Coyote Island
Photo Credit: Colin Hart
He may only have four songs out, but Mike O’Hehir doesn’t need a millisecond of music more to prove his remarkable ability as both a songwriter and performer. Opting for the stage name Coyote Island, the Maine-based artist exposes another layer of talent with each new single. His debut single “Here Before” is a fusion of soul, funk, and pop; “Golden Rule” also borrows heavily from pop, but brings us Coyote Island’s folk side. “11” is perhaps the least genre-bending, sticking staunchly to pop. Coming in at most recent, “Hello Silence” is in a world (and league) of its own, giving us a delectable mix of indie and funk. Even more impressive than all of this, however, is O’Hehir’s ability to make political statements without dismantling the song quality, a trait reminiscent of 70s folk. “Golden Rule” contains within it a rallying cry to pay attention to climate change and a critique of President Trump, and the song is still a bop, simply put. We recently spoke with Coyote Island about the origin of his stage name, the development of his writing style, and more! Click the link in our bio to read the full interview!
Tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you start making music?
I was born in England but moved to the states young. My mother played bass in a garage band back in London and I always thought that was really badass. I started with bass first and then to guitar as a teenager, self taught.
Where does the name Coyote Island come from?
The name came to me in a dream one night- I remember getting out of bed at 3 am to write it down. It was inspired by a Native American oracle called Animal Medicine. The Coyote is this divine trickster- he is so coy that he falls for his own tricks! I came to recognize this spirit in myself and it began a great deal of inner work and self discovery. The island part lends itself to the tropical vibes I am so drawn to, and also speaks to the isolation of facing yourself.
Which one of your songs is the most personal to you? Why?
I’d say my latest song “Hello Silence”. Things have been pretty complex and I wanted to dial into the simplicity for this one. Sometimes it’s best to say less and in creating that space, more can get across.
“I’ve got the whole thing figured out” is a bold statement…but it’s backed with “don’t even wanna talk about it” this just speaks to a feeling of nothing to prove, only wanting to BE.
Can you tell us about an obstacle you've faced?
Accepting losing my best friend is hard. He’s still alive, we just fell out. I have faith it’ll come back around, but I miss my homie. Life is strange and you don’t always know where it’s gonna lead. Things can take you by surprise pretty quick. I’m learning so much through the challenge, though. That always make it feel worth while. It’s all for something.
What’s keeping you going?
The Music. I’d be lost without it. My love, Britt has a been a huge part of the team and definitely keeps me in line ;)
You’ve got such a unique writing style, the words are so rhythmic. How did you develop it?
Thank you! That’s a good question. Style for me is something that develops naturally on its own. It’s always evolving and changing too. I rarely write lyrics down, I just start to improv on the music and something always comes out. I let my phone record it for a few minutes and then go back and pick out the good stuff and elaborate from there.
How would you describe your music, using only aspects of other artists’ work?
Oh boy, it’s my least favorite thing to compare art but I’ll play along. I’d like to think my music has the vibe and heart of an artist like Tash Sultana, while keeping the tempo and energy lifted and playful like MGMT or Milky Chance... I’ve got to say though, I strive for the swagger of Anderson Paak. He’s my real modern hero.
What’s the best part of, as you say, “standing in the middle” of a bunch of genres?
I don’t get bored for one, and in return I might have something for everyone opposed to appealing to one kind of audience.
Are there any other areas of the music industry you’d like to dip your toes in the water of?
Always wanted to land a song in a Netflix show or movie. I see myself producing other artists at some point. I love being in the studio and sometimes it’s just nice to build a vibe around songs you didn’t even write.
On that note, what’s next for Coyote Island?
Right now I’m gearing up to record my next batch of songs to be released in the new year- mapping out a plan to take this thing around the world, come 2022. We’ll see what happens… In the meantime I’ve got some video’s dropping soon and an L.A. trip planned this winter…maybe we’ll grab a drink!