Hot Air Balloon: The Soaring Journey of a 17-Year-Old Music Maverick

At just 17, MIKE37 is redefining what it means to blend genres and tell a story through music. Their debut LP, Hot Air Balloon, is a vibrant tapestry of soul, spoken word, trap, and classic hip-hop—an ambitious fusion that feels remarkably cohesive. Drawing from a lifetime of musical exposure, they’ve crafted an album that pays homage to the legends they grew up idolizing while carving out a sound uniquely their own. With tracks like “Put Your Camera Down,” which challenges the superficiality of modern life, and a mission to unite and inspire listeners, MIKE37 is proving that authenticity and heart remain at the core of great music.

Your debut LP HOT AIR BALLOON features a mix of soul, spoken word, trap, and classic hip-hop. How did you approach blending such a diverse range of styles while maintaining a cohesive sound?

I believe that my extended music knowledge helped me blend all the different genres.

I’ve been listening to a lot of music since I was a kid, and I always loved it with my body and soul.

I remember my parents used to put MTV on the TV and let me dance in front of it; I was three at the time. My mum made me know artists such as Incognito, Rolling Stones, Elton John, Queen, The Cure, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, Michael Jackson, and Eminem, while my dad made me know Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Sade, Jamiroquai, Pharrell Williams, Stevie Wonder… And these are just a few of the artists they made me know.

Growing up, I started to listen to Tyler, The Creator, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan, Mac Miller, Daniel Caesar, BADBADNOTGOOD, Erykah Badu, Cleo Sol, MF DOOM, and many many others.

The track PUT YOUR CAMERA DOWN delivers a powerful message about confronting superficiality. Can you share more about the inspiration behind this song and what it means to you personally?

In PUT YOUR CAMERA DOWN, the message is to always be true to yourself and to others, to not hide behind a mask, and to never judge other people. The key to a good life is to always surround yourself with good vibes.

You’ve stated that your mission with your music is to unite people and inspire them to overcome challenges. How do you feel HOT AIR BALLOON achieves this, and what feedback have you received from fans that reinforces your goal?

I’m happy that many people understood my vision and liked it. I feel like I haven’t reached my goal yet; I still need to push forward to really be able to inspire young people like me and let them love the pure nature of music.

As a 17-year-old artist who has already performed internationally and collaborated with renowned talent, how do you balance your creative growth with the pressures of an industry that often demands quick success?

An Artist should be able to build himself and always do what his heart wants to do. The music industry is a hard path, but if you’re consistent, you can achieve your dream. The balance between creative growth and the pressures of the industry is yourself; you can decide whether to be an industry plant or build your career through a true love for music.

From starting as a DJ to producing your own music and now performing your vocal tracks, what has been the most rewarding and challenging part of your artistic journey so far?

My most rewarding part was to leave behind something I clearly didn’t feel like doing anymore and begin a new journey. I really wanted to express my thoughts and feelings, and I felt like the right way to do it was through my own lyrics and my own voice in my productions.