Interview with Mia Rodriguez

3 (1m 11s): hello, welcome back to bringing it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieved stardom. On this episode, we had a chance to chat with me a Rodriguez over zoom video. First off, huge shout out to me for doing this interview because she is on the other side of the world in Sydney, Australia. And of course we're here in Nashville, Tennessee. It was 1:00 AM. When we started this interview, we had talks about waking up literally 30 minutes before the interview. She went to sleep early to wake up in the middle of the night to do this. So I really, really appreciate it. 3 (1m 52s): This is such a fun interview. Mia is amazing, born and raised, like I said, in Sydney, Australia, she talks about that and how she got into music, believe it or not, she was very, very shy growing up. She would sing karaoke at her house, made sure her mom wasn't around. And if she saw her mom pull up, she would try her best to stop singing and do something else. There were a couple of times her mom caught her and would put the phone up next to the door and listen to her and record it. So she talks about recently finding some of those videos and listening to them. She started a YouTube channel at a very early age, started with sketch comedy and then transitioned into performing cover songs in middle school and high school. 3 (2m 34s): She was bullied, which is obviously awful, but she said that she used that to feel her passion for songwriting and performing, and just really, really gave her that fire to accomplish her dreams, which is really, really impressive. If people were making fun of me for what I was doing. I mean, horrible stories, throwing a Provideo is in the middle of class and crushing stuff, but to be able to kind of persevere over that and continue doing what she loved and then obviously achieving the massive success she has is, is really amazing me. It talks about not only posting those videos onto YouTube, but posting onto musically, which then became Tik TOK. 3 (3m 14s): And from there, her views and followers exploded. She has over 2 million followers. Now on Tik TOK. Mia tells us about releasing her first song as an artist, the success of that song emotion, then releasing psycho right after the pandemic had hit and having that video absolutely explode. She talks about the process behind her music, videos and all about the brand new song and music videos she released called shut up. You can watch our interview with me at Rodriguez on her Facebook page and YouTube channel at bringing it backwards. It would be so awesome if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Tik TOK at bringing back pod. 3 (3m 55s): And if you're listening to this on Spotify or apple music, we would love it. If you follow Sarah as well. And if you have time, hook us up with a five star review, 4 (4m 3s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts, 3 (4m 9s): We're bringing it backwards with Mia Rodriquez. Well, this podcast is about you and your journey and music. And we'll obviously talk about the new, the new video and song shut up, which is awesome. I love all your videos. I watched all of them and like kind of went through and even the acoustic stuff you do is incredible. The covers are incredible. Yeah. You have such an amazing voice. So I can't wait to hear your story. Yeah, no, of course. So I'm born and raised in Sydney. Is that what I read? 5 (4m 39s): Yes. Well, I was born in Brisbane, but then I moved to Sydney when I was like one. So that doesn't really count, so yeah. 3 (4m 47s): Okay. How about you guys, Brisbane from where you're at now? I don't know. I know how Australia is kind of just like, you know, more east coast, everything is there. 5 (4m 56s): It's pretty, it's pretty close. It's in the same, like it's like a two hour plane. 3 (5m 2s): It's like, Yeah. Yeah. Well, tell me about growing up in Sydney. 5 (5m 8s): Well, I grew up in Western Sydney, which is more of like the, you know, more, how do I put this in a nice way? 3 (5m 22s): I got answers, 5 (5m 28s): But yeah, it was more like, it's more, I guess, conservative and more judgmental in a way. So like, you know, growing up, you know, I couldn't like dress alternative or just cool or whatever get made fun of, or like be, you know, bisexual as I am. But yeah, I really enjoyed it, but I was, you know, bullied in high school for doing those things. And then, 3 (6m 0s): Well that would, yeah, that's gotta be rough. I mean, you can't be here. I mean, like, I don't want to like, just pass over that, cause that sounds like, yeah, not a very great experience. 5 (6m 11s): Yeah, no, it wasn't too good, but you know, I'm here now and it's great. So in the end it was totally worth it going through all that stuff. 3 (6m 21s): Yeah. Do you feel like it kind of influenced your music and style that you have current? 5 (6m 26s): Oh yeah, definitely. I started making YouTube videos when I was 12. And so I got bullied a lot for doing that and you know, kids in my class would put my videos on the front of the classroom and like laugh at my videos in my face while I was sitting there. So yeah, it was very, I was trying to do, but in the end it was one of the things it works. 3 (6m 51s): Right. But I mean to have that, you know, drive to be like, well, I don't, you know, I'm sure it obviously was crushing, but the fact that you continued after seeing that, like what a huge accomplishment. I mean, because me personally, I, if I was seeing that, it'd be like, okay, well I need to just give up. I mean like the fact that you did this, so, so incredible. 5 (7m 15s): Well, it only like motivated me to go bigger and greater. And like, in my mind I was like, you'll see, you'll see Monday, you'll see me like everywhere when they I'm going to prove everyone wrong. And so it just like fueled my passion fueled my emotion and yeah, and I think that is definitely one of the reasons why I've ended up here 0 (7m 38s): And a big scratcher from the Virginia lottery could be a big hit for you. The game gives you the chance to win up to $1 million Virginia lottery scratchers every day wins visit a lottery retailer near you for rods and more information. Visit VA lottery.com. 6 (7m 53s): Hurry in during Ram truck month where you'll find JD power's number one, brand a new vehicle quality in 2021. And right now get 0% financing for 72 months plus 1000 bonus cash on the 2022 Ram 1500 big horn crew cab for 2021 JD power award information. Visit JD power.com/awards, not compatible with any other offer. 0% APR financing for 72 months equals 1389 per month or 1000 finance for well-qualified buyers through personal capital, regardless of down payment, not all buyers will qualify. Residency restrictions apply. Take me to the delivery by 3 31 20 22. Hurry in during Ram truck month where you'll find JD power's number one, brand a new vehicle quality in 2021. And right now get 0% financing for 72 months plus 1000 bonus cash on the 2022 Ram 1500 big horn crew cab for 2021 JD power award information. 6 (8m 38s): Visit J D power.com/awards, not compatible with any other offer. 0% APR financing for 72 months equals 1389 per month or 1000 finance for well-qualified buyers through personal capital, regardless of down payment, not all buyers will qualify. Residency restrictions apply. Take me to the delivery by 3 31 20 22. 3 (8m 53s): Wow. Wow. Well I'm. I want to hear how that kind of, oh, I'll, we'll get to that. So we'll how did you get, how did you, how did you get into music originally? Do you have your family, your parents musical at all? 5 (9m 4s): No, I don't know where I got my seeing boys, but because I was bullied a lot, you know, I used singing as an escape, so I would come home from school and throw on some karaoke on my iPad and I would just sing and my mom worked full time and she was a single mother, so she was pretty much out of the house and I was very shy. So I would make sure that she wasn't home first and then sing my guts out. Like I love singing. It was so fun. And you know, I actually didn't want to be a singer because I was so shy. But you know, after I started YouTube and did ticked off and I started like rising a bit, I was like, Hmm, maybe I could do this, but yeah. 5 (9m 53s): Yeah. I've just always loved singing just for fun. Nothing like ambitious or anything. 3 (9m 60s): Does your mom ever come home early? Like when you were just like full on karaoke, belting it out and be like, whoa, like, wow, my daughter really can, can do this. 5 (10m 11s): Yeah. Sometimes you would hear me singing in my room and seeing in the shower and she'd like stand up outside of the door and record it, which was like, and I hated the answer. Like when she was at work, I would say next to the window to make sure that she wasn't home to see if a call was outside. But yeah, I was very shy and very introverted at the time. 3 (10m 37s): Does she have those recordings? 5 (10m 40s): Yes. 3 (10m 45s): That's awesome. You know, one day you're going to find those and be like, this is, I was so awesome. I mean, that's, that's really, rather than she was able to kind of do that and capture that moment. 5 (10m 54s): Yeah. They're all on the family, computer and the hard drive. And I actually watched them back the other day and it was terrifying. I do not like what, 3 (11m 5s): Well, how did you get the courage to do YouTube then? I mean, being an introvert and kind of hiding this, even from your mom, like what, at what moment were you like, all right, I'm going to turn the camera on and I'm going to make a YouTube video of me singing a song. 5 (11m 21s): Well, I, at first I started doing comedy videos. Cause I could not say on camera, I was too scared, 3 (11m 29s): Like sketch that's well, that's still, I mean, pretty bold, right? Comedies. 5 (11m 35s): I, yeah. I started to go to do comedy and like I did one or two covers just to like get it out there, you know, maybe like I can sing, but yeah, it looked up to a lot of YouTube is back in the day, especially specifically towards the Von who actually, you know, turned out to be a singer. And so it was like, wow. He went from being a YouTube to a singer. Like that's really cool. And I admired, you know, YouTube is just like entertaining people and inspiring people and they really, and so by me and I was like, wow, I want to do that. I want to like, you know, make people happy. 5 (12m 16s): And I don't want people to feel like I did in high school and stuff like that. But yeah, my goal was just to inspire and I pitching myself, you know, maybe going on stage and yeah, I, I don't know why I did that, even though I was like really introverted, but it was just, it became a big dream of mine pretty quick. 3 (12m 37s): Yeah. Well what were the videos like me not to dig up old trauma, like put the videos that like people are throwing up on the screen or whatever in school or those you're singing videos or the comedy stuff you're doing or both. 5 (12m 50s): No, thank God. But no. Yeah, they pretty, yeah, I did later on when I was more confident. 3 (13m 0s): Okay. And when did, I mean, I've seen in the videos that I've seen of you and you're, you're doing covers like the queen cover is incredible and the Billie Eilish covers that you're doing, like there's a piano in the background. Do you play piano? 5 (13m 15s): No, I kinda just like grabbed her piano tracks off YouTube and I was like, yeah, I'll just sing over it. I guess. 3 (13m 23s): I think there's a piano, I think in one of the rooms that you're doing a cover in, maybe I'm confused. 5 (13m 29s): Yeah. I did grow up with a piano in the house that yes I did. I did dabble on it. I think I can play, I can play a few songs, but not like professionally like 3 (13m 45s): Classic trained pianists or something like that. 5 (13m 49s): I was, I was though, I love the piano. It's a beautiful instrument. I love it. 3 (13m 54s): So it started then once you moved into music and kind of put, I mean, did you put the comedy aside to just kind of pursue just doing cover songs or like how did that transition happen? 5 (14m 6s): So when I started like gaining a little followers on Tik TOK, I became more confident with posting covers. So I posted like one every three, four weeks just to throw it out there that I can saying, oh, 3 (14m 20s): You moved the, you moved this, you moved your, your platform from YouTube to tick tock at one point. Yes. 5 (14m 27s): Yeah. So YouTube was like tiny thing. I got like 10,000 followers just doing that. And then I started doing tick-tock when I was 15 and it just exploded like that. That's where it all started. Yeah. 3 (14m 43s): It was it musically at the time or is it, 5 (14m 47s): It was in 2018 and like, the app was like pretty dead at that time, like on musically, but, and so that's why I made a video on it. I was like, yeah, why not? I'll just like, fuck around. And then the video got like 6,000 views and I'm like, people still own this shit. And so I just, like, I kept making videos and yeah, I, I got like a hundred thousand within like three weeks of just doing 3 (15m 16s): That's incredible. 5 (15m 18s): Yeah. And then it exploded and like more and more, and then it turned it to take talk and I'm like, yes, I was, I was very lucky that I started at the very stop. 3 (15m 27s): Sure. I mean, but not that. And not only that, but you obviously have an incredible voice and that translated over to your Spotify and YouTube and all that other stuff, because videos are massive. But it's funny. Cause my, I have two, two boys and my older son was on musically at the time. Like he had musically and it was funny cause he was telling me about this thing and I'm like, yeah, yeah. That's, that's cool. And then the fact that it morphed into Tik TOK and now it's like the biggest app ever so bizarre because at the time, like you said, not a lot of people were on it. 5 (15m 58s): Yeah. That was like, no one on it. It was like a deserted island. They won't be, it was so weird. 3 (16m 7s): That's so cool. That is so cool. Where are you? Are you still living where you originally grew up or did you move? 0 (16m 14s): They had a big scratcher from the Virginia lottery could be a big hit for you. The game gives you the chance to win up to $1 million. Virginia lottery scratchers everyday wins. Visit a lottery retailer near you for rods and more information. Visit VA lottery.com. 6 (16m 28s): Hurry in during Ram truck month where you'll find JD power's number one, brand a new vehicle quality in 2021. And right now get 0% financing for 72 months plus 1000 bonus cash on the 2022 Ram 1500 big horn crew cab for 2021 JD power award information. Visit JD power.com/awards, not compatible with any other offer. 0% APR financing for 72 months equals 1389 per month or 1000 finance for well-qualified buyers to Pearsall capital regardless of down payment, not all buyers will qualify. Residency restrictions apply. Take me to the delivery by 3 31 20 22. 5 (16m 59s): No, I moved closer to the city because my work in the city before that I lived like an hour away from the city. So it was not convenient, but yeah, I ended up buying, not buying. I moved out into an apartment at 18 I'm 19 now and yeah, I just like, it all like came so fast and I feel very independent. 3 (17m 27s): Well, I only ask that because I w I was curious if you're, if you're falling started to blow up that big, when you were still in the town with the high school, kids are making fun of you. And how did that translate? Was it then? Oh, this app is really popular and, and you know, me is doing an awesome thing. Like, Hey, like, do you want to follow me on the, you know what I mean? Like, was it like a shift of now you, they are like, or the people who were originally, you know, making fun of you or are they, oh my gosh, like, Hey, I want to be friends. 5 (17m 60s): Yeah. Well, that's funny because I actually like moved away from that school, like an hour away into another area, which was more like S like high-end like rich. And, but my family wasn't really rich. Like, we just got really lucky in a good spot, but I moved to a new school at that time. And I was also bullied even harder there. And I was pretty much very late. I was very lonely at that point. And so that's why, I guess I just like made random videos on my phone. I didn't really care, but yeah. 5 (18m 42s): And it started to blow up then, and I got really bullied in my new school, but then I just ended up leaving, 3 (18m 50s): But even have even having that big of a following and people care, like literally, you know, just exploding and then the people are still not like nice to you. 5 (19m 1s): Yeah. They, they still saw me at the bottom of the chain and I had to leave school because I was getting bullied a lot for it. And also I was getting recognized a lot at school. So it was so like, it was like opposites anyway. 3 (19m 16s): Sorry. Yeah, yeah, no, that's, yeah, it probably turned into like, like, oh, we're gonna make fun of her too. Like, oh, we're just really jealous now. You know what I mean? So we're going to try to tear me down because she she's succeeding or whatever it might be. But so when do you start writing music of your own? Like when does it go from covers to obviously the first song you put out with emotion? Like when did that happen? 5 (19m 45s): Yeah, so, you know, once I saw I've been covers out there, I'm on YouTube and take talk. I got a few emails from like a few labels, and then I signed to a label called city Paul and my manager at the time, it was like, yeah, I'm just going to throw you in the studio. And you're going to practice writing because like, I was never rarely a writer. I was very good at English though. I was a straight a student in English at school, but yeah, he's like, I'm going to throw you in the studio. I'm going to make you write practice, sing songs. And it was very scary for me because I was still shy at the time. 5 (20m 26s): And, you know, singing in front of someone was still new to me, but yeah, I overcame that pretty quick. And I, it was really fun. It was really fun sitting in student. I love going to the studio, but yeah, that's kind of where it all started. He kinda just threw me in the deep end. 3 (20m 45s): The first song you released is emotion. And it does like incredibly well, what was that? Like? 5 (20m 53s): It was surreal, you know, even being in a studio, it was crazy. I felt like I was in a movie and then filming the music video was really new and it was really intense, but you know, the aftermath really pays off and it's like, yeah. You know, after what I've been through, I felt like it was just such a big achievement. Like, you know, I re I really made it, I really proved these people wrong, but yeah, it was great. I love that. 3 (21m 24s): The videos you put out are so well done. I mean, I, would've never guessed that you were an introvert by any means, just like the videos and the concepts and the way your lyric writing, the way you kind of play with words. This is really, really impressive. 5 (21m 43s): Yeah. Especially like my first music video emotion. I should've had a panic attack on the scene because I was, it was like so much, but the thing is like, you couldn't even tell on camera that I was Back at it. 3 (21m 59s): Is that the video, I just, the video where you have, like what your parents or some, like adults are like tied up in your room and they're the duct tape or my thinking of another Cycle is the next one. Okay. 5 (22m 15s): Lighthearted. I was pretty used to filming music videos by then, 3 (22m 20s): Because the second, the next one you did was a beautiful bittersweet, or was it psycho Noah psycho that had to be your next song, right? 5 (22m 29s): Yes. Like a beautiful this way. And then 3 (22m 39s): Yeah. No, no. So, okay. So you did the video, the first video for emotion. It did really well. And from there you put out that the next record was psycho, correct? Yes, yes. And that one, it really that's where it hit millions and millions of views. Right. So tell me about that. 5 (23m 1s): It was, it was surreal. I still hasn't really hit me, especially because of COVID. I haven't been doing too many live shows this whole time, really. So, you know, at the moment it's kind of like numbers on my screen, like this absurd about numbers and it just like, it doesn't really sink into my brain yet, but I feel like, you know, once I start doing shows and like actually meeting my fans, I feel like that's where the, 3 (23m 33s): What kind of come together. Cause, cause you, cause COVID hit. So where you're, you're kind of on a, you're on a path of right with you, you put out emotion it's like, and then COVID hits pretty soon at what? After that, because I came on April and that's the month, like literally after COVID was like, kind of in full, full swing. So tell me about that. Like where were you when that all happened? 5 (24m 0s): I was really, it sucked because I'm at this thought I was like, well, I'm continuing my I'm, I'm doing my dream job. I can't wait for this to escalate. And then it descended because of COVID and like I was off to hood style and then I couldn't go to the studio. I couldn't perform. Venues were all closed. Everyone had to stay inside. You know, I kind of lost my motivation to post videos and, you know, kind of do my work at that time. So it was, it was kind of a shitty time, but I was still really proud of myself for like pushing through as well. 5 (24m 42s): But yeah, I was really happy that slack would split it to considering, you know, the whole COVID thing. 3 (24m 48s): Well, that's yeah, that's what I was, I was trying to get at, like with, you know, with the success of, of emotion and then COVID happens and then the next video does even better. I mean, that kind of sits something with the, the fact that you put it out a month after everything's kind of in full COVID, everyone's freaking out. And then it's like, they have this kind of escape for that video. Cause it's like very clever and quirky, but it's, you know, a great song in that sense that it kind of, you feel like it drew more people in just due to the, like more of an escape. I feel like, 5 (25m 21s): Yeah. I felt like everyone was stuck at home. And so that would pretty much do anything to 3 (25m 31s): No, but it's a great song and it's a great concept. Not, that's not to say that it wouldn't have blown up anyway, but it's just, it's, it's amazing that that continued to happen instead of it kind of not go in the opposite direction. Right. 5 (26m 28s): Yeah. I am so grateful that it escalated instead of descendant. That's just like, yeah. 3 (26m 36s): And then you had a, you know what I mean, triple J is such a big station in Australia. And for them to recognize you nominate you for awards, like, was that a decision you listened to growing up? And what was that? You know what I mean, getting that call or getting that attention. That was pretty, that must've been pretty massive for you. 5 (26m 54s): Yeah. I mean, I, I listened to, yeah. I slumped to listen to triple J right before all of that happened. So I thought that was really cool. I was like, wow. A radio station. This is new. And you know, I actually remember, so like I had to go to ABC studios into the triple J thing to do my, like a version. I, yeah, it was so good. And as a kid, I actually went on an excursion to ABC studios. And so when I walked back in there, I was like, wow, I'm here for my job now. Like, this is crazy. 5 (27m 35s): I was here for an excursion. I used to think it was so cool. And now I am working here like that is it's it's yeah, it was crazy. 3 (27m 43s): Yeah. And you did the Rex orange county song and you such a killer version of it as well. Like, Well, let's talk about the new song. It just came out what? Yes. Today, yesterday it literally just came out right. Shut up like hours ago. Yeah. Well talk to me about this song again, another amazing music video in kind of like a twist to it as well. 5 (28m 10s): Yeah. You know, a lot of my songs are about telling was to shut up pretty much. Yeah. But you know, relationships suck sometimes and you just like shut up. And so like, you know, the song really resonated with me. It was like, did my commerce at all? Yeah. I, it was so groovy. I love seeing it in this studio. 5 (28m 51s): Like I was extremely happy to just sing that for six hours and do it and yeah, I think it's my favorite song as well that I've done. I'm extremely proud of it as well. And the music video. Yeah. I just it's, it means a lot to me and it's, it's really good. Yeah. 3 (29m 13s): How'd you come up with the concept of like, how does it, how do those conversations happen when you're, when you're getting ready to do a video? Like I said, all your videos, they're very, it's looks like a, you know, a movie professionally shot, like movie video and every single video you've done with this one, like, what's the, tell me the process behind coming up with these music videos. 5 (29m 33s): Well, my musical director, Josh Harris is amazing and he directed psycho as well and shut up and emotion. So we're like besties at this point, Understands my vision. And normally, you know, when I plan out a music video, I might sign up the more aesthetic side and he does more of the plot side. And, you know, I draw her up drawings of like outfits and color schemes and all that. And then he comes up with a story plot and I'm like, cool. 5 (30m 14s): Like, and we just like kind of mash it together and create this masterpiece. And yeah, he's just amazing and so talented and just gets me so quick. Yeah. 3 (30m 29s): It's yeah. It's a great video. All of it. Margaret, were you in dance lessons or anything as a, as a kid growing up? Cause all of your videos have like these really cool, like dance choreography. 5 (30m 39s): I did dancing for like a year when I was 11, but nothing like serious, but I've always, I've always loved music. I was loved dancing. I have ADHD. So I was like always music. Music is like my number one stimulation. And so like I'd always dance and all that always learned capable dancers as well when I was like 16. So maybe that, 3 (31m 10s): Yeah. So a K-pop was a big thing for you. I like that. 5 (31m 14s): I love it. 3 (31m 16s): And I love the acoustic versions of the songs that you've done thus far. I don't think you've you haven't put it on an acoustic version of shut up yet. Are you going to do that? 5 (31m 24s): Probably. Yeah. I think that we'll tell him really nice. I think have done it. It's not out, but probably will be one honestly. 3 (31m 37s): Okay. Because you did one for billion dollar bitch and there's a video for it and it's like all, it's like an anime you're kind of sitting on a peanut and then it's just like, it's a rat. I haven't really liked that video. 5 (31m 49s): Yeah. I'm planning to release more songs very soon as well. Like the ball starting to roll again because COVID is kind of fascinated. So 3 (32m 2s): Yeah. And there, are you going to be doing some live shows in the near future or is that still kind of something you're figuring out? 5 (32m 9s): Yeah. My, my manager actually texted me today saying we need to do live shows and I'm like epic. Yes. 3 (32m 18s): I cannot wait. And you need to come out here to the United States so we can see you perform it's yeah. Your, your, yeah, your, your voice is amazing. I love what you're doing and I appreciate you doing this interview, especially with it being like one 30 in the morning. 5 (32m 31s): Yeah. I mean, I'm actually going to the U S this year. I've never been before I've belly, but yeah. I'm going to New York and then LA, which is, wow. I'm going to feel like I'm in a movie. You know, like I associate American accents with like movie actors. I don't know. Cause like every movie is American and everyday. 3 (32m 59s): Well, that's awesome. That is so awesome. I have one more quick question before I let you go back to sleep and I, again, I appreciate you doing this. Do you have any advice for aspiring artists? 5 (33m 14s): Just do anything you can to get what you want, you know, figure out your priorities, figure out why you want to do this and you know, fuel your passion and just like, just do it. Like it is so easy to access the internet and access making videos and you know, live streaming and all that. And you know, I have a lot of friends that want to do that stuff, but they just don't because they're insecure. But like, you know, you just have to do it like in order to be what you want to be. You have to just do it. And yeah, I think you just need confidence in yourself and you'll get there.