Exclusive interview Mike Mago: 'It's all about uplifting, feel good music'

Mike Mago has teamed up with Dragonette again, delivering the follow-up to their amazing 'Outlines' success with new single 'Secret Stash'. High time we had a chat with the Dutchman about his music, working with Dragonette and his advice to our young Talent Pool producers.

Hey Mike, your new single 'Secret Stash' was just released. What can you tell us about this track? 
"After our collab on 'Outlines', we were doing radio promo for that single. We had a chance to listen to each other's works in progress. Up till then we hadn't had the chance to do that. We found out we had a big common ground in musical taste, also outside of dance music. So we shot over ideas and the first idea for 'Secret Stash' came from their side. When I heard the chorus line I got goosebumps and immediately had an idea what I would do with the track. Mixing this track took the longest, cause I wanted it to sound fit for listening on headphones, smooth and subtle, but also big enough to play out on a main stage. Mix-wise this balance is always the hardest to do in my opinion."

It's another collab with Dragonette. What makes working with them so special?
"Honestly I could work with Dragonette for every track. It may be difficult to understand, but when you are producing, not every time, but sometimes you want to have singer/songwriters, and topliners. Sometimes you have writing sessions, you go into the studio, you have some pop writers or whatever, you let them hear some of your tracks, and you decide what to write on. And then most of the time, I don't want to put down anybody, but most of the time guys just want to make that radio hit so they start thinking in easy terms and general subjects. Dragonette, as successful as she is, it's really incredible to see how personal her lyrics are. Even with 'How Low', the track with Martin Solveig, and 'Outlines' and 'Secret Stash', it comes from her heart and she is poetic, in terms of writing. Her level is very high and obviously her voice is amazing. It's just one of those rare talents that do what they feel, write what they feel, and then sing it and it's amazing."

Coincidentally your earlier hit track 'Outlines' was recently awarded with a Platinum Record, here in Holland. How did you respond to this?
"Amazed and blessed. As an artists I live a pretty weird life. I sit alone in my studio most of the time, fumbling around with synths and melody. I only have myself as a judge and make my own choices. It’s so weirdly amazing that the effect can be that so many people then find the outcome inspiring and want to listen to a track so much. I even met people with an 'Outlines' tattoo! Getting the platinum award is not an achievement on its own, it’s the fact that so many people love the track what keeps me going." 

What does this new record 'Secret Stash' say about your musical evolution as an artist?
"My musical evolution is mainly build up from techniques I learn and experience I build while I’m producing. The more techniques I know the more and better choices I can make. I still have to learn so much more and am trying to develop every day. For me a track has to be a challenge. Like the mixing part of 'Secret Stash' for example. I have to like what I’m doing, but also have to feel challenged during the process. Due to this, musically I can shift a bit in styles. But I think the direction I'm developing in, is to make uplifting original feel good music with a high quality level of songwriting (which on this track obvisouly came from Dragonette). I don’t want to work with singers who just want to write a generic popsong about partying and bullshit. I want the lyrics to really touch the listener. My goal is to make music that people listen to while riding their bike for example, but also music that makes you want to party in the club." 

Listen to Don Diablo premiering 'Secret Stash' on his radio show

What has been the coolest thing in your musical career up till now?
"I really can’t name one coolest happening or something. But what I think is one of the coolest things for me at this moment, is that I have such a great team surrounding me. I think it’s really cool to have A&R meetings with Spinnin’ and hearing that they try their best to make me get the most of myself. Also my friends and management team around me truly want me to achieve my goals. Everyone knows I’m not a young DJ who had a big career on the back of one single. Everyone knows my struggle and that I have been DJ-ing for so long making zero money before I got here. That whole appreciation for what I’m doing is got to be the coolest thing ever." 

What do you think is the most interesting development in dance music these days?
"Hands down the most interesting is that there are now more genres that are popular than ever before. We had a long period of progressive/electro pop house ruling the world. Now you see more and more other and older genres like tech house and techno but also new genres like future house or future bass having enough ground to exist. and the quality of it all is really high. We are really really spoiled with such good music nowadays. Even on radio the songs and productions are amazing. And festival main-stages are not only filled with EDM DJ's anymore. SO this high level of music and that the scene is stylistically scattered is really interesting." 

What are your goals for the future?
"One of my biggest goals is to make my label BMKLTSCH RCRDS even bigger. I’ve been working with the label longer then I have been producing music. I work hard for it and I feel it can still grow much more. I’m always looking for new music and listen to every demo I receive, but I have the feeling I have not yet released one of those groundbreaking tracks that can really lift my label to a higher level.  That’s one of my goals the coming period."  

And finally, what would you advise the upcoming stars on our Talent Pool? 
"My biggest advice is to be patient and don’t do it to become famous. Don’t get fooled by the stories that you hear about young producers that get big quick. The most DJ's get big on a later age. In average, you have to have spend more then at least 10.000 hours in the studio (that's like five years full-time producing!!) before you might start getting to a level to get by. If you don’t love making music, you will never make those hours. So don’t do it just to get big. Do it because you love doing it." 

Stay tuned for more Mike Mago here.