Meet Miki Ratsula | Musician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Miki Ratsula and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Miki, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk taking for me means to exist as my authentic trans non-binary self. By just existing and challenging the gender binary I’m taking a risk. By openly talking about my trans identity I’m taking a risk. My main goal is to be the artist that I needed growing up. I’m super passionate about sharing my experiences as a trans person in order to spread awareness and advocacy and change. I’m proud to be trans non-binary and I dedicate my entire music career to queer people who don’t have a voice and who deserve to feel seen and valid.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Singer-songwriter and producer Miki Ratsula is a Southern California-based, Finnish American singer/songwriter who has built a sizable audience by openly and honestly welcoming people into their world. As an out, nonbinary artist, Miki uses their platform to candidly document their life, from coming out to getting top surgery. It’s the kind of storytelling that queer kids crave and deserve, and all of it has culminated in the release of Miki’s debut album i owe it to myself, an acoustic pop dream guided by Miki’s perpetually smooth vocals and a lush, lo-fi inspired production.

Capturing the full emotional seesaw that rocks between youth and adulthood, i owe it to myself is Miki at their most vulnerable and fully realized. “I just want to be the artist I needed growing up,” says Miki, and that’s exactly who they’ve become on this heartfelt and impressive debut record that touches on mental health, loss, love, and everything in between. Throughout the album, Miki effortlessly floats between R&B slow jams and acoustic numbers laced with sensual groove. But some of the album’s more powerful moments exist in the soft, nostalgic spaces in between, which often deal with the pain that lives behind closed doors. In the end, i owe it to myself is a testament to self-love, and a gift to anyone seeking the same.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would take them to Cyrano’s Caffe for breakfast burritos and iced vanilla lattes. Then we’d head to Laguna Beach and have a beach day. At some point in the week we’d get matching tattoos, of course, at MODO INK. For dinner we’d do Hopdoddy for burgers and local beer or Puesto for the best tacos and margaritas. Then I’d have to take them to Strut – my favorite gay club.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m a massive fan of MUNA. Not only am I inspired by their songwriting and production, but by their visibility as a queer band. I think everything they stand for is all that I desire to be and it is so incredible to watch. I was lucky enough to see them live twice at this year’s SXSW. They’re amazing and I think they deserve everything coming for them right now.

Website: https://www.mikiratsula.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikiratsula/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikiratsula

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MikiRatsulaMusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfMgZix83Zp6uIbmlFgOGYg

Image Credits
Ashley Osborn