Name: Misha Somerville
Business: MK Music, Stingray Publications
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Website: http://www.mishasomerville.com/ http://www.mkwhistles.com/
Describe yourself in three words…
Excitable, restless, creative.
Tell us about your background…
I was born and brought up in the Highlands of Scotland. In 1998 I moved to Glasgow to start a Mechanical Engineering degree but dropped out after two years.
We formed a band – Croft No. Five – which over a five year spell released two albums and toured through the UK, Europe and North America.
As that came to a natural end I started making musical instruments –with the aim of making the best whistles in the world. Three years later I sold my first whistle and within a few years of that I had a waiting list. Having spent so much time in the workshop I headed to Africa for something different where, after several months travelling, I got ill, first with Malaria and then M.E.
It forced me to take several years out and left me house bound for months at a time. To stop myself pulling my hair out I started writing and eventually published a small book a year or two later. I maintain an interest in all the creative fields – from fashion to architecture - but try to limit the projects I’m working on to a few so I don’t end trying to do too much, and making a mess of it all.
Tell us about what you do!
In all my work I try to focus on developing original and personal content rather than getting carried away by technical aspects (although they definitely can’t be ignored). My main project for the last few years has been making musical instruments, but I’ve also tried to applying these methods, with varying levels of success, to writing, music, kinetic sculpturing and photography.
What inspired you to launch your own business?
To work on my own ideas - live my own life. When I went to school, I used to hate the Sunday night feeling before you signed your life over to the timetable. I haven’t had that feeling in years.
What’s your proudest moment so far?
I feel privileged to be able to work on my own stuff, but in many ways I consider it self indulgent. There have been lots of worked related high points but ultimately my proudest moments have to be to do with helping other people – friends, family and relationships.
And your greatest project?
Still in progress after 6 years of working on it – a design for a new musical instrument.
Who or what inspires you?
Too many inspirations to mention but to try and pull out a few….. Funnily enough probably my favourite section in the newspapers is the obituaries – some mind blowing stories of lives lived.
Having a good place to work is massively inspirational, but spending too much time there can spoil it. When that happens it’s time for me to get out into the world. I like to get right out there, to places where the strength of experience is the greatest – that might mean climbing a mountain, or it might mean visiting a war zone. When that’s done I’m ready to get back to some work.
What do you hope to be doing in five years time?
Much the same but would hope to be working with other people more.
When you aren’t running your creative business, you are…?
Listening to banging music (usually techno, although not always), running around in the wilderness, or both at the same time.
Anything exciting ongoing or in the pipeline?
I’m going to keep making musical instrument for people. Continuing to work on the design of a new musical instrument may be the biggest challenge however. I’m also keen to work on more books; these would likely take more of a photographic slant but as yet, I don’t have a clear enough thread to follow.
Several ideas for photographic and video collaborations with people, although quite what form these take remains to be seen. I’d like to start making massive musical instruments – particularly ones powered by the elements – like giant musical weather stations.
Finally, any words of wisdom to other creative people?
Chuck your TV out the window!
