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Mi’Das talks Busking to the Big-time
June 10, 2015
/Sitting on old chewing gum, having kids throw wrappers into your guitar case – and gifting your sweet sweet melodies to the public – it’s all part of the musical success prerequisite called ‘busking’.
Before playing with Jessie J, Rita Ora, Labryinth and Jamie Cullum, soulful UK singer/songwriter Mi’Das knew it well, honing his craft on the streets of London: “Brighton laneways were the best.”
Capitalising on pedestrian highways Mi’Das’ spent 2 years after college ‘treading the pavement’ and building up an audience before bigger opportunities came knocking.
“[Busking] led to people who heard me in the street asking me to play at weddings and parties, and that then led to me doing that up and down the country, and then eventually playing for
many signed artists and ultimately putting more focus on the music I’ve always made myself.”
Despite a lack of outdoor amplification, street crowds were attracted to Mi’Das’ music. Sharing stories of being moved by what he did, and critiquing his performance:
“I probably cared too much about that at the time, [but] sometimes its nice to be judged every moment of the day; that never really stops, and it was probably good preparation for what
happens less conspicuously now.”
As a naturally free spirit, the unstructured life of a busking musician is “fun to look back on” for Mi’Das, but most of all he values what it did for craft:
“It helped with getting my voice in shape more than it was, learning to be able to sing for a long period of time without damaging it. I see so many current singers that don’t no how
to that.”
Preview Mi’Das’ new EP ‘Stronger’ on iTunes now.
Listen: Mi’Das – ‘Too little Too Late’:
Watch: Mi’Das – ‘Wish Road’:
Watch: Mi’Das – ‘The Story So Far’: