Episode 11: How to Build the Future of Sound with Strooly

Micah McGee, known as Strooly, began his musical journey in a family of artists and musicians.

His earliest memories include playing piano at his grandparents' house at age four, fascinated by harmonies and rhythms. Growing up around painters, illustrators, and screen printers instilled a DIY creative mentality that influenced his approach to art. Though he learned multiple instruments by ear (piano, guitar, drums, cello, and stand-up bass), his transition to electronic music production happened in college when limited space made traditional instruments impractical. After moving to Memphis in 2010, he joined a collective of DJs and producers called Voodoo Village, gaining experience in the backend of running a label. This eventually led to co-founding Future-Everything with his partner Anthony Carter, creating what he describes as "a living museum" for artists he believes in, focusing on music that evokes strong mental imagery and emotional narratives.

We talk about Strooly's creative process and how he revitalized his approach during the pandemic by returning to analog hardware, incorporating four-track tape recorders and synthesizers to overcome creative plateaus. He discusses one of the projects he’s most proud of: the annual compilation albums that celebrate Future-Everything's global artist roster. Strooly shares how he balances his creative pursuits with full-time work and fatherhood through careful scheduling. We explore how he incorporates his daughter's sounds and toys into his music, including an ambient album featuring recordings of her playing. Despite his success as a DJ, Strooly reveals his struggle with anxiety and nervousness before performances, using DJing as a controlled environment to overcome his natural introversion. He offers advice to aspiring producers about setting limitations rather than being overwhelmed by options, and shares his dream projects.