Mike Hough has one of the biggest online fanbase for an unsigned artist. Although he first captured attention after auditioning for The X Factor, he’s known how to keep his buzz and show that he is much more than just a good voice. He keeps his fans updated via Facebook, Twitter and, of course, YouTube, where his videos get thousands of views a day. Mike’s unique soulful voice will take him far in the music industry, proof of that is that his first promotional single, Hero, peaked at number 6 on the RnB UK Charts on the first day of its release. Mike achieved this with no promotion campaign, demonstrating that, at the end of the day, when music is good, it sells. He is currently preparing his hugely anticipated debut album.
Your first single ‘Hero’ has just come out and it’s had a really good critic and fan response, tell us about it.
Hero was basically a promo experiment which succeeded completely. I had an idea for the hook which i took to one of my friends, also a songwriter - Jermaine Riley, and we instantly created a huge song there and then! I decided that whilst i had no team, label, funding, TV, Radio promotion etc, i still wanted to give my fans and supporters a taster of whats to come from me, and that was 'Hero'! I released it completely independently and it peaked at number 88 in the official charts and number 6 on the RnB UK charts in the first day, and officially ended up charting in the top 40 (Number 35) on the official UK Independent charts. I was blown away, the support i have is incredible and the exciting thing is - its only the very beginning so hopefully it can only get bigger!
When can we expect your debut album for?
I'm not going to put a date on it, as i don't want to say one and it gets pushed about and so on. However, just know that I'm working my ass off to make this all happen and i WILL create a masterpiece for my first album.
You have a huge online fanbase (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube). How important is that in the current music panorama?
Its crucial to me and should be to any artist. Its probably thee best way of promoting and marketing yourself - as its available to absolutely anyone of any age, location, sexuality, culture and so on. You can share your talent/music and movement with the whole world, where-as if you have a gig in front of 300 people, its still an amazing opportunity but its limited - online you have no boundaries.
How would you describe your music style?
Again i wouldn't wanna label it too much as i will continuously be changing and growing whilst experimenting with new sounds, but my overall sound is RnB/Soul mixed with a Rocky twist. I love live music, and will NEVER make music that cannot be portrayed or performed just as good live as on the record. I want to make good music that anyone of all ages can enjoy at any time, and not just music that will fit the market right now but not be relevant in 2 years time.
What artists do you listen to? Which are your musical influences?
Beyonce, Tank, Adele & Stevie Wonder. Beyonce because she's perfection in the shape of an artist, whatever the woman touches turns to gold and she has (in my opinion) the best talent on this planet right now. Tank is an incredible vocalist, and can deliver a whole heap of emotions on a record without you having to watch the performance, not many singers can do that, Adele the same. She has a ridiculous amount of talent and her voice never fails to make me go cold, she's always pitch perfect when she performs too - again not many artist's can do that. Stevie's just Stevie! The legend himself! I grew up listening to him, and i will never forget the day i sat at the front row of the o2 Arena in London and watched one single man sit at a keyboard for 2 whole hours yet have 25,000 people on there feet and entertained with consecutive hits for the whole time. I've never been so inspired in my life.
Take us through your writing process. What do you write about and what inspires you?
I can be inspired by various different things, i generally enjoy co-writing more than solo writing, i love bringing my idea's together with another songwriter's and putting 2 different twists on a song. I always know when I'm fully inspired as i can create a hook, or full concept for a song within 10/15 minutes, which is what happened when i got the hook and concept for 'Hero'. Its just then about shaping the idea to make sure its message and melodies are clear and easy for everyone to understand and enjoy. I'm still very much learning where songwriting is concerned. It’s easy to write a lyric, but its not easy to write an actual song. There's a big difference.
When did you start singing?
From as early as i could start singing - probably about 9/10 - singing school songs and children's songs. I remember my first proper live performance was at a school production when i was about 13, and i sung "Mario - Let Me Love You". I used to feel sick with nerves on stage, to the point where i used to try and pull out of every school show i had been put in for. Now however, the stage is my home!
You auditioned for The X Factor last year, although you didn’t make it to the live finals, what did that experience teach you?
X-Factor taught me a hell of a lot. I thought at the time i was SO ready and such a star, but now i look back - getting that 'no' was the best thing that could of happened to me. I met some of the most talented people i know to date at Boot camp, and i learnt what it really takes to be an artist. I walked away from the competition and worked on my image, my presence, my performance, and everything else i can remember i needed to make me who i am today, and whilst i will always be learning and growing, not getting through that show was definitely the turning point for me, as i refused to let that dreaded 'No' be the end of me and my dream, and it wasn't.
If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would you choose?
Beyonce or Adele. I'd want to do the biggest male/female duet possible and literally stand on stage in front of the whole world at a show such as the Grammy's or MTV awards, with nothing but 2 Mic's and 2 spotlight's and deliver a massive vocal that would hopefully blow everyone away. I hope that could happen one day.
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Hopefully on a stage somewhere, with my name behind me in lights, singing my number one single, with my family side of stage, and a sea full of fans in front of me singing along. That will be the moment ill say to myself.. "you did it Mike.. you made it".
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