Review Fix Exclusive: Michi Talks ‘All My Exes’ And More

Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter and guitarist Michi, who lets us know all about her new single, “All My Exes” and more.

Review Fix: What inspired this single?

Michi: ”All My Exes” was inspired by moving on in a big way.  There is something so beautiful about being able to move forward and find happiness in other aspects of life — whether it be through your career, friendships, family, travel, and just doing things that bring you joy. Despite the pandemic, and the breakup that I wrote this song about, this past year has been an incredible year for me, full of self love and personal growth.

Review Fix: How did it change throughout the creation process?

Michi: The writing of this song happened SO quickly! 

I started writing it while I was out of town recording someone else’s single at the end of July. I had just finished our session for the day, and was getting ready for bed. The opening verse of this song popped into my head and I quite literally threw myself out of bed. 

I ended up writing and recording this entire song at 2am. 

I remember sitting on the floor of the guest room where I was staying, with my computer and guitar and pedalboard spread out across the floor, recording the melodies and typing the lyrics like a maniac. I tracked a demo of it with just guitar and vocals, with no lyrics for the bridge yet. There was a bunch of talking at the top of the song explaining my ideas to the drummer, Noah Hadland, and I sent it off to him. A couple days later… maybe even just a day.. he sent me the drums, and when I got home from my trip I re-recorded all the guitars. 

The vocals took WAY longer!!! Vocals are always a weird process…. you could wake up one day and feel inspired to record, but your voice just doesn’t feel great that day. I ended up finishing the vocals in August, and my long time friend Tim Breon, who was also my guitar teacher and mentor growing up, recorded bass. 

The last step, mixing and mastering, is always the most fun. It’s kind of like a final sprinkle of magic that makes your song feel big and full of life. Bret Alexander has been working on my music with me for the past ten years. He’s probably one of my favorite songwriters of all time. I can’t imagine anyone else mixing my songs. His ear is everything. Getting the final mix/master from him made my heart explode!

Review Fix: How do you think this track stands up with your other songs?

Michi: It’s really strange looking back at old music. I always write about whatever is happening in my life at the moment, so listening to old songs is like peering in through a window at my past self. My first album came out when I was a teenager, so I’ve grown a lot, not only as a musician, but as a person. 16 year old Michi definitely had her heart on her sleeve, but was scared of ever telling the full story. I think at 26, I write openly and honestly about everything now. I don’t write as many sad songs, too.

Review Fix: How has COVID affected your music?

Michi: Covid has affected my entire career. 

When the pandemic first began back in March, I was 7 months into a year long national tour with Broadway’s The SpongeBob Musical. I was in a new major city every week and flying all over the country. It was a dream job. I had just moved out of my apartment in New York back in February, assuming I’d be on the road until August, so when we got sent home early, I made the decision to spend some time out in the country with my family. I found myself with all this free time I quite frankly haven’t had in years, and I decided to invest in building a home studio. I had so much on my mind, since the pandemic kind of ripped me right out of the life I was used to, so I started writing like crazy. For the first time I didn’t have a deadline, I didn’t have to worry about studio time or running out of money, I wasn’t working constantly or living in hotel rooms, I truly just poured everything I had into recording an album that makes me happy… an album for myself. I won’t be able to go back on tour until late Spring at the earliest, so I just plan to continue writing and recording and creating music I love until I can return to my normal life.

Review Fix: What are your goals for this track?

Michi: I just want this track to make people happy… to give someone a 4 min getaway from the stress and worry and the scary unknown this pandemic has unleashed on everyone. I hope it can inspire even one person to leave their bad relationship and realize they could be so much happier starting over. That there is more to life than living for someone else.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Michi: I have a pretty specific timeline I’ve created for this album! Even though I said I have no deadline…. I like holding myself accountable and planning ahead.

It’s going to be a 10 song album, and the next song coming out will be the title track, Burn! After that, there will be one stripped down song that will be released before we drop the whole album. Beyond that, well…we’ll see. I have 20+ songs going at the moment, so who knows! Maybe another album, more singles, collaborations with people…. or maybe I’ll finally get to tour again! Haha! The future is unknown for all of us right now, but I just want to continue writing and spreading joy with music. It’s all you can really do. 

<iframe width="100%" height="166" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/894528097&color=%23625e5e&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true"></iframe><div style="font-size: 10px; color: #cccccc;line-break: anywhere;word-break: normal;overflow: hidden;white-space: nowrap;text-overflow: ellipsis; font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/musicbymichi" title="Michi美智" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">Michi美智</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/musicbymichi/all-my-exes" title="All My Exes" target="_blank" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration: none;">All My Exes</a></div>