nostalgia and bittersweet love. As the album continues, there’s an immediate shift into the dramatic single, “always online.” The lyrical content from that point on begins its descent further into Molina’s brain, showcasing feelings of fear, isolation, and heartbreak.
Skyler Molina (vocals, writer) and Austin Medrano (producer/guitar/writer), have described themselves the same way since they started Mickey Darling: two boys from Texas making music in their bedrooms. While their creative process has made its way to a proper studio, the humble personalities of both members of the band haven’t changed in the slightest. Together, they share the same goal, to make whatever they want and release it whenever they want.
Known for their raunchy lyrics and multi-layered instrumentals, the band is a sheer force to be reckoned with. Mickey Darling commands any room they perform in, consistently leaving fans wanting more. The energy and stage presence of the band is addictive and utterly intoxicating, and you’re sure to leave a Mickey Darling show as a lifelong fan. This spotlight on the band was brought to the attention of alt/indie band Valley, who recently invited Molina and Medrano to open for them on their North American tour. This chance to perform for potential new fans inspired the boys to add to their initial performance (guitar, vocals, backing tracks) and bring along a bassist and drummer to elevate their performance.
Luna had the opportunity to sit down with Medrano to discuss the creation of their debut album, their experience opening for Valley, how they stay connected to their fans, and more. Read the full interview below.
Photo By Faith Luevanos
LUNA: After releasing singles for the past couple of years, did it feel like a big step to curate a cohesive album? Or did it feel like a “right place, right time” moment?
MEDRANO: It leaned more towards “right place, right time.” It’s not cohesive in the sense that I knowingly went into it with a vision of what it would become, but cohesive in the way that it’s a time capsule of our lives at the time. We created these songs in three weeks in a sauna of a studio in Santa Ana, California. We had put off the album for a while because I would just save up our “good” or “Mickey-esque” demos and try to hit them at this studio. This was my strict boxed-in mindset coming into this new studio space I had gotten and honestly, Sky slowly introduced the idea that we create songs in a single day as a “creative stretch.” I was pretty apprehensive about the idea because truthfully, I wasn’t really confident in my ability to create captivating music or moving music in the span of 30 minutes.
I think Sky was feeling pretty boxed in with the demos and how they sounded since I primarily relied on uptempo-type music, so one time he was high in the studio, and he got excited like a kid to try this new method of making music. It’s not technically new per se, but it was so new to us. With the singles, we had a divided workflow - I would make the demos, send them to him, and he’d write vocal melodies and lyrics over them, then at that time we would come together and essentially curate the song. This new process was completely foreign to me, and I really had to learn how to let go and trust in my capabilities. All the music that’s on the album is literally, day-of studio takes and creations, and I’m pretty happy with where it turned out when people have that context.
LUNA: It seems that every fan of yours is completely dedicated and devoted to you guys, what do you feel were the key components of creating this community?
MEDRANO: I feel like the best way of getting here with your fans is just being authentically yourself. We also spent so much time in the DMs when we first formed getting to know the people that became the foundation of our superfans. I remember there were days in the beginning when Sky and I would spend hours on our phones just responding to people. We put just as much time into Instagram as we did into music; it was pretty goofy but it worked. As I get older, I see that this isn’t a sustainable option for most people since most artists are working jobs as well as pursuing their music careers. Either way, give special attention to fans who give their most to you - just be grateful and get to know them!
LUNA: What are some of the main messages that you’re hoping to convey to fans with this new album?
MEDRANO: At first, I had no idea what the message of this album was. To me, we were just endlessly creating without a real end goal, but we were actually making songs for fun again and doing the best we could in those specific moments. I guess the main message to me of this album is to take risks and to just keep going and not look back. Let’s Dance Until We Get Scared speaks to me as a “let’s create whatever we can and throw sh*t at the wall and see what we’re capable of, and not be afraid of what the outcome is.” Some of it is great, some of it is god awful, but it’s only as deep as you make it. I’m on the other side of this album, and it was a testament to listening to your body and just following that intuition. These aren’t premeditated chord progressions or anything. I used what was in my hands and followed it. Also, on a fun note, just go and dance. Embrace the discomfort.
LUNA: The production of the album combines your guys’ classic sound as well as 80’s-sounding dance elements. Where did you pull inspiration from while making the album?
MEDRANO: I haven’t been listening to new music often It’s kind of hard for me to expand my palate, but I do want to change that. I’d say that these inspirations and influences are just deeply ingrained in me. When I was creating these songs, it’s what naturally came to me. Some of it is pretty simple layers, but they’re all stacked on each other to give it a nice texture and atmosphere. I recently got the Take 5 synthesizer and tried my best to limit myself to creating sounds off of this thing. I realize a lot of this stuff is just tailored to my emotions. Music moves me more than lyrics. Music moves me in a way that I can’t explain other than feeling euphoria whether it’s from sadness, angst, whatever it might be. I f*cking love songs that make me sad. Artists like Black Marble and CASTLEBEAT nail this idea to me. The music puts you in a specific place and that place feels like home to me.
For example, “NEWSFLASH! BRAINBLAST!” feels like it could be a Black Marble/Interpol baby where the synths are really keeping that emotion and the guitar is digging into that sh*t. I just envision being in the show Skins in the club but with my music (laughs). The more I speak about this, I have these visions in my head, almost like movies, and I try to make music to take me back there. I remember being younger and skating home in the dark, empty streets in the suburbs of San Antonio, and I’d put on Neon Indian or Passion Pit and feel like I was the only person on earth. When I listen to “baby, Was It Me?” or “baby boy Interlude,” it takes me back there. Something that also dictates where these songs go is the samples I have on my computer. I love the new 1975 album and I think it might be written all over some of the album. Other inspirations are Empire Of The Sun, COIN, Wallows, Jean Dawson, Kevin Abstract, and plenty more. I think the one that really speaks though is The 1975. Also, if my girlfriend hadn’t shown me LANY, I would’ve never made “pipe down” on the road, so I guess you can thank her for that song (laughs).
Photo By Faith Luevanos
LUNA: How do you personally grapple with internet culture and the void of social media/being online?
MEDRANO: I’ve always struggled with an addiction to social media and the addiction to endless knowledge. There’s something wrong with having an Instagram account since I was 15 and still checking it like anything on there matters. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m struggling with it and trying to find ways to be on my phone less and less; I’m just happy to be aware of it and I’m trying to get off it as much as possible. I’ve recently gotten an Apple Watch to act as my phone just for text, calls, music & navigation. I think the biggest factor though is environment and setting yourself up for success rather than always going back to old habits. It’s so hard but it’s possible.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to value my time more and realize how much I have slipped into social media and even just digital media in general. I’d rather be creating as much as possible and listening to the muse. Unfortunately, almost everything around us is tailored to steal our attention away and give it to these empty devices that we ultimately end up buying into. I’ve reorganized my thoughts about everything and even created my home space to be as safe as possible. I’m putting my phone in a different spot, I’m even trying to stop producing on my computer with how much of a distraction it can be. I don’t even want to be tempted at all. I’m leaning more toward physical abilities rather than having the computer be my instrument. My room is now my creative safe space, the pinnacle of creation. I’m learning and growing and figuring out what I need for myself.
LUNA: After this past month of touring with Valley, what were some of the biggest takeaways or lessons learned while traveling and performing so extensively?
MEDRANO: Learning to be grateful for every show, while allowing myself to feel some emotions and whatnot from the complications of the tour. I learned to just be grateful overall to be on this journey with some of my best friends and to enjoy most of the moments! Tour and music are not that serious; it’s only as serious as we make it and as taxing as we make it. This past tour was a great reminder to let these stressors go and to enjoy things as they come. It kind of felt like a wave washing onto shore that was disrupting my mood but I reminded myself that the wave washes away after. It sounds wishy-washy, but it’s helped my overall mental health on tour since I can’t keep up with everything. The biggest lesson was growing up emotionally.
LUNA: In a world where social media and consistent engagement fuels artists’ careers, you guys have shown that while it can sometimes be helpful, direct fan interaction is the better route for long-term engagement. Do you have any advice for artists who also don’t want to play the social media game?
MEDRANO: Be personable with every fan you meet until you can’t keep up with it anymore. I know it sounds a bit mean, but at some point, it’s impossible to keep up with the attention of hundreds or even thousands of people at times in the DMs. But when we are available to talk, we give it our all to show respect and love to the people who give us the lives we have been dreaming of. Also, don’t just endlessly promote yourself in people's DMs, the music has to speak for itself, then the people will follow. Expect less, and be grateful for the people that do check your music out.
LUNA: What are your guy’s favorite songs from the album and why?
MEDRANO: I’d have to say “baby boy Interlude” and “pipe down.” Both of these songs teeter on the concept of this album, which to me, just feels like making whatever we want and also being relatively structured and still thought over. “baby boy Interlude” captures such an intimate and personal story while Sky also dives into the times of living in LA. This one was also created in four hours and came to be one of my instrumentally favorite songs. “pipe down” is so special to me because it was created on the road after hearing LANY’s self-titled album, and one song stood out to me and inspired me to make “pipe down” more 80s-sounding. Sky also ate the house down on the vocal melodies for this one and it’s just an overall fun song to me! It feels so different.
LUNA: When you guys think of the longevity of the band? What goals or dreams do you guys have for yourselves in the future?
MEDRANO: At this point in our career, I think it’s just taking everything to the next level. Myself, getting better at producing and playing instruments while also being able to make better calls in the studio and letting go of certain control. I want to dig into an album and have much more thought put into it. I’ve always adored bands that put a lot of thought into their music, and I want to do that too. In a live setting, just a better stage production and more calculated shows while also maintaining the unpredictability of our performances. I hope to also collaborate with some big artists and maybe get a manager who is well connected in our music scene.
Thank you to those who have supported us from the beginning and to those who have just found us and become new fans. Without you all, we would not be able to bring music to the world and I’m forever grateful to those who listen.
