Mikaela Davis: An Unconventional Path

An interview with harpist, singer, songwriter, and Rochester, NY native, Mikaela Davis. We discuss her unconventional path from the Crane School of Music to writing, recording, and touring her own music. Mikaela has had rich experiences in many facets of music-making and the music business. She's an inspiring artist to listen to and learn from.

Highlights

• Lives of working musicians in the 21st century - 6:38
• Developing her ear - 7:41
• The signing in her teenage years - 10:20
• Wanting to have a degree - 12.34
• A huge agency that wanted to sign her - 13:17
• An extremely stressful experience - 16:14
• The biggest thing she had learned - 18:43
• Never playing the same set twice in a row - 20:58
• Nerves before taking the stage - 25:51
• Being a band leader is interesting - 29:23
• Loving New York City - 33:56
• Her childhood in Rochester - 36:16
• Everyone supports each other in Rochester - 39:12
• Her experience during the pandemic - 43:13
• Everyone should have a home studio - 45:00
• Being in total control of her intellectual property - 51:44
• Her relationship with streaming services in general - 52:40
• Her recommendations - 57:19

Episode Resources

• Connect with Robert Hunt Simonds:
• [email protected] 
• http://roberthuntsimonds.com/
• http://craigwagnermusic.blogspot.com 
• Virginia Postrel: "The Future and Its Enemies": https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0684862697/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=libcurrents-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0684862697&linkId=80041dacbb72c664b3422edf611af196 
• Connect with Mikaela Davis:
• Website: https://www.mikaeladavis.com 
• Mikaela’s Recommendations:
• Joanna Sternberg: “Then I Try Some More”: https://joannasternberg.bandcamp.com/album/then-i-try-some-more 
• Connie Converse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTfetwSSsIE 
• Dorothy Ashby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8zPorum2p0 
• Alice Coltrane: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUMuDWDVd20 
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind:
• Film: https://www.focusfeatures.com/eternal_sunshine_of_the_spotless_mind 
• Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlSbT5XODiE&list=PL221E0226B8DE9B6D