PLAY LOUD with
Audrey Mika
Follow along for an exclusive interview series with our campaign stars as we discuss everything from music, creativity, to identity and self-love. Tune in, get inspired, and turn up the volume!
Q. So, Audrey, what’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten?
A. A big one is definitely stop worrying about what other people think. I used to be unhappy ‘cause I wasn't doing what I wanted to do. I always tried to fit in with what other people were doing.
Q. How did you figure that out?
A. I was homeschooled my entire life, and I actually danced for 15 years. There were a lot of opinions from the dance world and it was very toxic for me. So I quit, because I was not happy at all. My family was really shocked at the decision, but I knew I had to get out of there because I was crying while I was dancing and I was like, this is not right. If you feel forced to do something or if you feel like you're even forcing yourself, you need to step back. And music literally pulled me out of that. It's really cheesy, but music really saved me.
Q. Did you suddenly start blasting music in your room?
A. I would always listen in my headphones or like, volume down. I would never blast anything unless I was driving. It depends on the mood — maybe it's hype music, or maybe it's like, extremely sad piano music. And it's just cranked all the way up. That's the thing that I do to heal. It worked for me.
Q. Where would you drive?
I have a spot in the Bay Area that I always go to, the outlook of the Bay bridge and Oakland. It’s soothing to look at all the blinking lights and things moving. It’s an exhale from the stress and anxiety. And everything’s better when music’s playing.
Q. What would you like to see change in the music industry?
A. I think there should be more women in the music industry. Not just artist-wise: business-wise, CEOs, engineers, producers, directors, journalists. Women are fire.
Q. What do you do when you're alone?
A. I take baths, listen to music, and I play guitar, or I do a random craft or something. I think there’s a time to sit with yourself and figure out stuff out and just be okay with being alone. And in your head.
Q. What is the last thing you crafted?
A. I cannot draw for my life, but I painted my skateboard that I had ’cause I hated the back of it. My mom's Japanese, so I had her find a tapestry of these two Japanese girls in kimonos. And I painted that on the skateboard and it's really bad, but I felt very crafty. It was nice and therapeutic in a way, to just like let out my expression through the paint.
Q. Your TikToks are so fun to watch. Where do those ideas come from?
A. I don't take it very seriously. It's just for me to find weird sounds and good music that I love, and just share me dancing to it. I have such a gratefulness towards social media because I get to spread so much positivity. It makes me so happy when my supporters message me and they're like, This thing made my day. That is what drives me every day.
