If It Ain't High Volume It Ain't Loud Enuff!!! - Day

1:04AM - An Interview With Mik Starr

Meet Mik Starr-The "..the diacritic"

Mik Starr is a writer. Mik Starr is a producer. Mik Starr is a beat maker. Mik Starr is beautiful. Mik Starr is a poetess. Mik Starr is Everything. She's a renaissance woman!


She was born Shawn Michelle 29 years ago in Chi-City, "IllaNoyze"…her very first piece was written at age 5 and published by Hungry Writers Publishing, a company founded by her grandmother (poet Mai Taj). Though she inherited a talent for the rhyme style, she blossomed in the art of short stories, writing throughout high school under the pseudonym Amori Allen.

In 1999, she completed her first full length novel

Well Runs Dry (available on Amazon.com under pseudonym Miki Rogers). She has since completed Broken Promises, Blueprints, and Resplendent Thoughts: Muzik for the Soul (co-authored by King Xavier Joseph Woods/ATL).

In September 2005, after being given the gift of music via an iBook (thanks to her mom), Starr began experimenting with beat making and reciting poetry over the tracks. With the help of DJ Sid (Roc) the Apocalypze and thanks to the encouragement received from her myspace.com fam, she has to date successfully recorded 3 tracks (“Whispers” , “Explosive”, and “Rainbow Niggaz”) and is currently hard at work on her 4th piece, “Battlefield of the Mind: an intimate dialogue”.

I “discovered” Mik Starr on MySpace.com and we’ve become tight friends. The beautiful Chi Town native has the talent, look and skills to make the best of them jealous. I caught up with her recently and we literally chatted via My Space about her talent, plans for the future and of course the hot as fire tracks she has posted on her site. Read on!


Ant: So, who does your music?

Starr: I do, with the exception of “Explosive”. That was done by DJ Sid the Apocalypze.

Ant: So the beats that the listeners hear along with the poems are all you, with the exception of "Explosive", right?

Starr: Yes

Ant: So, you know you're hot on the boards, right? What got you into beat making and production? Who taught you, or are you self taught?

Starr: I'm learning and starting to take it more serious. I’m listening more intently to what others do and trying to develop a style for myself. How I started, umm let’s see, I was trying to find a way to get attention drawn to me and my writing. Sid was making beats and I thought it'd be cool if he gave me some that I could read poetry over. Then my mom gave me an iBook. While on my lunch break I started trying to teach myself the program and created the basis for “Whispers”. I really liked it so I finished it and used it. I just kinda got caught up after that so I only took ONE Sid beat! I didn't expect anyone to take me serious so it's incredible that people like what I do.

Ant: So how do you feel about what you've accomplished thus far?

Starr: I’m proud of it. What I do and people treat me like I’m some sort of professional.

Ant: You are a professional, just an independent professional.

Starr: THANKS!!

Ant Boogie: U know if I had an Ipod, "Whispers" would be on my top ten, right?

Starr: THANKS!! I get scared when people treat me like a pro at this.

Ant Boogie: Why is that?

Starr: I’m scared they will discover I’m a fraud. An author PLAYING musician. I’m such a geek.






Ant: Umm, do you know how many "frauds" are out there on major labels doing garbage tracks and releasing them, selling millions?

Starr: LOL, true

Ant: What people dig is the vibe a person gives them. You know, gone are the days when you HAD to have a degree in music to be considered a musician, or be on a major label to be considered a success, and you give a positive, tight vibe. I'm loving it.

Starr: Thank you *blush* I do kinda wish I could do is work with pros like yourself and learn more about the process of making music.

Ant Boogie: Well, we can definitely make that happen. We’ll talk later. So let's talk about "Rainbow Niggaz". Excuse the pun, but that track is explosive in every definition of the word. I'm listening to it right now. How did it come about?

Starr: I was driving in to work on a Friday. The Beat was playing “Self Destruction”. I started to feel emotional and think about the state of our brothers today. It was a long drive and at one of the lights I was waiting at, I grabbed a pen and paper and started writing. I came to work and before I did anything else I finished it and posted it on BP. I was pretty popular for a minute because of that piece. A lot of people showed respect.

Ant: I love that track. That's one of those songs I wish I had written. I mean, I literally wake up almost every morning doing the beat with my mouth. That is a blazing track. You should be proud of yourself. So do you do any open mics around Hollywood, FLA?

Starr: I don’t. I’m such a punk. I’ve only recited once publicly and that was in English class for finals. I got an A and a great reaction despite me hiding beneath my fedora!!


Ant: So, you’ve never recited at a open mic? Why not?

Starr: I'm a sucka

Ant: Meaning what? Umm, if you say so, but you don't come off as one in "Rainbow Niggaz".

Starr: I'm pretty shy. I guess I'm scared people won't like me...I dunno.

Ant: That's interesting. So you can go in the studio and drop it and put it in a book, but when it comes to stage you get scared?

Starr: Yeah, cause I'm in my room, home alone. And believe me I was REAL nervous about doing that. I recorded like a thousand times before I relaxed. I was TERRIBLY shy as a kid, so much so that my teacher used to call me mouse.

Ant: So, you're still shy, I assume. Do you think you'll ever overcome the fear?

Starr: I've kinda overcome it mostly as an adult but when it comes to performing it comes back full force. Still for me to totally overcome the fear, it will be only by force. If I do it and get it out of my system, each time could get easier.

Ant: Of course. So it's safe to assume you have developed a fan base on MYSPACE, huh?

Starr: On MYSPACE, yeah, it's pretty incredible. I do have a fan base.

Ant: I'm probably your biggest fan there!!

Starr: YES. yes you are! and i loooove you for it!! with Ant Boogie behind me, who knows what I might try. You give me courage

Ant: Ahh, thanks for that. So what are your plans for the future?

Starr: My plans for the future...with music. I’m going to likely keep working on it...trying to get better. More writing. I'm working on a piece now and I feel more at ease. A CD? I dunno about that. lol. I’m not THAT confident yet. LOL

Ant: It's naturally the next step. So what do you do during the daytime when you're not Mik Starr?

Starr: I'm just Miki and I work as a sales assistant at a branch office for a seafood wholesaler in Deerfield Beach. I’m also freelance graphic designer & web designer and of course work on my novels and short stories.

Ant Boogie: So what are three things you want people reading this to know about you and your music?

Starr: That it's all from my heart and soul, not dressed up for attention. This is what I really feel. I also hope they love it and that GOD speaks through me and my gifts.

Ant: Cool. Who are some of your inspirations?

Starr: All of my MYSPACE Allstars, definitely. there is a collage and list on my page....(you are listed)

Ant: Oh, thanks...

Starr: Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, Billie Holiday, Les Nubians, Portishead, Kanye West and a plethora of artists always someone new. It goes on and on Coltrane, Ellington, Etta..

Starr: I DEFINITELY intend to be seen on the road promoting books. But who knows, I might be selling CD's AND signing books. Now that would be awesomely incredible!

Ant: Well, we hope to see you down south one day! Maybe opening for Collective Hallucination. I mean it's possible. All things are, through Christ, right?

Starr Muzik: THAT would be AMAZING as well and a major accomplishment and big step for me and my shyness. Hey, I never saw THIS in my future. who knows what other plans HE has for me.

Ant: That's right. It feels good doesn't it?

Starr: it does! makes me wanna rush home and finish my next piece.

Ant Boogie: Ahh, yeah. Well thanks for taking time out to do this interview. Is there anyone out there you'd like to give a shout out to?

Starr: My mama, my grandma, pookie nem! My siblings, South FL fam, myspace fam, Rahsaan, DJ Sid, and most importantly Glorius L and my son Storm and the infamous ANT BOOGIE!!!!!

Ant Boogie: HA, you're too funny. Well, I'm sure once more folks hear you they are gonna want to get to hear more of you and

see you live somewhere, so I pray you take the music seriously and keep on keepin on. Thanks a million for doing this interview.

Starr: Maybe God is trying to tell me something through you. I would have already quit had you not been so supportive. I'm always wanting to do something that you can hear and critique. So THANK U!

Ant: I'm honored!!! Well don't be a quitter. Your music is all that. BTW- Your voice is soooooo mesmerizing. It's not too loud and harsh, yet it's not too low and soft. It's perfect. I could listen to you all day!

Starr: ME?? really?? and I always thought I sounded childish.

Ant Boogie: Nope, it's tight. I love it. I'm telling you, you gotta do a cd for us, the music buying, poetry loving public! Actually the tracks you have, you need to send me a copy so I can bang it in my truck. LOUD!!! You are A Starr , fo sho!


Listen to Mik Starr at the following link and join her my space group. Make sure you leave her some love!!!

http://www.myspace.com/mikstarr2