Michael Mayo unveils new track "Falling For You" and connects with us to share the story behind his captivating sound
- STAFF
- Jul 26
- 8 min read
By: Staff
Michael Mayo’s “Falling For You” is a radiant anthem, effortlessly blending infectious energy with heartfelt vulnerability.
Get ready for a sun-soaked, genre-blending experience as Michael Mayo drops his latest track, “Falling For You.” This irresistible blend of alt/indie dance-pop, lush strings, and soaring vocals will have you hooked from the first beat. Whether you're cruising down the highway or dancing under the stars, this track has a way of capturing the essence of summer in a way that's both uplifting and deeply personal. But what inspired this perfect mix of euphoria and emotion?
We got together with Michael to dive deeper into his creative process, the stories behind the song, and what’s next for this rising artist. From the unexpected twists in his music to the moments that shaped him, read on for an intimate look at the mind behind "Falling For You." Trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
Here’s how it went:
Begin Interview:
Hello, Michael Mayo, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. For the fans meeting you for the first time, is Michael Mayo your given name
or a stage name? What inspired you to choose that for your artist persona?
A. Michael Mayo is actually my given name. So actually my uncle was an actor
and performer and was on his way to making a name for himself and then he had
a terrible accident at a beach and my dad was close to him and ended up naming
me after my uncle.
Q. We loved the powerful vocals, and your cadence was so rhythmic in a way
that your voice really takes the attention of the whole performance. When did you
discover your voice, and what was the turning point in your life that converted
you from singing in the mirror to singing in professional recording settings?
A. Thanks, so I actually always loved music from a young age and used to sing
to kidz bop, I know right haha. I was in middle school and I did chorus and band
and I further had a love for music. This then led me to start producing and ended
up releasing my first first song in 2013. However, I always wanted to have vocals
on the track but I didn’t have a mic. So in my second year of high school I rented
out this snowball mic. Basically it’s a microphone for video production. I’d use
that mic to record vocals, now I think about it was an interesting time. I remember
the first time recording I hated my voice haha. But I kept rolling with it. Then 2015
comes around and I started recording moderately decent music. My production
skills were still limited but they were decent enough to share in front of my friends
without them ripping me to shreds. So I start posting my vocals for others to
remix. I also worked with a few soundcloud labels at the time who accepted my
music. Then I started getting more traction so by the time 2017 came around I
had some music placements and had something nice going around. Then I
started investing in more equipment and now literally record songs on a weekly
basis for myself and pitching for others. Time really flys! So to answer the
question it was around 2017 after people started actually gravitating to my music
and made me feel like I actually had something good to offer then I took it a little
more seriously.
Q. As a teaser description, what would you tell someone about “Falling For You”
to intrigue them about its meaning and get them interested in listening to it?
A. Great questions, to be honest, fun fact is that song I rejected like 10 times
before releasing it. So by this time around I started looking back at older
songs and releasing that I had some really good songs that just wasn’t the
time. The reason I bring this up is because I think about when you are
falling in love or just starting to like someone you may initial think that they
would never be the person you’d be falling for, literally and figuratively, but
it ends up being something that is great and I think the journey this song
went through to be where it’s at now is a testament to sometimes you can
fall for someone unexpected.
Q. Where do you start the production of your music? Do you begin with a home
recording studio or work with an outside producer? And how do you finalize your
finished work, such as mixing and mastering—is that something you do yourself,
or do you rely on someone else?
A. So this song actually started out with a loop I heard. And at the time of writing
this song I really like that song that was popular with the running man dance. The
modern one (Ghost Town DJ's - My Boo) and I just absolutely wanted to make a
song with that drum pattern! So here’s the crazy thing I produced this song start
to finish at home and it took 2 years to produce just to get shelved and then I
revisited the song casually listening to it, I was like “this song is mad good” and I
ended up finishing the song and since I wanted to release it for the summer I
mixed and mastered it myself which I regularly do but this time I changed it up
because of the feeling I wanted to portray. I tend to write my music at home at
night but another difference of this song was I started the production first and I
ended up writing this song on a vacation on the beach, The lyrics just came at
that point.
Q. The fusion of alt/indie dance-pop with lush strings in “Falling For You” feels
almost cinematic. How do you approach blending electronic elements with live
instrumentation in your music, and what’s the balance you try to strike between
the two?
A. This is a great question… so in the original demo there was no string part. I
ended up adding it for the bridge only but then I sounded soooooo good! I just
couldn’t keep it so I extended it. And the reason I actually added the strings was
because I wanted it to have the more cinematic feel that couldn’t have been
achieved without it. So to be honest it was a last minute thing that was unplanned
but once added I was like that’s exactly what the song needed!
Q. The key change in “Falling For You” was a surprise element that elevated the
song’s energy. How do you decide when to introduce a shift like that in a song,
and what impact do you want it to have on the listener’s experience?
A. Like I said in the previous total mistake I only meant to add it into the bridge as
a breakdown but then it sounded so good I keep layering it and extended. It was
a beautiful mistake!
Q. This track feels like it was made for summer. Do you consciously write with
seasons or moods in mind, or is it more of a spontaneous, in-the-moment
creation process for you?
A. Yes! Yes! And YES! I knew from the moment I made this song it was meant for
a summer release! No question about it… even in the begin where I speak you
can hear the beach in the background.
Q. The opening lyric “I think I’m starting to really, really trust you and like you”
really sets the tone for the song. Was that moment of vulnerability inspired by a
real experience with someone you were falling for, or is it more of an emotional
reflection you’ve explored in your songwriting?
A. I think it’s a little of both, because I am very much single haha! But I wrote it
based on the love that I would really like to feel one day.
Q. The song’s narrative has such emotional and raw honesty. Are there any
standout lyrics or an additional elusive narrative you feel has some specific
weight that may unravel even more about the song for diehard fans?
A. I think the opening of verse 1 sets the tone when I say “falling for you is a risk
I’m going to take cause it feels so right”. Why? Because I think for those who’ve
never experienced truly opening up it’s really a risk because is this person going
to hurt me or help me so tried to keep the message real and honest because it is
a risk anytime you open up to someone especially if it’s someone you plan on
marrying and spending your life with.
Q. We saw “reasons I can’t wait to go back to Brazil” on your Insta. Can you tell
us more about this journey, the story behind leaving and how it has impacted
your music career?
A. Brazil is amazing! I love brazil, the culture is about having fun showing love
and enjoying life, so I think I want more of that aspect in my music and I love
brazilian funk music it’s so exciting and different to me!
Q. Do you have a favorite song from your early years of listening to your favorite
bands—one of your favorite artists you'd love to cover in the studio because it
still feels deeply connected to who you are today?
A. Haha, I know it’s not that deep butttttt…. I was just listening to Jay Sean down
and the black eye peas “rock that body” so I don’t know! Might be something I
might do.
Q. Many artists hit a few walls along the way. Have there been times you
questioned continuing with music? What helped you stay committed to your
path?
A. All the time in fact if you aren’t questioning it I feel like you are just going
through the motions. Because music nowadays needs constant innovation so I
feel like if I never question it I would never make progress.
Q. What are your top 3 venues you dream of performing at?
A. I would love to perform in brazil Maracanã Stadium, Oakdale Theater or XL
center (more local)
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal
growth or artistic perspective?
A. The biggest influence on me would say my travels and business friends. When
you see the world and meet people who are where you want to be it changes
your perspective on the world.
Q. What is something unusual about you that people would be surprised to
know?
A. Unusual? I’d have to say in my life I’ve worked on a total number of 6
businesses ranging from music, to a spa, to software, and agency. So many
things!
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing this
song and reading this interview?
A. I’d say I’m really just a normal person who loves to make music. I love to have
fun and I’m always trying to grow. I think there’s something special in not being
over the top all the time but just genuine.
Q. We can’t thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! So, what's next?
Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans
should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A: So not to tut my own horn but I have some really great old songs so I’m
working on those and a few outside projects possibly acting projects that are
down the road so I’m excited about those! Stay tuned! :)
Michael Mayo, thank you so much, we appreciate you taking the time to talk to us!
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Michael Mayo’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
