As he walked onto the stage at his school’s auditorium, Mickyle Burrell found himself sweating with nerves. After a friend pushed him onto the stage, volunteering him to perform, Burrell had no choice but to give it everything he had. He had only a few original songs at the time. Burrell performed and was immediately overcome by the positive screaming from the crowd, which after the show, called him back on stage for an encore.
“I was sweating so hard, but when I finally went out there, I gave it my all. I had written a few songs and I just rattled off like four of them, and the reaction was crazy,” he said. “(That’s when I realized) I actually have a talent for it because these are people who have never heard of me, they don’t know who I am, but they heard my song, and they liked it.”
Burrell’s musical journey began unexpectedly in the seventh grade. At the time, he had just a general interest in music. He wrote his very first song for a class assignment. After receiving overwhelming positive reactions from both his peers and his teacher, Burrell realized he might have a real talent on his hands. With that new spark, Burrell decided then and there to continue down the path of songwriting and performing.
“I want to relish music, I don’t want it to feel like a chore or a job. I just want to be able to do it and enjoy it,” he said.
His Jamaican roots and his faith both deeply influence his music, he’s a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Influences also come from a wild blend of other amazing musicians, from different genres and walks of life. He says artists such as Bob Marley and NF hold a significant influence on his musical style. Burrell believes music should tell a story and mean something to people. He says it’s not all about success but really, it’s about making an impact on others.
“I’ve just been writing for fun, just sharing, and I’ve had people tell me that my music has helped them through their day,” Burrell said. “I feel good based on the impact that it has on people.”
Despite his undying passion, Burrell acknowledges there are many challenges that independent musicians face, including consistency as well as the technical aspects of music production. He recently parted ways with his previous studio and is now transitioning from his sole title as musician to also becoming the producer, manager and marketer for his work. He admits it has come with a bit of a learning curve, especially when it comes to the business side of music production, but that doesn’t discourage him.
“Consistency (has been challenging). Finding the time to always be writing and also understanding the equipment because I normally would focus on my writing and then just go to a studio and have them take care of the rest,” he said. “But now that I don’t have that anymore, I need to learn how to record myself, clean it up and produce it. Then I have to figure out the business side, how to promote it, how to maximize on building connections. Everything except for writing have been challenging, because that’s all I ever had to focus on before.”
Looking ahead, Burrell is soon planning on releasing a new EP with many more songs for his audience to hear. But while his fans wait for the new drop, he recommends two of his favorite songs “Dear Heavenly Father” and “Dream Again” for new listeners to check out.
As Burrell continues to navigate his musical career, he remains dedicated and driven by his love for music and his desire to share it with the world. If you are interested in hearing some of his songs, you can find Mickyle Burrell on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.