The Micah Gaugh Experience
A man walks into a room; he has a keyboard in one hand a saxophone in the other and a bag of tricks over his shoulder….Sounds like the beginning of a good joke huh? Well, not really. NYC based musician Micah Gaugh is in the verge of making it as big as his home state of Texas native. In the past few years, he has gone from obscurity to high profile. He has been an extra in the HBO hit series Sex in the City. He has hung out with superstar fashion models and has left a zillion smiles in his wake. Micah flies around the world playing his music and accompanying other talented artists.All the while, Micah is funny as they come, down to earth and very eccentric. He sings, plays the keyboards and has his way with the saxophone.
When and how did the music bug bite you?
“I started playing music when I was 4, piano recitals and singing in church. I began saxophone at the age of 9, it was easy for me to make sounds and sense of the instrument. My teacher Allison Tucker discovered (r and b singer) Tevin Campbell and included me in his book when I was nine as an up and coming musician“ stated Gaugh. “I play the piano, keyboards, saxophone, oboe, drums, bass and guitar. I am not as proficient in the bass and the guitar as I am on the piano. Saxophone is my strongest instrument.” When asked if he ever imagined that he would be playing your all over the world, Micah replied, “No. I read books about jazz musicians such as Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and Charles Mingus...I was impressed with their travels and thought that I should try my hand at being a musician. Over sips of coffee, Gaugh said, “When I write my songs, I listen to a track, then write to the music that already exists. I brainstorm on the lyrics and kind of let them happen, then cut and paste until the song is done.
“Where was the last exotic location you played?
“Brazil. It is very exotic, but so is Brooklyn, so I guess that Brooklyn is the answer. Also, I finished a 'Noise Mass' with Arto Lindsay with a chorus of 8 singers and a music displacement system run by Peter Zuspan.
Displacement is the process of placing musical sound in different speakers; the system is also in surround sound. That way sound is moved around from place to place and has a really trippy effect.”
What are you listening to now?
”These days I am listening to Bikini Cult, Apollo Heights, Meshell N'degeocello, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and Arcade Fire to name a few.” Where do you see yourself musically in 10 years? “In 10 years. I would like to be focused on Visual Art, writing novels, acting, and classical composition.”
What is something that you want our readers to know about you?
“I would like them to know that I am a fun loving guy, easy to get along with and open to new ideas in sound and art.” What big names have you played with? “Arto Lindsay, Meshell N’degeocello, Melvin GIbbs, Lady Miss Kier, Vernon Reid, Marc Ribot, Anti-pop Consortium, Erykah Badu, DJ Logic, and Slick Rick.”
What is your most memorable show? “
I played a show in Slovenia and was kidnapped afterwards by a cult leader and his minions, it was his birthday so I played a private concert in a warehouse, when I asked for beer they brought me 2 twelve packs, I didn't finish the beer, but had some burgers and danced alot in a room where they projected porn on a huge screen Earlier that night I had fondue, boar and venison. Another great night was in L.A. where I saw Meshell play. After the show I was kidnapped by 2 lesbians who bought champagne at a 7-11. We went to their house and drank champagne with Chambord, after that they took me to a party where I got drunk and chased people around playing my saxophone. The girls got annoyed and we left then we went back to their house where I spilled a drink on the floor. I was escorted to a cab and sent back to my friend's place on Melrose.” Told y’all he was a trip!!
Christopher H. Wells
