20 Questions with a Very Tired Blackbird Blackbird at Corona’s Day of the Dead Party in LA

It's Sunday afternoon at the tail-end of Halloween weekend, a lengthy sprawl of nonstop partying, sugar intake, other-things intake, and probably even a few regrettable decisions. Everyone's tired, exhausted, and on an eternal comedown that feels kind of like riding a bobsled track into the depths of hell. Here in West Hollywood, though, that doesn't stop a bunch of people from crowding into the swanky Skybar at LA's Mondrian hotel, just in time for Corona's Electric Beach Day of the Dead party with Bag Raiders and Blackbird Blackbird.

Fortunately, the musical programming is more on the vibe & chill side of the musical spectrum, with the city's own beat wizard Blackbird Blackbird, AKA Mikey Maramag, helping ease everyone's struggle with a low-key DJ set before Australia's Bag Raiders dives melon-first into two hours of glistening melodies: a bit of Hot Chip, some tropical disco, the group's classic vocal anthem "Sunlight," even some segways of meditative balearic.

I decided to get some time on the couch with Mikey directly after he finished his set. He was admittedly tired; I was nearly crying my way through a can of Corona Extra, exhausted after partying my way through a visit to Los Angeles for nearly 5 consecutive days. But still, he agreed to let me ask him 20 seemingly random questions in fast syncopation. Because in what environment is someone more vulnerable, truthful, and willing, than directly after playing a DJ set on The Day of the Dead?

1. THUMP: Who Are You?
Blackbird Blackbird: My name is Mikey, I go by Blackbird Blackbird

2. Where are we right now?
[Editor's note] Amid exhaustion, the artist was confused, thinking my question—a simple ask pertaining to our physical location—was actually an existential reference towards questioning our place in the universe. In doing so, his answer was obviously a Jack U song]

Um, "Where Are Ü Now?"

3. What's one thing you would have changed about the set you just played?
Played more originals and less deep house.

4. Tell me one track you dropped during your set that wasn't original deep house.
Hotel Garuda's remix of "Feels" by kiiara. It's amazing, one of my favorite songs right now.

5. How would you describe the vibe at most LA rooftop parties?
Feel like the biggest basic bro, but still be actually cool somehow, and there's babes everywhere…apparently?

6. Have you ever been thrown off an LA rooftop? Like kicked out, not actually thrown off the roof.
I'd like to be kicked out, but would want a parachute first. Maybe like with a hang glider.

7. Who are three dream people living or dead you would like to collaborate on a track with?
Kanye, Pharrell, and ummmm.

7A. Drake?
Sure, yeah, I'm down.

8. What other names did you consider before choosing Blackbird Blackbird
I had a punk band named Unlike You, I considered that one.

9. Favorite track of your own?
Probably "It's a War."

10. What's going to be the big sound of 2016?
I feel like….fuck—I don't know.

11. OK. Vodka or whisky?
Whisky

12. What did you dress up as for Halloween?
I was a SoundCloud DJ.

13. What's the worst thing your parents ever dressed you up as for Halloween?
A school bus.

14. Favorite T-shirt that you own?
[This one]

15. How many Coronas could you drink in 5 minutes?
Probably 3, if I chugged them.

16. Nike or Adidas?
Nike.

17. Favorite LA taco spot.
Juanitas. [Editor's Note: Unfortunately this place is recently closed, sorry folks]

18. What era would you time travel to?
I would like to travel to a pre-historic time period, to see the dinosaurs and shit.

19. That would suck, you'd probably die. Favorite piece of studio gear?
Probably my Prophet.

20. Are you actually hungover right now?
No, I'm not.

Blackbird Blackbird is on Facebook // SoundCloud