A secret project from a New York producer, Ciao Ciao Marigold is a lofi creation which fans describe as ‘stoned virtuosity’. Musican and producer Mike Brun is the creator of this hand crafted groove which has been gathering 2m streams a month. Here Brun tells Entertainment Now how he has been inspired by the love of plants and is about to take his musical project in front of a live audience for the first time for the launch of his new album satsuma.
How did your musical project first start? Is there a story to tell about it?
I’m a big fan of Tyler over at Rousseau Plant Care. As a houseplant collector, I have found his content on YouTube and social media really great. If you like houseplant stuff, stop reading this and go follow him and then come right back here.
Did you do it? I’m serious, go do it, go follow Tyler.
I felt like I could beat the music he was using in his videos at the time, so I just reached out to see if he would be game to commission an album of custom music to his liking. I’m very fortunate that he said yes – and that album became “Beets, Vol. I”, which dropped in December of 2022. The rest is history.
What was your first gig?
The very first CCM gig has not yet happened at the time of my writing this response, but it is about to. February 6th at Nublu 151 in New York City!
What three words best describe your musical style and why?
I saw someone use the phrase “otherworldly nostalgia” to describe my music recently and I liked that. It’s old and it’s new. It’s down-to-Mars type music.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Today it’s Maurice Ravel.
Tell us about your new release.
If you hate oranges, I’d say steer quite clear of this album.
What inspires your lyrics?
I spend a lot of time on the lyrics. I think it was Fitzgerald who said “there’s no such thing as good writing; only good re-writing”, and that’s really true for CCM lyrics. The editing process is really important to me, and I’m very willing to cut lyrics when they don’t work. Heavy heavy lyric cutting on every tune. Because when it comes to lyrics, what’s not said is really important too.
How do you hope listeners will feel after hearing your music?
As someone who has struggled mightily with anxiety attacks and has done a lot of work to manage them, I truly hope this music brings peace, inspiration, stimulation, and joy to folks. CCM is inherently escapist art, it’s a getaway. At the same time, it’s intended to be there on your journey throughout the day. It’ll always have your back, through whatever. Through the human ride we are on, each of us.
What are you/your band working on next?
Cooking up a lot of collabs in 2025. Stay tuned.
Listen here:
