Spotlight: Miya Folick Talks Austin City Limits and the Joys of Playing Live
☆ BY SOPHIE GRAGG ☆
AFTER OPENING DAY 2 OF AUSTIN CITY LIMITS WITH THE SWEETEST SET - we sat down with Miya Folick to dive into her touring experience and creative process. She candidly shared her thoughts on her festival performance, preparation for live shows, and the evolving setlist throughout her tour.
Miya's feelings after the ACL performance were a mix of euphoria and logistical troubleshooting. She acknowledged the hurdles faced behind the scenes but remained elated about the festival's overall energy. She emphasized the unique dynamics of daytime performances, especially when they're earlier in the day at festivals.
When asked about her preparations for festival versus club shows, Miya noted that they are mostly similar. However, headline shows provide more space for spontaneity and extended interaction with the audience, while festival performances are more concise. The day of ACL turned out looser than usual due to unforeseen technical issues, reminding her that sometimes spontaneity leads to incredible moments.
Having learned invaluable lessons from the tour, Miya shares how she likes changing her setlist almost daily to keep things fresh and exciting. Among her standout tracks, "Shortstop" took the spotlight with its extended live version that adds a layer of novelty.
Regarding her songwriting process, Miya revealed that she considers how the songs will translate to live performances. In a reversal of the usual thought process, she allows her live performances to influence her future music.
However, Miya remained mysterious about the thematic direction of her new music, alluding to intriguing secrets. Finally, when asked about her intentions for the rest of the year, her answer was simple yet heartfelt: more time at home to create music. After a long run of live shows, Miya is ready to head home and get back to making her next project.
