Tempo Talks: A Conversation with Mia Van De Loo

THE RELEASE

Mia Van de Loo shines brightly and effortlessly while blending her optimism, unwavering ambition, and sheer dedication to her craft. Beyond her captivating presence through social media and intimate performances at coffee shops, Mia is eager to display her full potential. Mia invites listeners into a world where emotions are tenderly explored and an authentic way of living is embraced wholeheartedly. With every note she plays or sings, Mia Van de Loo expresses a feeling of hope that not only captures the essence of being human but also propels her towards an extraordinary path as an up and coming singer songwriter.

Mia Van de Loo’s first EP, titled "Open Book " reveals the stages of lifes moments. From the exhilarating joys of first love, to the heart wrenching sorrows of early heartbreak. With grace, Mia captures the emotions tied to forming and eventually losing close friendships, as well as the excitement of stepping into uncharted territories all while finding solace in the familiar comfort of returning home. Collaborating with producer and mixing engineer Laiko Mia creates a backdrop that resonates with authenticity. Mastering engineer Eric Lagg adds his expertise to the EPs poignant "Fairytale." As we eagerly await the release of the music video which is in post production, Mia is preparing for a national tour scheduled for early summer 2024. "Open Book" is more than an EP; it's an invitation to immerse ourselves in a collection of relatable stories.

THE INTERVIEW

If you had to create a Mount Rushmore of inspiration, what four individuals molded the artist you are today?

I’d start with my favorite artist, Adam Melchor. I am obsessed with his music and his writing style, so I try to emulate that, and I also love the way he shows up for his audience online and in person. Lizzy Mcalpine, because I admire her trajectory musically and career-wise; she is my ultimate inspiration for the space I’d like to exist in as an artist. For my last two, I’d have to shout out my friends Brandon and Caleb Houser, who make up two out of the three members of almost a.m. They were the first ones to convince me to take my songwriting seriously, and as they traverse the music industry a little ahead of me, they have filled the gaps in my knowledge about the business side of things and in my self confidence. It’s best to climb any mountain in pursuit of your inspiration and along with your friends, so I’d love a healthy mix of the two on my Mount Rushmore. 

Throughout the production of your new EP, were there specific challenges or breakthrough moments that had a profound influence on the overall direction and cohesion of the project?

The most substantial challenge to producing and releasing “open book” was acquiring the funds. I worked as a waitress for a year and a half to pay for the production, photography, and marketing of the project, and each individual day was grueling. The thing that got me through was the assurance that I was working for the music, but if I’m being perfectly honest, I spent much more time working to fund the EP than working on the EP itself. I think that the passion evident in these five songs is largely because of the effort I put into being able to even step through the studio’s door. It’s my opinion that many who pursue music don’t make it far because they don’t want it enough to put the pedal to the metal, so for each day I got another step closer to this project’s realization, I gained a little more confidence that music matters to me; enough to lay it all down. If it had been any easier to see “open book” come to life, I don’t think it would have had nearly the heart or the passion it does.

Can you offer insights into the collaborative dynamics that shaped your latest EP, shedding light on the contributions from producers, co-writers, engineers, or featured artists and how their involvement impacted the final body of work?

I had the honor of working with Laiko as the producer and mixing engineer on all five tracks on the EP. I was super impressed by his previous work, namely with Ben Kessler, Cece Coakley, Sydney Rose, Isabel Pless and Laura Elliott. He captured my vision well on the songs I was sure of, and brought new life to the ones I had grown used to. Laiko mastered four of the tracks on the EP, with Eric Lagg on “fairytale;” I feel lucky to have so many ears and hearts on a song I’m so passionate about. The cover art for both the single and EP are photos taken by Cameron Holbrook, who is not only a talented photographer, but a passionate and influential person I was thankful to have met through this process. I honestly made so many friends throughout the process of releasing “open book,” and it is one of the most exciting and fulfilling parts of pursuing a career in music.

Considering the entirety of your EP, what lasting impact or impression do you hope the collection of songs will leave on listeners, both individually and as a cohesive musical journey?

I hope that after hearing “open book,” listeners feel a little more comfortable being honest with themselves about the more minor struggles they face. Our culture is inundated with tragedy that feels like an unbearable weight. But that doesn’t erase the grievances we hold as we grow up and step into our identity. I wrote these five songs when I was fifteen, as I processed making new friends and losing old ones, acknowledging crushes I had while learning what my heart was worth, and wrestling with those very same tragedies that were just as rampant then as they are now. Tragedy may persist throughout time, but so does the process of growing up and learning who you are. So I think it’d be really valuable to see more people who are comfortable holding space not only for the bleak and dire, but for the personal journey into one’s own identity that often goes neglected. And I hope that my art makes that even a little more possible.‏

As you look forward, how does the release of this EP set the stage for your future projects, and are there any subtle hints or clues you can share about the evolving musical direction you plan to explore in the coming months?

I decided to release my music in the order that I wrote it, which means that “open book” is only the first of many collections of music on their way. I am currently working on my eleventh project, so there’s a bunch of music between “open book” and now that I can’t wait to share! “open book” sets a tone of authenticity, vulnerability and honesty in its lyricism, and dreamy, transcendent youth in its musicality; it is the perfect youngest sibling. It’s naive, dramatic and excited. What comes next will be the quintessential middle sibling. It’ll maintain the authenticity of its younger sister, but with a newfound zest for life and the world we experience it in. I can’t wait to continue the narrative of growing up and becoming through each of the projects to come, and I’m even more excited to share them with you!

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