Mitch Alderlieste Newsletter Interview

Mitch Alderlieste is 17 year old musician/songwriter currently based in Blenheim, Marlborough. Already he has achieved some national success with his songs and has had opportunities to play with and be mentored by some big name New Zealand artists. Thanks to Mitch for answering the following questions:

Who are your role models in the NZ music industry?

Shihad have definitely been huge roles models to me as a songwriter, musician and performer. I was lucky enough to have one on one mentoring with Jon Toogood last year.

Which one of your songs are you most proud of, and why?

For me and I think this is the case for a lot of songwriters but the one song I’m always the most proud of is the last one I wrote. It’s hard to pick one because they are all so different from each other and have a special meaning to me in their own way.

What has been your most memorable show to date?

Playing with The Exponents at the Classic Hit’s Winery Tour was definitely one to remember. They are a great bunch of guys! Definitely the most fun I’ve had on stage, that’s for sure.

Where do you get your inspiration to create music from?

I’ve noticed that a lot of my music does focus around everyday people. It may come from something I’ve seen in the media or something happening in amongst friends. Very rarely do I write about an experience that I have had personally. Not that I deliberately work that way, it just happens.

What can we expect to see from you over the next year?

I’m actually in the process of recording an EP at the moment and plan on sending it out to as many people as I possibly can. So you will see a lot more recorded studio material!

What inspired you to become a musician?

I really got serious about music after my first proper stage performance. I knew afterwards that music was where my heart was and that music would be what I would set out to have as a career.

What advice would you like to give to other aspiring musicians?

Perform and be heard! If you are still in school enter Smokefree Rock Quest. The first time I entered I didn’t win a thing. By my third go I found myself at the national final. If you keep at it you will get to where you want to be. SFRQ is a great way to build up your confidence on stage and it gets your songs heard!

What is your long term goal?

Music is my life ambition. To be successful as a musician both nationally and internationally would be, quite simply, the ultimate goal. I am excited about the experiences I have had so far and look forward to the journey my music will take me on.