Meet Michael Ivy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Ivy.

Michael, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since the age of 11, I have had a deep affinity for the genre known as Electronic Music. My work explores the relationship between the experience of the black diaspora and the sound of electronic music as they continuously evolve with each other over time. With the art I create both sonically and digitally, I challenge the current general image of what electronic music is.

As a teenager, I started exploring my passion through sub-genres such as House, Techno, and Jungle music but to my dismay, found them all to be predominantly led by White male voices, even though their creation was latent with Black and Queer voices. While the mainstream media portrays the successors as such, It’s clearly evident that the emergence of these sounds was cultivated by people who look and experience life as I do. Through my journey of electronic music, I explore and celebrate its black roots and how that permeates even now through my own freedom and necessity to express myself.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
When I was 16, I was faced with a severe lack of community for the music I was making. This made it hard to really grow and explore my talent. Living in Memphis was not the ideal situation for an electronic artist. House music, techno, and the club were not the selling points in a hip-hop dominated landscape. I continued to have this issue of community-based support until I ultimately created my own community with like-minded artists called the QEMISTRY ELECTRONIC LAB. With this, I was able to start building an audience and have legitimate performances. It was the push I needed to give myself to continue my musical journey.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I look to change the idea of what electronic music can be. Blending genres like underground house, footwork, juke, and trap; I’m carving out his niche and finding a place in the vast utopia of the internet producers, while leaving my mark. Taking influence from a plethora of artists such as Geotheory, DJ Rashad, Jungle, Kaytranada, and LSDXOXO; I have honed into my own lane of genre-bending electronica. My first project, ‘9 Club’ released under Rare Nnudes Music was a pivotal shift in my overall style of music-making. It was then that I really started to experiment with more off-kilter sounds, smooth melodies, and deconstructed beat patterns. The EP has earned me numerous accolades and has even been compared to the works of Clams Casino and Aphex Twin.

Since its release, I have continued to hone my sound and create genre-breaking music. In 2017, I released my ‘Warm. Volume. Theory’ EP on Future-Everything and I continue to release mixes through the label currently.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m gonna be doing my best to stay safe, healthy, and motivated!

Contact Info:

• Phone: 9015962015
• Instagram: Instagram.com/qemmy_
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Qemmyyy

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