Getting To Know: Mia Wilks

At just 16 years old, Mia Wilks is making waves in the music industry with her soulful vocals and narrative lyrics. With over 100,000 plays on SoundCloud and 2,500 international radio plays, Mia has already captivated a global audience. Recently, she collaborated on a dance track with Argentinian EDM Producer Claudio Malz, blending house and tech with Spanish influences, and found her niche in underground dance music. Combining her love for jazz and R&B, Mia has created a solid fan base in the States, with plays at clubs in NYC, The Bunker, The Chestnut Lounge, and more.

Her track ‘Still Need You Now’ was featured on the Joseph Sautez radio show ‘Filthy Fridays’ in Orlando, catching the attention of SoundCloud executives in New York. With a steadfast and loyal fan base, Mia has received over 6,500 comments and DMs from 50+ countries. Last year, she was offered her first USA record deal and is now in talks with other labels, including Warner. Her debut promo album was released last year, and she's currently working on a new album, ‘Destination,’ set for release later this year.

Mia has gained industry respect with over nine successful song collaborations and twenty-two song releases. In a recent interview, she shared her mantra: ‘BE SO GOOD, THEY CAN’T IGNORE YOU,’ emphasizing her dedication to setting herself apart through continuous writing and producing. Having worked with notable figures like Terry Ronald, Joel Baker, and Jai Ramage, Mia writes and records all her songs on an iPad and MacBook.

Starting her career three years ago, Mia has experienced a roller coaster ride with live radio interviews, a Song Academy Finalist spot in 2023, and a solo acoustic set in Trafalgar Square. With two new song releases coming soon and ongoing collaborations with SoundCloud, Mia Wilks is undoubtedly a rising star to watch.**

1. You’ve achieved remarkable success at such a young age with over 100,000 plays on SoundCloud and more than 2,500 international radio plays. How did you initially get into music, and what motivated you to pursue it so passionately?

I have always loved music, and I spend most of my week either writing music or listening to it. I listened to so many hours of music last year, it actually totalled six weeks. It’s a lot, but it helps me write my own songs.  I am heavily influenced by R&B, and Jazz music. Steve Lacey has always inspired my writing. He too started his career writing music on Garage Band. 

I have written all my compositions on Garage band using an iPad, and more recently a Mac book. During lock down I was inspired to write my first song. With a drum kit and a keyboard at home, I thought I would have go at writing. I wrote ‘Maybe’ and released it on SoundCloud. It marked the beginning of my music career. I had so many positive comments regarding the lyrics and my vocals, and today most of those listeners are still loyal supporters. Since then I have released 21 original songs. I have been lucky to have collaborated with amazing producers, and more recently DJ’s. 

One of my first collaborations was with USA Producer DKTG. We collaborated on an EP which received 20,000 plays in the first week of release, on SoundCloud. It’s been a great collaboration and I am still working with him. It’s been two years now. 

I record my vocals here in the studio and then I send him the stems to mix and master the track. My music career is really motivated by creativity. I love it when a song comes together. I start with an idea for the lyrics; I then have an idea for the melody and the top line. Sometimes the process can literally happen within an hour, other times it could take longer, but I really get a buzz out of creating the final song. It’s like the final piece of the jigsaw. I have received thousand of messages of support. This motivates me to write more. Write better. 

2. Your recent collaboration with Argentinian EDM Producer Claudio Malz on a dance track showcases a unique blend of House and Tech with Spanish influences. Can you tell us more about this collaboration and how you approach blending different genres in your music?

I was excited to collaborate with Claudio Malz. He is an EDM producer with years of experience. I wrote the top line and lyrics for ‘Still need you now’ and recorded the track with my vocals. Claudio created the bass line which definitely has a Spanish feel. With my R&B influences, he seamlessly blended the two genres, to create a dance track that really works. 

We released ‘Still need you now’ to great acclaim. Since then it’s been played in clubs all over the world.  

3. With performances in renowned clubs in NYC and other locations, and your track featured on the Joseph Sautez radio show, how do you feel about the reception of your music in the underground dance scene? What has been your most memorable live performance so far?

After releasing ‘Still need you now’ I suddenly had a whole new audience for my music. DJ’s started to play the track as part of their sets in London and Liverpool. Then suddenly it was played at Yona Beach Club in Phuket, and then several clubs in the States. Joseph featured it on his radio show ‘Filthy Fridays’ in Orlando, and EDM producers started to contact me to ask if they could remix my songs. I am grateful to DJ Rally for including my work in his club night sets. He’s a well respected DJ in the underground dance scene in New York. He blended dance music with my R&B songs, and they've had a great reception. So far my songs have been played in New York at The Bunker, Sammie’s Cafe, The Chestnut Lounge, Warriors and The Basement in Delaware. In terms of my most memorable performance, it has to be my first ever live set. It was two years ago in Trafalgar Square, and I performed a solo acoustic set of 15 songs. I have a passion for live performance and my dream is to one day headline at Glastonbury and Coachella. 

4. You mentioned in a recent interview that you resonate with the quote 'BE SO GOOD, THEY CAN’T IGNORE YOU.' How do you apply this mindset to your daily routine and creative process, and what advice would you give to other young musicians trying to stand out in the industry?

There are so many great singers out there, you have to set yourself apart somehow. That’s what I am trying to do, by continually writing and producing tracks to improve as a musician. I try and have a good work ethic which means I am continually thinking one step ahead. After one project is finished, I am onto the next, but it’s not about quantity. 

I try to produce the best music I can; write lyrics that mean something and music that creates feelings.  I think it’s important to remember that you can’t be everything to everyone, but to your fans you already stand out. I have really enjoyed getting to know my supporters on SoundCloud. I engage with them every day through messages, and I know who they are. I would rather have 1000 loyal supporters than 10,000 one off plays. So my advice to other young musicians is, don’t try to stand out to everyone. Create the music you want to, and enjoy engaging with the people who love your sound. 

5. Having worked with notable names like Terry Ronald, Joel Baker, and Jai Ramage, and with offers from a record label in the USA, how have these experiences and connections influenced your musical journey and growth as an artist?

I have worked with Jai ramage for nearly two years now. Her Music Industry knowledge and advice has been invaluable. 

She taught me early on, that being myself as an artist is unique enough. That advice has helped me be a better writer. I am producing music that I love to write and I am not worried about conforming to trends. I think this has a lot to do with my success, as my fan base actually knows the real me. 

Through Jai, I had the opportunity to work with the Artist Joel Baker. He has inspired me to think outside the box regarding lyrics. I wrote Drunken Fist as a direct response to the work I did with him. The topic was ‘fighting’ and we used this as a metaphor to convey feelings of determination and fighting for something. It’s actually the quickest song I have ever written. After an hour session with Joel I had written a full set of lyrics. I released the song on SoundCloud which had an amazing response. Drunken Fist also became the title of my debut album. 

I was also lucky to work with song writer and novelist Terry Ronald. He challenged me to write a song by considering the phrase ‘Change your life’. I turned it on its head and wrote the song ‘Whisper’ about a man who could not change his life due to loss.  Terry inspired me to look at my environment and take notice of people and places; To take inspiration from every day life. I wrote ‘Blue Eyes Green Jacket’ after noticing a man sat on a bus who looked troubled. I was offered my first record deal last year in the States, and I was grateful recently to have the opportunity to sing one of my original tracks for Warner Music. All of these experiences have totally influenced my musical journey. I am not just hoping to be discovered, I am already pursuing my dream. I write seven days a week because I love it and not because I have an end goal. 

6. Your upcoming album 'Destination' and two new song releases, 'With You' and 'Hush,' have generated excitement among your fans. Can you give us a sneak peek into what we can expect from these new projects and how they reflect your evolution as a musician?

I have just finished writing ‘With You’. I wanted to create a soulful acoustic song with a raw feel to it. I didn’t want to over produce it, but instead allow the lyrics to tell the story. The song will be released on the 19th July.  I chose ‘Hush’ from a catalogue of demos that was sent to me from the States. It’s a beautifully written song with great lyrics, so I am excited to record this in the studio on the 30th July. The release date is yet to be confirmed.  ‘Destination’ is an album about my development as an Artist. It will include new material, and some pre released songs, all with a Jazz / R&B vibe. The album will be released later this year.