Next Big Thing: Supmikecheck drops debut LP—exclusive interview

Album Cover Credit: @Jamersdesigner Alternative mastermind Supmikecheck dropped his first LP Is The Love From A Few Of My Friends Enough To Keep Me Alive last month. If it's your first time hearing Supmikecheck's music, you'll want to hold on to your seat. Mike's raw passion & emotion for music and storytelling is quite compelling. The record is beautifully crafted with musical patterns that span genres and vulnerable lyrics. It is clear that the order of the album was very intentional to create a journey from start to finish. Fans of artists across several genres will enjoy most tracks on this record; anything from alternative rock to emo rap to alternative pop. Supmikecheck's record features some kick-ass features from some of your favorites including Aaron Gillespie, Dying in Designer, $teven Cannon, Butterchops, Dan Castady of the Fold, and PrincessBri.

You can listen to the record & check out our interview with Supmikecheck below!

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  Walk us through your musical journey. How you started, how this album came to be, and where you see it going. "I started off writing things where I wanted to make lyrics and themes based off of my real life scenarios. There are themes of finding self confidence, feeling excluded, a handful of lyrics in regards to self image battles. I think it stemmed from the previous You Never Really Cared which was about heartbreak and the end of a relationship and this one is more about the after and emotions that cross my mind. The second half on the album is more laid back and about coming to peace with how things are but the first half of the album is about a struggle." Which track are you most proud of? "I really like 'Background Character.' It's still surreal to me that I have Aaron Gillespie, the singer of Underoath, featured on the song. I grew up a huge Underoath fan. When it comes to features I normally hear their voice in my head and think they will fill the spot perfectly. I think on this song he really did just that. The song is lyrically deep about feeling like you do not make a strong impression and if you were no longer around the world would not notice." "This song is about feeling like a third wheel, feeling like if you died people would not really notice. It is very open about feeling like an outcast. The instrumental I crafted to kind of sound like a chime, I envision a Grandfather clock or a pendulum swinging back and forth on beat. It's kind of a song about being ready to die and putting out an S.O.S to those around you. It is calling out to the world asking if anyone would notice if you were to take your own life or pass away, It's a dramatic song with a build up of time running out. You are waiting for someone to care and stop you. Unfortunately for this song the outro ends with a gasp for air to demonstrate the character's death. I was able to get Aaron Gillespie to sing on the chorus, I am a genuine fan and knew he'd deliver a strong vocal take, It is supposed to be an S.O.S and a cry for help and he delivered it perfectly." Which track are you most excited to play live? I think my song "Submit // Commit" Featuring Princessbri would be cool I feel like the bass and instrumental goes really hard especially at the end of the song, I'm sure it would be a more energetic one. Share the development of one song from the record. "'Golden State Worrier' Featuring Dying In Designer - This song I wrote as a concept of worrying in a long distance relationship, I used the Golden State Warriors a professional basketball team as Golden State Worrier to mean someone who worries. It was a play on words. I was going through a long distance relationship at the time and was always nervous about what was going on when I was far. I actually recorded rough vocals at my friend Rocky's house where he actually is the person on the echoes and in the background on the chorus. There are also effects I use purposely on the verses where it is supposed to sound like voices inside your head, My intention for heavy reverb and heavy echo is to go with the theme of nerves and worrying where in real life you have all these doubts in your head, you almost hear your own voice, so with the echo effect I felt like the lyrics are basically what is in your head coming out into the world. If I put heavy echo on something its normally meant to be there with some weird meaning like voices in your head, or if I have something faintly in a song it's because it's like a lyric about doubt or second guessing yourself I do it intentionally to mimic emotion. When it came to getting a feature I'm a huge fan of Dying In Designer, I knew that he is also a sports fan and would pick up on the pun within the song's title. He wrote his own verse and it flows and is one of my favorite songs that I have. It's also been the fans favorite as well, it is my highest stream count and the plays have been natural. The streams coming in are without promo or playlisting."

Which featured artist was the most memorable to work with? "I think Aaron Gillespie was great because of his work ethic, He turned the song around in literally one day and was really excited for it. I really like 'Golden State Worrier' Featuring Dying In Designer because he is in the same genre as me and is someone with a lot of mutual fans. Dan Castady of The Fold is a nice person too. Butterchops is nice, Princessbri and $teven Cannon are going to have wonderful careers ahead. I'm honestly grateful for all features because It gives me a chance to share their work too." What inspires you to write music? "I like to write based off of human emotion, I do not like writing hard to understand lyrics. I wanted to put everything very upfront so when I write about being led on or fighting self confidence issues I make it very clear. I write in hopes that if someone is going through a similar life situation they have someone there for them and it'll comfort them. 'Background Character' is essentially about being a third wheel when your friends are in relationships, feeling like someone's last pick if even picked at all. That's something I'm going through and I do not hope someone feels that way but I wrote it to let them know that I'm going through it, too." If you had to rename the album, what would you call it and why? "I played with the name 'Everyone Already Has Someone.' I might revisit that name in the future. I keep a notepad in my phone of working titles, and themes, but Is The Love From A Few Of My Friends Enough To Keep Me Alive? is pretty solid. Very long but that's how like old Fall Out Boy titles were." What artists do you have on repeat right now? What artists do you look up to for inspiration? "Right now I'm listening to Drake, The Goo Goo Dolls, I see those artists as big league to where I'll never get to speak to them. Which is sometimes good because unfortunately after meeting some artists I grew up liking, I get turned off from their music forever after, so if I'm listening to something they're normally really big or I have had a peaceful experience with them. So a few more are Chevelle, The Used, Senses Fail, Jimmy Eat World, The Chainsmokers, Blink-182, Brand New, Pierce The Veil that's a pretty solid lineup." When can fans plan on seeing you live next? "I've been doing a few pop up events, I've been hanging out at shows like Emo Nite's and Sad & Boujee. For my own Supmikecheck set and show though, I do not have anything booked right now, just seeing what opportunities come up. I do all my own bookings so it's hard to manage it all at times, I could really use a booking agent or management just to help with how many emails I get." Is there anything else you’d like to share with APU readers? "I am super grateful for anyone who gives me the time of day, If you are checking me out or anything please let me know, tag me in things so I can see it and give you my appreciation. Thank you APU for having me."   Album Cover: @Jamersdesigner