Diandra Interviews Maikel De La Calle: Music Saves
Maikel Delacalle has a vision for himself, but it came from finding his salvation: music. When a song saves your life, you can’t help but imagine your life in song. For Maikel, he was roaming the streets of Canarias: causing trouble and landing in juvie. Yet, one day, he decided to believe something he had been told, especially from his abuela, but never absorbed; he’s talented. Thus, in our interview, he discusses how music became his identity, and that identity is a fun one.
Diandra: How are things going?
Maikel: Ugh! You know crazy! The world is upside down, and I am just trying to help anybody I can. Anybody in need, I am trying to be there for them. In terms of creatively, I have been up and down. I’ve made some really great, fun songs and some sad ones. It is just high and low emotionally. This is such a sad time for so many on this earth, but I do believe we will go forward from this.
Maikel Delacalle – Cadenas
Diandra: Have you seen or has there been Black Lives Matter protests in Spain?
Maikel: They are everywhere: here and around the world. I have always been a man of peace, not war, and if we truly had peace and equality, then we would not need this movement. We would not need these discussions. So I am all for it!
Diandra: How have your bad times helped you in define peace?
Maikel: To see the rainbow, you have to stick out the storm. Sometimes, you really do have to hit rock-bottom to actually see yourself and go forward. I have had more than enough experiences to write songs forever, but I am at a place where I still feel like I am apart of the streets, but I also have grown enough and been through enough to see it differently.
Diandra: Does your music reflect anything in particular about your life and self?
Maikel: There have been so many moments of my life that I have been scared and I feel like music shows I can be strong. I am bolder because of music. I am more willing to try, even in styles of music I have done everything and I do feel comfortable. It makes me feel unique and strong. In my album, which I looking to release next year, I think people will see that I can do it all.
Diandra: How do your upcoming songs embody where you are right now?
Maikel: Right now, I am so happy. I am feel like there are so many good things that are going to come into my life. I have songs coming out with Manuel Turizo and Rafa Pabon. I feel like there is so much left for me to experience, in life, especially good things.
Maikel Delacalle, Akapellah – Quien Soy
Diandra: I had read that you had a premonition that music was your destiny?
Maikel: Ever since I was a kid, I would go to the streets and do rap and singing battles. I always won, and people would say, “You are one of the best.” So in hearing their validation, I started to feel like this has to be my path. Like, this wasn’t just a compliment, there was a feeling like they saw something special about my music skills, and I started to feel it inside like, intuition, that they were right.
Diandra: Was there a specific moment that really solidified it?
Mikael: I went to juvie. I got released when I was 18 going on 19, and even the cops in there would say, “Damn man, you are talented and good. Don’t come back here.” And I decided I’m not, and from then on I pursued music.
Maikel Delacalle – Con To’
Diandra: Being raised by your grandma, what is your favorite memory of music with her?
Maikel: My grandmother gave me my name. I, literally, was hanging out all night, I was 12, and I cam back at 3AM. She went off like, “You act like you don’t have a home. You know what I am going to call you: De La Calle.” Right then, I started being called Maikel De La Calle.
Diandra: How has Latin Culture inspired your sound?
Maikel: My great-grandparents are Venezuelan, and the Canarias, as a whole, has a lot of Latinos and is very influenced by Latin culture. When I hear Latin Music and its flavors and boldness, it emboldens me. I want to do it all. I want to do Bachata and Salsa.
Maikel Delacalle – Fugitivo
Diandra: But R&B is your favorite genre?
Maikel: Oh yeah! R&B is a music of romance and love, and it is all about the details. You know, it inspires you how to show your love like, everyday I leave a note of love to my girl.
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