Life & Work with Mikayla Ashford

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikayla Ashford. 

Hi Mikayla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve noticed throughout my entire life, there’s always been a song in my head. Whether someone else’s or a song or a song of mine that has yet to come into fruition, these melodies have always guided me. 

You hear things about singers starting in church choirs and in this case, I am “singers” lol. 

I begged my parents to let me play in band and rent out an instrument, and at the last minute, I was allowed to sign up only for my instrument of choice to no longer be available. My dad had a shiny new alto sax waiting for me in my bedroom the next day, and I was on my way to go ‘music’. I even asked my principle to place me in choir class and bribed him with a shoutout in a news publication when I started my music career, and luckily, he followed through. 

So shoutout to the (not one, but) two principles we had in Roseville Middle School in 2014, because I don’t remember y’all names (sorry, I even tried looking it up lmao) 

Even then, I noticed I wasn’t playing/singing music that made my heart sang, let alone that sounded like the melodies in my head. My music experience then was composed of marching band music and singing songs like Fireflies by Owl City to incentivize our choir experience. 

Everything changed when I attended Arts Academy in the Woods. 

To be fully enthralled in the bare expression of art, it being a requirement to create, networking with equally (if not more) talented/able creatives, and showcasing the art, sharpened my sword beyond belief. 

Amongst the many amazing artists, I got to create with, I was blessed enough to meet and grow with the two queens I create with today. 

I look at all three of us today, and instantly my inner child giggles in excitement. I’m extremely proud to be where we are at currently because I get to wake up every day and call myself an artist. I’m extremely ambitious and have what could be seen as inhuman goals for my career in the future, but nonetheless, I feel like we’re blessed enough to be in our journeys as artists, and we have each other along for the ride. 

And that melody in my head, best believe Taylor and Yanaa have the harmonies to match it. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, most of the biggest challenges I’ve faced so far in my career have been internal. 

Finding the balance between business and creating is a hefty role, especially when you have yet to attain a set budget to create, brand and market in a way that’s congruent to your initial visions. 

I personally struggle with juggling potential release dates, project ideas, rollout ideas, merchandising, etc. 

But this luckily allows room for creativity when you have a lack of budget. 

Oh, you don’t have a Phantom? Ride the damn bus, you still gonna get to where you need to go. Yeah, it may take longer, and maybe full of people you don’t know, and different stops along the way, but there’s room for lessons and growth in the bus that a Phantom simply doesn’t have… 

The smoothest thing within this career would have to be ‘creating’ within itself. 

Like I said, song is already in my head lol 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Well, I’m a singer-songwriter, producer, composer, performer, and rapper. 

I really just like to make stuff, and entertainment is my bag. 

I feel like I’m most known for singing and poetry. 

I used to perform in poetry bouts around the city, as well as music festivals (Choir and Band). 

I used to feel bad as a rapper, being that I had a random fascination with Battle Rap culture, but just never involved myself with rap battles. 

The next best thing for me was a poetry contest. Yeah, gun bars are cool, but let’s talk about the political and economic state of the world right now lol Nah, for real. I need them snaps, asap. 

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I feel like for the time being, I don’t necessarily have one mentor, but I look for mentorship in the people who either have more creative passion than me (to the point where it’s guided them to a desirable destination) or they embody the skill set/ability that I wish to carry/surpass myself. 

As far as networking, (if this doesn’t sound cliché) 

First, please BE YOURSELF. I can guarantee you; you don’t want the people who are attracted to a false version you’ve projected of yourself. 

Second, to allow what you love (from creating) to illuminate your aura will help you attract the people on the same vibe as you and who may have lowkey been sent to assist you. 

Third is, HAVE FUN but be SAFE! In general, they’re people out there who take advantage of people they feel have no direction or guidance. That voice inside you (that everybody and they mama got) is your guidance, PERIOT! 

I also find myself learning from everything I come across. I don’t truly believe anyone is an idiot, but you can even learn from ‘idiots’. You’d be surprised. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikalanijani/
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/dy39xx8MtyizBwSLA

Image Credits
@rylamae.e
@ry.ph0t0graphy