Courtesy of Mike Posner
With Dillo Day just a day away, hip hop artist Mike Posner spoke with The Daily about getting signed, balancing school and music, and prepping for Dillo Day. Posner will perform after the Decemberists on May 31 at 4 p.m., joined on stage by rapper Big Sean.
Daily: A lot of NU students were pushing for you to play on Dillo Day through Facebook. Do you think that played a role in Mayfest asking you to play?
Posner: I have heard about that – some friends of mine showed me. I think it has everything to do with them asking me to play, actually.
Daily: You’re actually still a student – a junior at Duke University. What’s it like balancing the two?
Posner: It’s hard, but it’s over now ’cause you guys are the only ones left in school. (laughs). It’s a struggle–you have to get good at managing time…I can walk you through a week in my life that was really crazy. This was the last week before finals, which is usually when I do all the work ’cause I don’t do work in the middle of the semester. So I had to go to New York for a bunch of meetings on a Monday…so I miss some classes Monday. I came back to Duke, Tuesday and Wednesday, and went to class. Then I had a show in Detroit Thursday and a show in Detroit Friday, so I left Duke and went to Michigan. Then I had a show at University of Dayton (on) Saturday, so I went to Dayton. And I had three finals coming up, so I had to study at Dayton, at their library, and then do the show. Then I came back Sunday, I studied Sunday and Monday, I had my finals on Tuesday. And then I had a show at Duke with Gym Class Heroes and Ben Folds on Wednesday. And then after that I had a meeting with a professor, and I had to go back to New York Friday for more meetings….It was kind of bad timing, honestly.
Daily: Do you plan on continuing to pursue a career in music after you graduate?
Posner: Yeah, yeah, definitely. My plan actually starts while I’m at Duke. So, I’m deciding on a record label now and then I’ll probably do another free mixtape in the fall and I’m working on my album now.
Daily: You mentioned Big Sean was one of your close friends. What’s it like working with him?
Posner: It’s amazing. Sean is kind of – my relationship with Sean kind of typifies my whole life and my experience with music. Because music has taken me to so many places, even before things were like the way they are now – it just introduced me to so many different people. I’m from the suburbs of Detroit. Sean’s from the city. And we met through music; we met at the radio station in Detroit. He’s one of my best friends now. That’s really what I try to do with music, is make music that a diverse group of people can appreciate and enjoy, and then hopefully through my music, another Mike Posner and Big Sean will meet, you know, somewhere in the world. So it’s amazing working with him, I love doing shows with him, cause he’s like, he’s one of my buddies (laughs). It’s cool to rock crowds with him.
Daily: What can we expect from you Dillo Day?
Posner: It’s going to be an awesome show.
Related:Guide to Dillo Day 2009 5/29/09Dillo Day Q&A: Tally Hall drummer Ross Federman 5/29/09
