Myspace Interviews Mike Posner

Mike Posner Readies a New Album and Sound: “I Don’t Have to Pretend I’m Perfect Anymore”

The singer/songwriter with Michigan roots on being given a new shot.

Mike Posner’s been out of the game for a while—even he knows it—but that’s all about to change. After racking up a string of hits like “Cooler than Me,” “Please Don’t Go” and “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” upon releasing his debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff in 2010, things cooled down. And while his voice has been absent from the airwaves, his words have not. During the time he’s spent out of the spotlight, he’s been pulling duty behind the scenes co-writing chart-toppers for Maroon 5, Justin Bieber and Nick Jonas.

Now after five years and two false starts on solo material that has yet to be released, Posner is back with a new stripped back sound. Instead of thumping beats and skittering electronics, its self-reflective lyrics appropriately layered over acoustic guitar chords. His new shift finds him singing songs that don’t hold back on being cutting honesty about his rise, fall and present redemption. Just as living in LA and his Michigan roots crops up in the content of his songs and the visuals of his videos, his new tracks follow suit, striking a balance between image and substance.

Is it hard to leave behind the two albums you made, but didn’t release? Granted you’ve mentioned the songs aren’t current to you anymore, but in terms of time and artistic investment…?

I believe everything happens for a reason. I don’t hold any ill-will towards that time period or RCA Records. Going through that got me to where I am today.

What’s true to you now?

It’s the great goal of my life to answer that question. My answer changes every couple days so it seems foolish to answer because by the time you post this online, my answer will mean nothing to me.

Can you identify the challenges and rewards of being so real in your lyrics now? It seems very vulnerable, but is it empowering?

The rewards: I don’t have to pretend I’m perfect anymore. It was exhausting. I defecate, I masturbate, and if I’m lucky… I fornicate. Sometimes I wear the same shirt without washing it. Sometimes I worry I’m on the wrong path in life. Sometimes I’m lonely. Sometimes I get a pimple. Sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I feel amazing. When I sing “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” with my guitar, sometimes the room becomes completely silent. With my music, I’m in essence saying to the audience, “I’ll take off my cool first. Really, I’ll stop pretending while I’m up here. And it’s okay if you’d like to do the same. Really it is. We don’t always have to keep up the act.

“I Took a Pill in Ibiza” mentions blowing your shot—how so?

Well, follow the trajectory of my career: I sort of skyrocketed to notoriety before sort of fizzling out. The ironic thing is that writing that line and other lines like it seem to have given me another shot.

How did you initially hook up with Jake Owen?

Jake used to cover my song “Bow Chicka Wow Wow” in his live shows. When I would go to Nashville everyone would always tell me about it. At the time, I knew nothing about country and I didn’t know who he was even though he is a huge artist. We first connected directly through Twitter and when he was in LA he had the studio booked and he invited me to hang out and we had a magical couple nights goofing around and recording music.

Since the release of your debut you’ve been writing for others. How does that experience compare to writing for yourself? What’s the experience been like?

It’s exactly the same. I just write songs and if they don’t fit onto my project then sometimes other people sing them.

What collaborations in terms of co-writing are you most proud of why?

“Beneath Your Beautiful” by Labrinth and Emeli Sandé. Besides when I’m with Labrinth, I think the songs I write alone are usually better than the ones I co-write.

How would you describe Michigan’s influence on you as a person and/or musician?

The soil from which my music sprouts is grey and depressed. I was a very unhappy teenager in Michigan and everything I do now is either a reaction against that period of my life or a nostalgic nod to it. I’ve never fleshed out that thought before. Thank you for the question.

What music did you grow up with that influences you now?

Mostly hip-hop. I liked Nas. I liked Outkast. I liked Talib Kweli. It’s nice putting a little dash of hip-hop into the folk songs I write now.

What’s your best throwback memory of Big Sean from back in the day?

Well, Sean and I did a lot of shows together in our early 20s so the best memories are ones I’m sure he would not be happy with me sharing. So I won’t. But even before we had any success, I remember being in my parent’s basement with Sean and several other members of Finally Famous. We were freestyling and I remember being on the couch with a blanket on. I had never rapped sitting down with a blanket on before. I realized that I didn’t always have to have my guard up. That memory is warm and fuzzy.

You’re taking online music classes via the Berklee College of Music. What’s it like to be a student again?

Refreshing. There’s comfort in practice because I know if I show up then I will improve. Few areas of life have so much certainty.

What would you next like to accomplish?

The art of not desiring further accomplishment. It’s really fucking hard.

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