Micah McLaurin Reclaims His Power on ‘Call Me’
Micah McLaurin’s latest track was inspired by embracing freedom, individuality and sexuality. The acclaimed concert pianist-turned-pop star, is sharing “Call Me” today with visuals directed by An Le (Cher, Mariah Carey).
“They are creative visionaries, and really brought the song and concept to fruition,” McLaurin tells PAPER about working with director An Le and stylist Eyob Yohannes on the music video. “It’s amazing to work with people who are so passionate and talented, and bring magic to the whole thing. Then I can trust and let go, so I’m able to be more in the moment and present.”
“It was such a pleasure working with Micah,” Yohannes adds. “I was enthralled by his unique sense of self-expression, which I could see through his fashion and music. Listening to the song and taking into consideration Micah’s ethos, I decided to look for emerging designers that reflected this radical sense of self-expression. A little naughty, a little edgy, and most of all remaining true to Micah’s individuality.”
Outside of his musical pursuits, McLaurin has delved in the fashion world, recently performing at Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Gioelleria couture festival. “I feel like I waited my whole life for that moment,” McLaurin says. “It was such a huge reward, especially because I risked so much stepping outside of traditional norms in music and life. D&G really elevated the theatrical side of my performance and music making and made everything come together like a grand slam.”
Below, McLaurin talks to PAPER about “Call Me,” working with Le and Yohannes and what’s next for his music.
Talk about the scope of the production. What was the process behind creating “Call Me”?
It was my first time shooting a video over two days instead of one, so it was great to get into the vibe and have a second day after kind of warming up. The garden of Eden is computer generated and was all done by hand, so it wasn’t part of the set, but we had two very friendly live snakes, and they were treated well and the handler stood right next to me. They were actually very… cozy? Except one of them went around my neck a little too tight for a second. It wasn’t something I would normally do, but it was fun to dive in to the situation of having snakes crawling on you while trying to show the camera that you’re not scared. The snakes were very professional.
What was the inspiration behind the lyrics of “Call Me”?
“Call Me” is more than just the lyrics on the surface. It’s symbolic of me taking my power back and reclaiming my identity after I felt it was stolen from me in childhood. It’s about owning the parts of you that others and perhaps society deemed wrong or in need of fixing. For example, take a word or negative phrase you’ve been called, and turn it around and own it and make it a power instead of a curse. The song was born out of light heartedness and fooling around in the studio. It allows me to showcase myself as a musician, not merely a classical pianist. It also gives me permission to explore my personality and life away from classical music, something I felt was forbidden in conservatories and the Catholic Church. I was actually told not to seek for my music to be known, so picking the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden is a metaphor of me going after the life, music and career that I dream of, because I had been led to believe that was wrong and sinful.
What are you excited to share with your fans next?
They can expect the unexpected and more live performances. I don’t want to be chained down to one genre or style, so my piano will always be here. It’s my great love, but my musicianship will always be growing and evolving my whole life because music chose me. It has such a hold on me that I can’t control the way it drives me, as if something has taken over my body.
Photography: An Le
Micah McLaurin’s latest track was inspired by embracing freedom, individuality and sexuality. The acclaimed concert pianist-turned-pop star, is sharing “Call Me” today with visuals directed by An Le (Cher, Mariah Carey). “They are creative visionaries, and really brought the song and concept to fruition,” McLaurin tells PAPER about working with director An Le and stylist…