Interview by Carol Wright: Photographer: Tori Sokalski
We got to chat with singer/songwriter Mia Giovina about putting herself out there through TikTok and her song “Time Machine.”
Has performing always been a passion of yours?
Even though music has always been my biggest passion, I was super shy as a kid so getting comfortable performing took some practice and experience for me!
Tell our readers about “Time Machine.” What inspired the lyrics?
“Time Machine” is my most recently released song! It’s basically just about the fear of getting older and leaving your childhood. I actually was inspired to write the song after I saw a TikTok where a girl was crying because her best friend wasn’t coming home from college for the summer. That’s where the line “home is just another place she visits now” came from!
Everyone can relate to that fear of watching your childhood fade. Do you often pull from personal experiences when writing your songs?
I think once I started writing about things I had actually experienced, that’s when I started to find my voice as a songwriter. I’ve come to use songwriting as a journal almost. It’s super therapeutic to take something negative and turn it into a beautiful song.
You have been able to build a supportive audience on TikTok. Has the platform inspired you to put yourself and your music out there more?
TikTok has definitely inspired me. I see so many amazing musicians on the app daily and it makes me want to work hard to be just as good as them. Also, having such a supportive audience who cares so much and relates to my lyrics keeps me motivated to continue writing and posting more for them.
Live music was put to a halt for a while but now it’s finally coming back. How does it feel to start giving live performances again?
Live performances have been so amazing to do now that I have my own original music to perform. Before the pandemic, I was used to singing solely cover music at my gigs. But playing your own music live is such a different feeling in the best way. At my most recent gig in NYC, there was even a person in the audience singing along to “Time Machine” which was a super surreal thing to watch!
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
As cliche as it sounds, my best advice and the advice that I still have trouble taking from myself, is to never give up. If making music is truly what you love, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, you’ll always feel fulfilled. I think it’s so easy to get caught up in social media and numbers and streams and labels, but it all comes back down to the music. Make music for yourself first. Make music that YOU love!