Micki XO is a Portland pop vocalist and songwriter that dreams of traveling the world and connecting with others through her lyrics. Her bliss and sanity was saved by music, and she hopes her own music will help someone else battle their own demons. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?
Micki XO: I actually remember the exact moment music saved me. I was in the living room of my old apartment letting YouTube videos play in random playlists, and the song “Control” by Halsey came on. I am bipolar, and at that time, was incorrectly diagnosed. I felt like no one could possibly understand the chaotic, helpless, infuriating emotions that I felt about myself. Then, I heard that song and everything changed for me. It was the first time I felt like someone had looked into my brain and said all the things I was feeling. I later found out that Halsey has bipolar disorder, and that’s the reason I brought it to my doctor’s attention. Once I was properly diagnosed, my whole life changed for the better. Halsey’s song saved me, and when I began my music career, I vowed I would help others the same way she helped me.
2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?
Micki XO: I only started formal training about a year ago, and I’ve been making music for the last 5 years. I still don’t know music theory, quite honestly. I just love making music, getting my emotions out, and doing what feels right. So far, everything has kind of fallen into place, but I’m determined to learn more about music and songwriting as a craft to improve my skills without losing the spark of uniqueness my music has from coming from pure emotion instead of following all the rules.
3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, what’s the story behind choosing the name ‘Micki XO’?
Micki XO: Some of the most influential figures in my early musical life are Matt Jefferson, the first producer I ever worked with and the producer of most of my music so far, as well as my day one fans. Matt inspired me in so many ways. He taught me the basics of songwriting, how to breathe properly, and showed me how to take my ideas and take them to the next level. He truly inspires me every session that I work with him. My day one fans have inspired me because I don’t know if I would be here today as a musical artist without them. Getting to connect with them, see how my music impacts them, and hear that I’m helping people out there is what drives me. They inspire me to keep pushing and to keep going, especially in moments of self-doubt, which I have to admit, I have every now and then.
I chose the name “Micki XO” because “Micki” is my childhood nickname. I was originally going to go by just “Micki”, but when I went to do the branding for my music, I found out it’s actually a very popular name in other countries. While contemplating what to call myself, I was at a session with Matt, and he pulled up the “XO Drum Kit” plugin. One of my favorite instruments is the drums, and the way it looks coupled with the way it has every percussion sound just ignited something in me. Not only does “Micki XO” sound cool, I feel like I have a little something in my music for everybody, just like the XO drum kit has a percussion sound for every music maker. Also, XO Drum Kit…I’d love to be your spokesperson!
4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?
Micki XO: What sets my music apart from the rest is that is not your traditional pop music. I don’t write about material things, light topics, or surface level things. When I make music, I like to get emotionally raw and meaningful. I like to push boundaries on topics that you’d only talk about with your closest friends, but at the same time, layer it with instrumentals that make you want to share it with everyone. My music often comes from the messy parts of life, and it allows you to really feel the things you may not even know you needed to get out. While the topics can be deep, the way they are written and the way the instrumentals flow also help evoke the healing aspect of things. Music is a form of therapy for me, so I make sure that every song I write gets the bad things out, but also gives you a dose of hope and healing. Everyone has battle scars, and these songs are designed to help you face them while becoming your best self. These genre-bending, 3 to 4 minute therapy sessions (that’s what I sometimes call my music) are unlike anything you’ve ever heard from lyrics to instrumentals that push the boundaries of pop music with genre twists, fresh perspectives, and unique sounds. If you’re looking for something different and edgy, yet still pleasing to your ears, then my music is a must for you.
5. Music often transcends entertainment. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
Micki XO: When I first started writing music, my biggest fear was that no one would listen to it, or, even worse, that everyone would listen to it and judge me. I write about a lot of deeply personal experiences, topics, and emotions, and while it’s therapeutic, it’s also like putting yourself out in the middle of Times Square naked in a glass case where everyone you know can talk smack and say things that hurt you to your core. I will never forget, however, when a close friend of mine messaged me that she had listened to my song “War” about being bipolar and said that it gave her the courage to not only tell me that she’s also bipolar, but to tell other close friends about it. She had always hidden it to the best of her ability, but because I was brave enough to speak my truth, it inspired her to speak hers. That alone made all the judgement, fears, and anxiety about putting myself out there worth it. It also made me realize that mental health is looked at as shameful, and that I had helped start a conversation about it with at least one person. Since my career has grown, I’ve hard lots of stories like this, both in my art and in others’. To answer your question, I absolutely think music is an important vehicle for change and to express your perspectives on those ideologies. I am a deeply political and justice driven person, and I’m excited to say that I’m getting braver about speaking my truths, so I’m going to let you in on a secret that some of my upcoming music addresses things like politics, social representation, and challenging cultural norms.
6. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment you’re still seeking?
Micki XO: Oh absolutely! The most amazing compliment you can give me is to tell me that I’ve helped you in some way through my music. I’m incredibly blessed to say I’ve hard this multiple times in my very short time as a musician so far. I’ve had people tell me that my music has helped them get out of an abusive relationship, that it’s helped them open up about their mental illness, and so many other amazing things. That’s the most rewarding thing that could ever come out of music for me, and I will never forget a single story that someone has told me like that.
7. What’s been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?
Micki XO: Not to sound like a downer, but I’ve been through the absolute ringer of hurdles in my personal life. I’ve gone through things like sexual assault, an abusive relationship, being misdiagnosed for over 11 years (which made me feel like I was never going to escape the hell my mind was putting me through), and so much more. At one point in my life for about 5-6 years straight, I would attempt to unalive myself, because I just couldn’t take all the pain that life had given me. It’s hard to pick one thing that was the most challenging, honestly, but I do want to say that music is what has made all of that hurt worth it for me. Because I went through those things, I can use my voice to authentically speak up for people in those situations who don’t know how to speak for themselves. I can be a voice for the voiceless and relate to them on a level that not everyone can. Being able to be a form of hope for someone out there is what my music is about, and without these experiences, I couldn’t be that person. So, while it was excruciating to go through at the time, as cliche as it is, it did make me a much stronger person. I’m very proud of the person I’ve become, and music is a huge part of how I survived it. Certain songs were played on repeat for me to help me cope, and I hope maybe one of my songs can be that song for someone out there going through a similar struggle. Even if the world is burning, I hope that at least it can bring them joy, understanding, or healing for a few minutes.
8. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And let’s talk about your latest release and future plans.
Micki XO: That’s a tough one!
There’s been many moments to be proud of, depending on how you measure success. I would say that the moment I am proudest of is the first time someone came up to me at a show and cried in my arms because they felt like no one could relate to the way they were feeling inside. My song “Fake Gold” really spoke to them and they told me how they had never heard a song that talked about the difficulties of not being able to escape your mental state, no matter how hard you try. The runner up for proudest moment was hearing and seeing someone singing my lyrics with me while performing. Someone had listened to my song enough that they actually had the words memorized! That was a true milestone for me.
My latest release is called “Power Outage”, and it talks about the feeling of burn out. Whether it’s living paycheck to paycheck, media making you feel constantly stressed, or simply taking on too much at once (or all three!), I know that everyone has experienced burn out at some point and can relate. It’s got a fun, dance pop vibe to it that will make you want to shake your booty and catchy lyrics that will be stuck in your head all week.
What’s next? I don’t want to give too much away, but you can expect a power pop rock ballad from me in early 2026, as well as some songs that are more politically motivated. You’ll have to follow me and listen to learn more!
9. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
Micki XO: Oh man, this is so tough, because I really enjoy all of these so much! I think while creative work in a studio is a close runner up, that interacting with a live audience is where my soul feels the happiest. Getting to see the fruits of my labor in real time and how people vibe with it is a feeling I’ll never be able to describe. Connecting with people has always been my favorite part of music, so when I’m able to bear my soul on stage and have people not only show me acceptance, but show me love, it’s unlike anything I could ever dream of. It truly is my paradise.
10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
Micki XO: This is such an excellent question! I think it’s a bit of both. Whenever I give sneak peaks of upcoming songs to friends or day one fans, I like to let them draw their own interpretations of the song first and hear what they think it’s about or how they relate to it before I tell them why or how I wrote it. I think it’s always cool to know an artist’s story and the meaning behind the song, but I think it’s way more important to know how you connect to it and why. That’s where the healing comes from, and, at the end of the day, that’s why you’ll listen to it again. Because it makes YOU feel something and reminds YOU of someone/something, not because of my personal story behind it. However, I do love to share the meanings behind the song as well sometimes, because it’s not only fun to hear the differences between the interpretations and the background story, but because it’s therapeutic for me to tell my story as well.
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