JOAN OF AUDIO & MUSIC

the philosophy of The Tao of Pooh. The Taoist concept of “Pu” implies an innocent childlike openness and spontaneity, an original or authentic nature, a wisdom that comes from the heart not the intellect, and a friendship or kindness to all; the world as family or one. Subsequently, it became exceedingly clear to me that Mickel’s gift as a songwriter comes as much from his spirit as it does from his artistry; in fact, they are inseparable.

impressive body of work, is the inescapable vitality and goodwill that he so openly exudes. While interviewing and following him around to recording studios, music venues and social circles, I became aware that Mickel has an innate magnetism that attracts and touches people from all walks of life. Yet, surprisingly, he is deeply grounded by a gentle spirit and a sincere and humble heart. I couldn’t help but see a connection between Mickel’s approach to life, music, and people to the ways and nature of the fictional character Winnie the Pooh, and

Video 1 (below): Not Perfect: Anatomy of Song. A short documentary-style peek into the creative and collaborative process of recording a new song entitled, Not Perfect. It is a first take before the mix is completed and mastered. Songwriter and producer Mickel London, multi-talented audio engineer, producer and musician Tasche, and emerging artist/ singer Gianni P'laure

Video 2 (below): A Note to Myself. Songwriter and producer Mickel London with master sound engineer Mike Denter of Infinite Studios and the very talented local Bay Area Songstress Niecy Livingsingle

“Solid state dynamics, resolution, detail retrieval, and spaciousness married to tube liquidity, remarkable tone/timbre/texture, offer #%$*@! musical bliss. What more could one ask for (Aurorasound HEADA)?”

—K.E. Heartsong, AudioKeyREVIEWS! Magazine

After listening to a wide selection of your songs, it’s clear that you are intentional about the focus or theme of your work. Can you talk about that vantage point and what inspires you to create from that place?

Rain C. Jordan (RCJ): After listening to a wide selection of your songs, it’s clear that you are intentional about the focus or theme of your work. Can you talk about that vantage point and what inspires you to create from that place?

Mickel London (ML): Yes, I have to say that the lyrics and messages in my songs are very intentional. But let me back up a little. I never had any intentions of being a songwriter. My ambitions were to be a musician or singer and the first song I ever wrote was purely spontaneous. My relationship with my girlfriend was about to end and I was desperately trying to find a way to stop that from happening, and out of the blue I wrote her a song/poem titled “Please Don’t Leave”, and it saved the relationship. At that moment, I realized the power that words have to change a person’s heart and mind. It gave me a new outlook that is still very present in my approach to writing songs today. In fact, my “girlfriend” and I got married. We were married for 24 years and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. When I write a song and put it out into the world, I feel like I’m sharing a part of myself, so I want it to be of good wholesome content and truth because I know the source from which the words come. Years ago, I made a personal commitment to write songs that would hopefully empower and inspire the hearts and minds of people.

RCJ: What does your creative process look like?

ML: I would say that my creative process starts with God. On so many occasions I feel words just flooding my heart and mind. This feeling of joy comes over me and I feel very inspired to write. It feels like God is giving me the words. Though, I am not a musician, I hear music in my head, and then begin to write lyrics and hum melodies which help me to structure the songs. The first time I heard my lyrics as an actual song, there was no turning back. I knew I was meant to do this. So, I am most comfortable first writing the lyrics based on what I am hearing in my head, and then going into the studio to produce the music. However, there have been many times when someone would send me a music track and asked me to write the lyrics, and that has worked for me as well.

RCJ: How did you get your start as a songwriter and producer and what is your current muse?

ML: It was back in 2004 when my niece LaToya London had been a finalist on Season 3 of American Idol. I had written a song called “Dare to Dream,” inspired by the amazing opportunity that LaToya had as a contestant on

the show. It was then that I met multi-talented producer / musician Juan (uglyfingers) Blair. What a huge blessing that was. “Dare To Dream” would be our first of so many collaborations. Working in the studio with Juan I learned so much about the entire process of songwriting, producing and recording. We began writing and producing songs as “London and Blair”. I’d write the lyrics and melodies and Juan would write the music. Shortly after that, my sister Zornia London, who was living and performing in Taiwan asked if I would write songs for her upcoming CD. I was beyond excited because this would be my first opportunity to write songs in the professional arena of the music industry. Juan and I ended up writing 4 songs for her CD including the title track “Because Of You”. “Dare to Dream” would also be a song on that CD. As for my muse, life is my muse… people, events, and situations. There is no one person or one thing that I draw from or write about. It’s the joys, the sorrows, the desire for change, the pain of loss, and my faith in love and healing that captures and inspires my heart and my pen. I don’t necessarily choose the songs to write about, in many cases the songs chose me.

RCJ: Can you talk about some of the musicians and artists that you’ve collaborated with over the years and what that was like for you?

ML: I have been very blessed to work with so many amazingly talented artists, musicians, and producers over the years. To name a few:

Grammy Award winner Samuelle Prater, lead singer of the group Club Nouveau, Grammy nominated producer/engineer, James Gardiner of Pajamas Studio, guitarist Jeff Tamelier,

formerly of Tower of Power, saxophonist Ric Alexander of Tony Toni Tone, my talented niece LaToya London from American Idol, my amazing sister Zorina London who is a Christian / Gospel recording artist and formerly of James Brown, bass player Eric EQ Young of Charlie Wilson, Adult Contemporary recording artist Niecey LivingSingle, Gospel recording artist Gail Moore, recording artist Tamar Gillette, R&B recording artist Chuck Lounge, guitarist Patrick Bradley, bass player Kevin Scott formerly of Lenny Williams, amazing producer, musician and artist Tasche, Stevio formerly of the Grammy Award winning group En Vogue, and of course Juan Blair to name just a few. Each of these artists offered a unique and amazing opportunity to learn, create and to share ideas.

RCJ: Which songs that you’ve written are most meaningful to you and why?

ML: Wow, that is a tough question. Just about every song I’ve written has a special meaning or inspiration. But, since you’ve asked, let’s see. The first song that comes to mind is “Live My Life”. I was listening to a CD by Dr. Wayne

Dyer and he was talking about a character from a story that began to question if he had lived a purposeful life. That made me reflect on my own life at that time and I asked myself that same question. I thought to myself I don’t want to look back and say maybe I should have or could have. I don’t want to look back and ask myself, “why didn’t I?”. Those thoughts became the first two lines to my song, “Live My Life” which was recorded by Tamar Gillette and Niecey LivingSingle. It won several music awards. Another song that comes to mind is “Somebody’s Hero”. I wrote it when a very close friend of mine was diagnosed with cancer and was battling for her life. She was given only a 5% chance to survive beyond one year. She is now in her fifth year of remission. Her courage truly inspired me and everyone around her. While facing a life threatening circumstance she still found the strength and courage to face it head on. She kept fighting even when she felt she couldn’t try anymore. It’s not something everyone can do. The next song is “Because Of You” which was the first Christian song I’d ever written. My sister Zorina and her Christian group from Taiwan were here in the states performing and I attended their concert. I was in my car driving home after the concert when suddenly lyrics started pouring into me. I remember thinking, wow, God is touching my heart right now. By the time I arrived home that night, I had all the words of the song in my head and typed them into my computer. The next day, I called my sister and told her I had a song for her. The power of that inspiration was so powerful because it so clearly came to me from a higher source. Consequently, my sister was nominated for “Best New Artist” in Taiwan for her CD titled, “Because of You”.

RCJ: On the other side of the same coin, which songs have been most popular?

ML: Well music is an art form and can be interpreted in so many different ways by different people. Songs that I thought would be popular were not as popular as some of my other songs. There were, however, a few songs that I knew would be big songs the moment I wrote them. The song “Let Go” performed by Tamar Gillette is a song about letting go of your fears, doubts and inhibitions and allowing yourself to become the person you were created to be. And the song “Faith in Love”, a beautiful love ballad performed by LaToya London. Both songs had a long run on radio stations. “Faith in Love” was nominated and won an Atlas Elite R&B Song of The Year Music Award.

RCJ: If you had to choose a maxim or rule of conduct from any one of your songs, what would it be?

ML: I approach a song from a perspective of love, positivity, and honesty. My position is that I want people to be uplifted, inspired, and motivated by my songs. I believe that as a writer I have a responsibility to be honest and deliberate in my message. If I had to name a song that carries that message or maxim it would be, “Let Go” performed by Tamar Gillette and produced by London and Blair. Again, this song is about letting go of all the fears that hold us back. I think that fear is one of the greatest deterrents in anyone’s success. I am always reminded of this when I ask people, “how’s it going?” and they reply, “I’m hanging on, or I’m hanging in there.” Meaning, if they let go, they will fall or fail. But what if you let go, and you soar? What if it’s the fear that is holding you back? We are far more capable of achieving the things that we want, than we allow ourselves to believe.

RCJ: What are your aspirations for future creative endeavors and collaborations?

ML: I do have a few projects that I am currently involved in. One being with producer James Gardiner and Paula Telander, and a very talented singer out of Germany, Rona Ray. The song is called “When I Saw You”, a beautiful love ballad that will be out sometime this year. As well, I am currently in production with several new songs. Some are being recorded for demo purposes so that I can present them to the right artist. One song, in particular, titled, “Not Perfect” is a song I worked on with the gifted producer Tasche, and emerging artist, Gianni P’laure. The song is a powerful admission of our imperfection as human beings, one that most people can easily relate to. Gianni did such a wonderful job with the demo that I am seriously considering her for the song. We are also getting ready to release a new song I wrote for Niecey LivingSingle titled “Now That You’re Here”, a very moving tribute to the joys and beauty that certain people bring into our life. As for my aspirations, my intention is to get my songs heard by more artists/labels in the industry. Meaning, that I would like to have my songs presented to artists that are much further along in the industry than I am at this time. They have a far greater audience-reach and I’d love to share more of my songs with the world. Also, the television and film industry would be a perfect medium for so many of my songs. Another plan this year is to produce a CD that features select songs that I’ve written that will truly showcase my work. The music industry is so vast and fast moving but it is also a place that really allows me to express myself creatively and authentically. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

RCJ: Are there creative endeavors that you are involved with that you feel are particularly significant or relevant?

Yes, my “Annual Benefit Fundraiser for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital”, in Oakland, California. Every year I produce the “Music Is Medicine” non-profit benefit concert to raise money for this much-needed non-profit hospital. This is my 11th year as the producer, and I must say I look forward to this event each year. The benefit was put on hold for the last two years due to COVID, so this year feels particularly important since so many more children need support. Our goal is to make up for the two years we lost plus our current annual goal of 50K. This can definitely be accomplished with the support of our local and national businesses and communities. I welcome and appreciate all those who want to support those children who often have serious or life threatening illnesses and need special care but have limited resources to pay for medical care.

RCJ: I want to thank Mickel London for sharing his incredible energy, talent, and collaborative spirit with us. And to all those who worked together with AKR Magazine to allow us to get a bit of unfiltered video coverage of his work in the recording studio. AKRM

By Oliver Masciarotte

Ihave a confession to make; I tend more toward straightforward honesty rather than partisan editorializing. Having grown up in New England, I was taught to say what I mean and, more importantly, mean what I say without being mean about it. Here in Minnesota, that last phrase is often turned on it’s head, bringing me no small amount of consternation. My philosophy of honesty extends to audio gear as well. I tend to enjoy products that offer truth rather than demure politeness or convenient omission.

The Mytek Liberty DAC II heralds from a professional lineage, where cost and functionality far outweigh fidelity and ease of use. As an example, the front panel is covered with LEDs and tiny labels. These features could be intimidating for the newly anointed audiophile. Pros also value timbral honesty, at least in principle. That means confining “color” to “effects” hardware or plug–ins, where distortion can be applied on an as–needed basis.

With the ability to decode pretty much all mainstream sample rates and formats, and even that sometimes lossless, other times lossy conundrum that is MQA, Liberty DAC II can handle most any stream one throws at it. But does that mean it sounds “good”? Is it a cultivated purveyor of excellent tuneage or is it like some other Euro imports that are devoid of humanity, at least in the audio sense? Oliver Masciarotte investigates the science and subjective worth of Mytek Audio’s entry level converter offering…

HIGH-END HEADPHONES, AMPLIFIERS & DACS

By K. E.Heartsong