Mihran Kirakosian – THE INTERVIEW
Mihran Kirakosian is an internationally known artist, dancer and choreographer. He has worked with some of today’s top selling musicians such as Ricky Martin, Pink, Lil Kim and Britney Spears among many others. In 2004 through 2006 Mihran had two successful tour runs with Madonna herself. We have been privileged enough to catch up with Mihran as he promotes his new album “United Streets Of ARMerica”. Enjoy!
Hi Mihran, Welcome to Armenian Pulse, thank you for joining us today, we know you’re a busy man and we appreciate your time with us.
Thanks for having me, I‘m always happy to answer questions for my fans.
You have accomplished some amazing feats in a short amount of time and done so well for yourself, I want to first off congratulate you on your success and wish you the best on your new album “United Streets of ARMerica”.
Thanks for the kind words and I hope everyone enjoys the album.
I’ve been hearing some great things about it, but before we talk about your new album, lets get a bit of your thoughts on some issues. We all know that pure talent and constant determination can lead you in the right direction but it takes just a bit more to put you over the top. How did you push yourself to break through that final barrier and land some once in a lifetime opportunities?
I believed that I could do whatever I put my mind to and that’s exactly what I did. I trained my mind to believe that my own resolution to success is more important then any one thing. In other words if there were any obstacles that came my way I just pushed it aside and continued aiming for my goals unswervingly.
Good advice for anyone just starting out. We as Armenians have had many obstacles in our culture, our history sometimes dictates our future and we tend to just live day by day, content, You have taken upon yourself to make a name not only of yourself but your culture, you have a great line in one your hit songs “Armenia”, where you describe how your placing Armenia on the map where others can recognize its existence. How difficult is it to accomplish that and to have that on your shoulders?
I really don’t think about that. I’m proud to be Armenian and I try to bring that out in my music. I mixed my Armenian cultural sound and instruments with today’s hip hop music because that’s the sound I want people to recognize me with.
You have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry. Just to name a few are Ricky Martin, Pink, Britney Spears, and of course the Queen of pop herself, Madonna! How did you land that particular gig with Madonna?
In 2004, I auditioned for Madonna’s Re-invention tour just like any other dancer. It was a 4-day audition with over 3,000 dancers. After 4 long days of auditions, 12 dancers and I were selected by Madonna to be her dancers. You can see this on the Re-invention DVD. I continued on working with Madonna on all her projects including the Confessions tour in 2006.
I’ve seen the Confessions DVD, I’ll have to check out the Re-invention as well. It’s been well documented that both you and Madonna were close during the tours, do you still keep in touch with her these days?
Yes, I keep in touch with her all the time. We are great friends, I recently saw her about a month ago in France. I was there promoting my new single “If You Want To” and she was performing her Sticky And Sweet Tour. So I got to go and surprise her.
That’s awesome, I read somewhere that your biggest influence was Michael Jackson, did you have interest or did you try out for the “This Is It” tour?
Yes, Michael Jackson is a big influence in my career. I would not be dancing if it were not for him. Yes, I did try out for the tour and made it with the final 12 dancers. However, I was cut at the very end for dancing too much like Michael Jackson instead of dancing to be his dancer, lol.
Wow, that’s amazing, Well, you have lived the jet set life, toured the world with superstars, entertained in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, How does it feel when you return back home to little old Glendale after having that huge experience?
Haha, that’s funny you asked me that. When I’m on tour for like a year as crazy as it sounds I start missing little old Glendale. It’s weird when I’m on tour every country I go to I start searching for Armenians and when I find them I get so excited. But when I come back home and I see all my Armenian people it’s not as exciting lol. I don’t know where I’m going with this, haha.
lol, that’s funny and very interesting actually! On September 11, 2009, you released your second album, “United Streets of ARMerica”, Very interesting title! Can you give us some info into the meaning of that title?
Well, this is actually my first album. The other one was more like a demo for me I never really promoted it or anything. If you hear this album you can tell that this is the introduction of things to come. As far as the title “United Streets of ARMerica” it stands for what I represent and talk about in my album. United is for uniting all people no matter religion or nationality. Streets are where hip-hop came from and ARMerica is Armenia and America mixed together, which stands for my culture.
Well, it certainly has all the right flavors, You have the most amazing mixture of sounds in this album, give us the breakdown of not only your experiences but also your influences in creating this music.
Well I listen to all types of music from all over the world. I listen to hip-hop to classical, Latin, jazz, blues and the list goes on. That’s why you can hear a little bit of everything in my album but still with my own flavor.
So far the videos off of this Album are top-notch entertainment, visually stunning and creatively amusing, I understand your brother Gor Kirakosian is the director for all your videos. Is it a collaborative effort on both your parts as far as concept and visual elements are concerned?
Yes, we sit down and try to come up with concepts that artists have not tried yet. For example in the “Armenia” video I wanted to dance on top of trains because I had not seen anyone do that. In “If You Want To” we did an all girl prison with me being a prison guard. I’ve never seen that done before either. So every time my brother and I are working on a video we try to create something new and amusing. We are currently working on the 3rd video of the album coming out sometime at the end of this year.
Yeah, those train scenes in “Armenia” are really something else. Speaking about your latest video “If You Want To”, it has got to be one of the hottest videos around today, it’s got the perfect elements of a great song and video, rapping in verses, singing in the chorus and an all out dance number in the bridge section. It only works visually if done correct and you guys pulled it off amazingly! You have now mastered being an actor, dancer and a musician, which is your biggest passion?
I don’t believe I’ve mastered acting or being a musician but I’m sure with a lot of hard work and determination I will master that as well. I believe in always working on my craft and improving to make it better. I’m my own worst critic. There is always room to get better.
Well, i see a bright future in all categories. We at Armenian Pulse, just learned that you were chosen by the fans to represent Armenia in the 2010 Eurovision contest and show. That’s as big as it gets Mihran, any thoughts on that?
Yes, I was asked by H1 channel in Armenia to represent Armenia in Eurovision 2010. I believe I can bring something great to the table and I’m ready to prove it in May of 2010.
At this point, do you have any idea on the song you will present at Eurovision?
It’s going to be a new song, it’s not going to be from my album. We are working on some ideas as we speak, so people will hear more about it at the end of the year.
There is a buzz online abut this, I keep reading it in all the forums, so your fans will be happy to hear about that. We want to wish you the best for Eurovision and the best on your new album “United Streets of ARMerica”. The album is available in all the shops along with it being available at CDBABY and Itunes.
Thank you, for all the fans that don’t have the album yet make sure you go out and get it. It’s made for you.
Yes, we will list the links to the album at the end of this interview and give your fans the opportunity to get it. Here at Armenian Pulse, we like to ask a few jovial questions before we end our chat, So, you’re stuck on an island (with electricity and a CD player lol) which top 3 CD’s would you like to have with you?
The best of Michael Jackson. This way I get all his best songs on one album, lol. That would be it, he is the only artist I can listen to over and over again and not get tired.
Right on, he was my idol growing up as well. What famous person or politician do you think is maybe missing a few screws?
Every person is different do to his or her environment and circumstance. I try my best not to judge anyone and just accept him or her for who they are.
“Every person is different do to his or her environment and circumstance” I like that, very good answer! Which celebrity did you have a crush on when you were growing up?
I had a crush on Britney Spears before I started working with her. But I have a crush on Mila Kunis now. I sound like I’m 10 years old.
haha, nah, these are the jovial questions and you’ve done well! Sad to say that this concludes our interview, thank you again Mihran for giving us your time. We really enjoyed getting to know your personal side just a bit more, I’m sure your fans will have enjoyed your answers.
Thanks, I really enjoyed the interview. It was different from my other interviews.
We’re glad to hear that, thanks! All our best to you from Armenian Pulse Mihran!
Make sure to get your copy of “United Streets Of ARMerica”, it’s available in all stores and conveniently available for purchase at CDBABY and/or download from iTunes
To check out Mihrans latest videos, please visit his MYSPACE page
dope interview he said some good things in there.
wow, you were just in france? why didn’t anyone tell me
i love the interview and i love Mihran
i loooved this interview, mihran is so cool, thanks armnian pulse, great interview
I loved reading more about Mihran, in his own words, wish we had more of this kind of interviews
Great interview
he’s amazing, good job mihran
Well done Harout! Great interview! Mihran, your an inspiration!
I liked when he said: “dancing too much like Michael Jackson instead of dancing to be his dancer, lol” He and Madonna are great friends…interesting, I wish I were a friend of her
All the best Mihran in the Eurovision
Mihran is great, saw him perform last night at armenchiks concert, he was amazing
Love the album aper.
the album is real good bro!
The concert was real good last night, i wish it never ended. great job to all of you, oh yeah, cool interview, thanks
bro you rocked last night great job
Well done Mihran!!
Mihran, we love you. We enjoyed your album.
dude your album is so good. You Rocked on Sunday great show.
hi mihran, we loved this interview, you rock!
nice interview, loves it!
I really enjoy reading blogs like yours, thank you!
Thanks, that is a very good interview. I found it via Yahoo and immediately incorporated it into my feedreader. I am pleased to soon be back here to read again! Best greets
You should place a link to his songs, fan page etc for those aren’t familiar with the artist. All the best.
thank you for your interest, as you can see at the end of the interview there are three links, one to his CDBABY page where you can listen and buy his CD, second to his Itunes page where you can listen and buy his tracks and finally to his myspace page where you can listen to his music and see what he’s up to lately. thanks…
Mihran is great!!
Great artist,great interview
shad lav er hajoukov gartatse god bless. meshd hbard em mar hiye yerdasartnerov .bravoooooo
he is the best <3 good luck!