ABOUT | Mickey Shiloh

THE LONG STORY...

My name is Michaela Shiloh. I go by “Mickey” for the industry folk.

I’m an artist, multi-platinum songwriter, entrepreneur, mentor, friend, daughter, sister, and human (I think).

I’ve been making music since I was 12 years old, when I taught myself how to use an elementary recording software called MAGIX. I started uploading my music to MySpace, and that’s how I was “discovered” in 2007.

At 15, I signed my first publishing deal with a producer named Chad Beatz (now Chad Dexter—he was signed to G-Unit at the time). I learned the songwriting game from him and even took meetings at labels like Interscope and Def Jam as an artist myself. Didn’t work out. Two years later, I signed as a writer and artist with Grammy Award–winning producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins.

At 18, I moved to Los Angeles and studied Music Industry at the University of Southern California. I remember one of my teachers asking why I was even there, considering I was going to work with Janet Jackson after class.

Rewind a tad.

I was born January 25, 1992, in the San Francisco Bay Area to teen parents. My mom hates when I mention the teen part. My dad was a rapper. I always say I got the music bug from him. He even had songs out with Tupac and Biggie. If you’re super curious, you can crawl the deepest, darkest corners of the internet to find my dad’s music. His stage name was D.S.P., and he was in a group called BlackJack.

If you’re wondering what “D.S.P.” stood for... welp... DeArmonde Shiloh Pimp.

My parents fought a lot. They were young. I remember using music as an escape—grabbing my crayons and a notebook and writing raps about who knows what, because that’s what I saw my dad doing.

I went to some of the top schools in the country, both K–8 and high school. I’ll spare you the details, other than the fact that I went to school with the sons and daughters of the people who started Apple (yeah, the Jobs guy), JavaScript, and more. I even used to spend Halloween with one of my best friends, Cody, and his dad–who just happened to be Robin Williams. RIP. An amazing guy.

That’s Silicon Valley for you.

I learned early that life doesn’t wait for you to feel ready for anything. You just have to go for it. That’s been the backdrop for most of my life—knowing no one else would do it for me… or better than me if I kept focusing on myself. Your only competition is you, right?

Over the years, I’ve worked with and contributed to projects for artists like Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, Pitbull, LL Cool J, Jeremih, Iggy Azalea, Jason Derulo, JLo, Rita Ora, Omarion, Cassie, Vic Mensa, Wiz Khalifa, T.I., The Game, Keke Palmer, Christina Milian, Diplo, T-Boz, Teyana Taylor, and a long list of others.

In November 2018, I was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 in Music. In 2019, I judged the next Forbes 30 Under 30 Music class alongside The Chainsmokers, 21 Savage, and Adriana Arce—which was a surreal moment of, “Wait… I’m an actual tastemaker in the room now?”

Here’s the part you won’t find in the typical bio:

I was diagnosed bipolar at 21—the scary kind that really ramps up when left unattended. As a result, I’ve been hospitalized seven times and even arrested once (not for a “real crime”—case was dismissed. More on that in my biopic).

The good news is I figured out my trigger: weed. Yep, good ol’ Mary Jane. I can’t smoke it. I don’t judge those who partake—I totally get it.

Other fun facts:

My mom's Jewish... so by trade, I'm Jewish. Dad is Christian. I always celebrated both Hannukah and Christmas.

As a young teen, I'd go on community service trips in developing countries like Senegal, India, Mongolia, Thailand and more. Beautiful places and beautiful people. Really changes your world view when you travel that far.

I played the piano, violin, steel drums, and regular drums growing up. I was also in the San Francisco Girls Chorus (hated it). I also had 3 dwarf rabbits. Not sure why this was relevant, but felt like you needed to know.

I've self-released over 50 albums since 2011. (A few years in a row I released 100+ songs... mostly when I was going through a breakup).

I found out I like girls when I was 29. (Still like men, unfortunately). I only mention this because now I can say I'm biracial, bipolar, AND bisexual! I love it.

I started the world's first subscription-based record label in 2019. We're no longer the first. Copycats! But that company has evolved into something much bigger and is still expanding (www.hrdrv.com). I also somehow raised $650,000 via friends and family for it. I am endlessly grateful for the people in my life that believe in me and my crazy ideas.

My journey has been filled with otherworldly experiences, both amazing and equally terrible, and I'm here for it all. What a privilege it is to exist.

Moving on though.

Talent is common. Structure isn’t. Artists don’t fail because they’re not gifted—they fail because everything behind the gift is an absolutely shitstorm.

One of my greatest passions in life is working at the intersection of creativity, systems, and sustainability. I empower artists to build a legacy, not just a viral moment.

Let's get to work. Drop me a line.