{"id":941,"date":"2019-03-07T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/marmoset-journal.flywheelsites.com\/licensing-womxn-of-music-michele-wylen\/"},"modified":"2020-11-24T15:38:54","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T23:38:54","slug":"licensing-womxn-of-music-michele-wylen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/licensing-womxn-of-music-michele-wylen\/","title":{"rendered":"Womxn of Music: Michele Wylen"},"content":{"rendered":"<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:1500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n                style=\"padding-bottom:59.46666717529297%;\"\n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-marmoset-artist-catalog-music-library-license-copyright-music.jpg\" alt=\"music-licensing-marmoset-artist-catalog-music-library-license-copyright-music.JPG\" \/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumb-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-marmoset-artist-catalog-music-library-license-copyright-music.jpg\" data-image=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-marmoset-artist-catalog-music-library-license-copyright-music.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"1500x892\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"music-licensing-marmoset-artist-catalog-music-library-license-copyright-music.JPG\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5c80078e971a187f03fc2a1d\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Our Womxn of Music series continues as we spotlight risk-taker <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/artists\/michele-wylen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Michele Wylen<\/a>. With her past work featured in empowering content like 2018\u2019s<a href=\"https:\/\/journal.marmosetmusic.com\/read\/2018\/9\/the-reinforcing-music-behind-the-sportsgirl-campaign?rq=sport\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> <em>Be That Girl <\/em><\/a>Sportsgirl campaign, Wylen\u2019s music is the upbeat anthem that makes us feel like anything is possible. <\/h2>\n<h2 style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">With a list of creative projects lined up, Wylen is also hard at work in the community extending her support, time and attention to address climate crisis. Naturally, we wanted to sit down to catch up with Wylen to learn more.<\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:1500.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n                style=\"padding-bottom:66.66667175292969%;\"\n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-copyright-music-sound-design-filmmaker-score-youtube-vimeo-music.jpg\" alt=\"music-licensing-copyright-music-sound-design-filmmaker-score-youtube-vimeo-music.JPG\" \/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumb-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-copyright-music-sound-design-filmmaker-score-youtube-vimeo-music.jpg\" data-image=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-copyright-music-sound-design-filmmaker-score-youtube-vimeo-music.jpg\" data-image-dimensions=\"1500x1000\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"music-licensing-copyright-music-sound-design-filmmaker-score-youtube-vimeo-music.JPG\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5c800cd0e2c483c2ffb1ad53\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Marmoset: You have such a passion for being active in the community, what have you been up to most recently?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Wylen: <\/strong>I\u2019ve been very engaged in my city\u2019s effort to lower its greenhouse gas emissions. I work with Citizens Climate Lobby and People for Climate Action, as well as other community groups, and I engage with my city councilmembers. <\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I see a departure from fossil fuel dependence as non-negotiable if the world is to move forward to a prosperous future. Currently I\u2019m working on facilitating a community project that implements clean technology, though at the moment I\u2019m still in the brainstorming process so there\u2019s not much to report. Check back with me later in the year, hopefully I\u2019ll have some exciting new updates&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Though I live and breathe music, one thing my art could not fulfill for me, was my passion to get my hands dirty and do some practical work to help the world. I was born to sing but I was also born to solve problems. Our climate crisis is a definite problem, and it is deeply fulfilling for me to be a part of the solution.<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>M: Who were some of your earliest sources for inspiration in music? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Wylen: <\/strong>The first female artist I grew up listening to was my mom. She was a singer and songwriter, and she\u2019d always be in the studio recording while she took care of me. When I was in the Philippines in elementary school, my mom sang the theme song for a popular soap opera and it became a hit on the radio. She also wrote songs for other Filipina artists. Several times she brought me with her to the studio in Manila to watch them record. Being exposed to this at a young age inspired me to pursue this kind of work for myself.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">My first CD was Spice Girls <em>Spiceworld<\/em>. Missy Elliott also got a lot of play in my CD player. It was the sassy, empowered female artists who attracted me- I rarely listened to forlorn songs about broken hearts. I definitely went through a Britney Spears obsession, and I sang a lot of Destiny\u2019s Child. <\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">In high school I became mesmerized by Alison Goldfrapp and I\u2019ll never forget seeing her perform at the Crystal Ballroom. Witnessing her magical presence on stage filled me with an insatiable desire to perform on stage myself. Then in my early twenties I got super into Peaches. I loved how abrasive she was, how she went against the grain \u2014 her songs resonated with the rebel inside me. Watching her perform at the Wonder Ballroom really inspired me to think outside the box in terms of my own performance art. Her background dancers were over the top, wearing costumes of giant pom poms with legs in high heels sticking out. It was ridiculous and amazing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>M: As a professional artist now, who inspires you today? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Wylen:  <\/strong>If I had to choose one female artist who I\u2019m continually inspired by, it\u2019s Rihanna. A queen of style and music, now with empires in makeup and lingerie, she doesn\u2019t let her entertainment business get in the way of the great work she does with the Clara Lionel Foundation. I lust for her slay but her community work is what makes me love her.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Female artists currently on my playlist: Asian Doll, Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Sia, Killumantii, Missy Ellliott, Rihanna.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div\n        class=\"\n          image-block-outer-wrapper\n          layout-caption-below\n          design-layout-inline\n          combination-animation-none\n          individual-animation-none\n          individual-text-animation-none\n        \"\n        data-test=\"image-block-inline-outer-wrapper\"\n    ><\/p>\n<figure\n            class=\"\n              sqs-block-image-figure\n              intrinsic\n            \"\n            style=\"max-width:640.0px;\"\n        ><\/p>\n<div\n                style=\"padding-bottom:177.5%;\"\n              class=\"\n                image-block-wrapper\n                has-aspect-ratio\n              \"\n              data-animation-role=\"image\"\n          ><br \/>\n            <noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-copyright-download-music-video-filmmaker-license-youtube-vime-music-for.png\" alt=\"music-licensing-copyright-download-music-video-filmmaker-license-youtube-vime-music-for.PNG\" \/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"thumb-image\" src=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-copyright-download-music-video-filmmaker-license-youtube-vime-music-for.png\" data-image=\"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/music-licensing-copyright-download-music-video-filmmaker-license-youtube-vime-music-for.png\" data-image-dimensions=\"640x1136\" data-image-focal-point=\"0.5,0.5\" alt=\"music-licensing-copyright-download-music-video-filmmaker-license-youtube-vime-music-for.PNG\" data-load=\"false\" data-image-id=\"5c8069678165f5c2eed2f31b\" data-type=\"image\" \/>\n          <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>M: Self empowerment and confidence is so important for young women, especially in the music industry. What are some lessons you\u2019ve learned along the way?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Wylen: <\/strong>I\u2019d say the most important thing is to know who you are and know what you want. If you\u2019re not sure then you\u2019d better take the time to figure it out. When you\u2019re a budding talent, other people will want to impose their vision on you; so if you\u2019re not sure of yourself, you may find yourself one day living out someone else\u2019s dream and wondering what happened to yours.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">Another key piece of advice was given to me by Che Pope: \u201cWhen you\u2019re starting out, make sure you have income outside of music to cover your bills.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">What happens when you rely entirely on music for your income is you give up the control you have over what projects you work on. You\u2019re basically forced to accept any paying project that comes your way, even if you don\u2019t feel it in your heart. <\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I used to have this obsession of being able to say I made all of my income from music. But it was so stupid because as a result I wasted years of my life not exploring my art and instead was chasing money. I don\u2019t regret it \u2014 the experience did refine my skills and I learned a lot about collaborating in a professional environment. But I\u2019ll never let money control how I use my artistic talent ever again.<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>M: Knowing what you know now, what would you pass along to your younger aspiring artist-self? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Wylen:  <\/strong>If I could speak to my younger self I would say\u2026 relax, be patient and keep your life in balance. Yes, we have to grind and hustle and spend a lot of time in the studio to develop our skills. However, we must still balance that with our personal health.<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">When we are sound in our mental and physical health then we can come to our music from a place of clarity and control. <\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\">I should have spent more time with my friends and family and working out personal issues. Thankfully, I\u2019ve learned my lesson and my life is in much better balance now.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>M: Can you give us a sneak peek about what music you have in store for us in 2019?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"white-space:pre-wrap;\"><strong>Wylen:  <\/strong>Well, I don\u2019t want to reveal too much&nbsp;I have a new single with Niko Javan coming soon that I\u2019m excited for. Also excited about a collaboration with Graham Barton. Other than that, I\u2019m just in exploration mode right now. What I\u2019m most excited about in 2019 is empowering myself to say \u201cno\u201d to incoming commercial work so that I can have the freedom to explore my creativity. Also, I\u2019ll be filming a music video this year and I haven\u2019t made a video since 2012 so needless to say I\u2019m really excited for that. It\u2019s long overdue.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sqs-svg-icon--outer social-icon-alignment-center social-icons-color-black social-icons-size-large social-icons-shape-circle social-icons-style-border\" >\n<nav class=\"sqs-svg-icon--list\">\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MarmosetMusic\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sqs-svg-icon--wrapper facebook\" aria-label=\"Marmoset\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div>\n        <svg class=\"sqs-svg-icon--social\" viewBox=\"0 0 64 64\">\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--icon\" xlink:href=\"#facebook-icon\"><\/use>\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--mask\" xlink:href=\"#facebook-mask\"><\/use>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/div>\n<p>    <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/marmosetmusic\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sqs-svg-icon--wrapper twitter-unauth\" aria-label=\"Twitter\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div>\n        <svg class=\"sqs-svg-icon--social\" viewBox=\"0 0 64 64\">\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--icon\" xlink:href=\"#twitter-unauth-icon\"><\/use>\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--mask\" xlink:href=\"#twitter-unauth-mask\"><\/use>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/div>\n<p>    <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/vimeo.com\/marmosetmusic\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sqs-svg-icon--wrapper vimeo\" aria-label=\"marmoset\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div>\n        <svg class=\"sqs-svg-icon--social\" viewBox=\"0 0 64 64\">\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--icon\" xlink:href=\"#vimeo-icon\"><\/use>\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--mask\" xlink:href=\"#vimeo-mask\"><\/use>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/div>\n<p>    <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC6_Fa0ef9xGRvs9aFp6mnww\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sqs-svg-icon--wrapper youtube\" aria-label=\"marmosetmusic\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div>\n        <svg class=\"sqs-svg-icon--social\" viewBox=\"0 0 64 64\">\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--icon\" xlink:href=\"#youtube-icon\"><\/use>\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--mask\" xlink:href=\"#youtube-mask\"><\/use>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/div>\n<p>    <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/instagram.com\/marmosetmusic\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sqs-svg-icon--wrapper instagram\" aria-label=\"Marmoset\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><\/p>\n<div>\n        <svg class=\"sqs-svg-icon--social\" viewBox=\"0 0 64 64\">\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--icon\" xlink:href=\"#instagram-icon\"><\/use>\n          <use class=\"sqs-use--mask\" xlink:href=\"#instagram-mask\"><\/use>\n        <\/svg>\n      <\/div>\n<p>    <\/a><br \/>\n  <\/nav>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our Womxn of Music series continues as we spotlight risk-taker Michele Wylen. With her past&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":942,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3760,36,6,16,17,25],"tags":[3762,187,30,19],"class_list":["post-941","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artists","category-community","category-marmoset","category-music","category-music-licensing","category-spotlight-artists","tag-artist-highlights","tag-marmoset-artist-profile","tag-marmoset-music-licensing","tag-music-licensing","has-excerpt"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/Marmoset-music-licensing-music-copyright-license-film-compose-score-soundtrack-youtube-vimeo-filmmaker.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/941","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=941"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/941\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7565,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/941\/revisions\/7565"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/942"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=941"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=941"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marmosetmusic.com\/journal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=941"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}