I want to take Telugu music to the international scene: Mickey J Meyer

Music composer Mickey J Meyer's interest in music is not confined to film scores. The three-time Nandi award winner has shifted gears and made his debut in the independent music scene with the digital release of his song, American Song.

When asked what prompted him to venture into a new market, Mickey, who has donned the hats of  songwriter, producer, and composer, explains, "I like to write in English a lot and I have been warming up to produce something like this for a while now. I composed this song a long time ago and recorded it in my backyard music studio in California. I see this single as my first step towards achieving my dream. This platform enables me to explore different genres of music.”

He says that the song takes up a concept that is relevant to the ongoing chaotic times around the world. “It's a folk song which was written keeping the local sensibilities of America in mind. The song is all about overcoming challenges, looking beyond what you can see, and walking towards the brighter side. I hope my song inspires listeners during these trying times,” reveals Mickey, who also aspires to direct a concept-based music video soon.

Mickey believes that his profile as a renowned music composer has helped him reach out to people who match his interests. “This song has vocals by renowned American singer-songwriter Logan Hill, who is known for his country-side folk songs. I saw his videos on YouTube and felt his voice would be good for the song. I approached him through email and later sent the track. He liked it and agreed to come on board. I think my reputation as a music composer in Telugu cinema came in handy,” he quips.

Instead of localising global tunes, Mickey wants to take his local tunes to the global market. "Besides films, I want to do more independent music and become an integral part of this industry. I want to set up my base as an international composer. And one day, I want to take Telugu music to the international scene. That way, I can strike the balance of appealing to both local and global audiences.”

On the cinema front, Mickey awaits the release of Sreekaram and he has also committed to work on director Nandini Reddy's new film to be produced by Swapna Cinema. “I am also in talks for two other films and I will divulge the details soon,” he concludes.

(American Song is available on Spotify, iTunes and YouTube)