Mikki Rikkie interview

Scottish comic Mikki Rikkie has created a hit music video that, it'd be fair to say, expresses the sentiments of a number of men, but might make those of a more sensitive disposition blush....

Hi Mikki. We understand there's something you love?

Aye, pal! I love tits more than I love my dog, Marmite, and he's like a brother to me! I don't know if there's a Freudian connection. I've been to see a few doctors and they've said perhaps I have an oral fixation. It's really interesting actually but according to Freud's theory of infantile sexuality an infant passes through three successive phases; the oral phase, the anal phase and finally the phallic.

Supposedly a child progresses through the oral phase during the first two years of life (when oral sensations of pleasure are most dominant) so maybe I'm regressing back to this stage - or perhaps I never fully got out of it? I guess because I have had a tough few years I've reverted to a childlike mind-set to overcome the pressures of reality - like a child in the oral stage sucks his finger to recover the oral pleasure associated with being breast-fed. So yeah, in a nutshell I love tits and I don't care who knows!

And there's something else you love too?

Indeed I do, aye! I love beaver. Now before the misogynist alarm starts a-ringing please hear me out! I love women more than exercise (and I love working out) so don't read into it. I hate being misunderstood... I always seem to battle that! Unfortunately, some people are always looking for the bad in others, whereas I'm a 'glass is half full' sort of guy!

While the message in my video may seem arbitrarily humorous to young adults, there are socio-economic and political messages for the boffins. If they can grapple with my didactic technique there are poignant metaphors within the lyrics... The album in particular has some great slams on the economy and political reform!

Probably time to show the video to our readers now then...

I've seen so many boring videos online over the years and I wanted to put something out there that combines a positive message, my love of tits, a nice melody and some Beach Boys-esque harmonies! You see, for me life isn't all about making money and being an arse to people, it should be about being happy and sharing beautiful moments with friends and family. I just want to make a living entertaining people and making a difference if I can. I take the mickey out of my past to show that anyone can change, you just need to believe it and have a bit of mental power!

How did you get those good looking girls to agree to be in the video with you?

The girls in the video were both champions! So lovely to work with and absolutely gorgeous... I put out a casting notice for some open-minded comedic actresses for the music video and then scraped the cream off the top - no metaphor intended! Although there were a few moments I had to tape my Nessie to my thigh! Talk about a kid in a sweet shop... Nessie could'ne contain himself at times but the girls were understanding about it and it didn't hold up the shooting schedule too much...

Ha ha. That's a lovely bedspread you've got there too... where did you get that from?

I had the bed spread custom made through a company called Bags Of Love... Fortunately they were nice understanding people who were happy to go ahead with the order! Incidentally, if any of the readers are interested in winning the duvet they can do so (details).

Let's rewind a bit... you're pretty new on the comedy circuit? What's your background prior to this then?

To be honest I used to be a bit of a bad boy in Glasgow - drinking, doing drugs and chasing ladies... But after a few years my best mate Rusty helped me get clean and turn my life around! I've always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie and a tearaway but I was lucky to have a great friend to help me get out of a bad spot with my drug problems.

At the end of the day I love life! I cannee get enough of it. Come rain or shine I'm up for it! I love trees, I love birds, I love oxygen, nice food and animals (except badgers since I got bitten by one). It was tough getting my act together but I was a great footballer as a kid so I got back into playing five-a-side and I now love working out. Sport's a great substitute and it's helped me refocus my energy. I think if we had more grass roots schemes for kids and better spending on education you'd see a lot more talented people coming through in the sports world and not turning to drugs or crime. At the end of the day music was my passion, when I wasn't making it I got disheartened and started using drugs! Now I'm clean I put all my focus on making a name for myself and setting an example to others...

How have you found things so far, both online and in live gigs? You must be particularly happy with how the video has gone so far?

Aye, it's been a bit of a rollercoaster ride so far! I cannee believe how well it's done, I had no idea it would all get such a good response to be honest. I've been writing songs all my life and I have some amazing tunes tucked away but I guess it's all about getting your lucky break at the end of the day.

I have loved every second of performing and the live gigs have been an incredible buzz but it can be tough as well! It's sort of like drugs, you get a massive high and then you get the come down, which I compare to wondering if you could have done something better. I'm pretty tough on myself which means I get depressed sometimes but it also means I get things done.

Aside from the music video, you've also filmed a sitcom which sees you move down to London with mate Rusty. Can you tell us more about that?

Well, I wrote to several comedy-focussed production companies in London and no one would read my pilot script, probably because I have a silly sounding name and I don't have an agent. So that was pretty disheartening, but a few friends were very kind and put some money towards it so I produced and directed it myself to prove I could make something half decent on a shoestring. Now I know for the future, with a budget beyond £400, I could make something great. Considering most production companies spend between £20-100 thousand on a 25/30 minute pilot, I'm proud of what I achieved.

The Golden Rules follows me on my move down to London and mimics a lot of my experiences with record companies and life as a struggling recording artist and is intended as a pilot to pitch for TV.

You've got some interesting people appearing in the pilot?

Yes, I was very fortunate to have a wealth of talent to choose from, having a lot of friends who are actors. I also did some motivational training a few years ago with some of the Scottish Rugby team and became quite close with the Evans brothers, Thom and Max. They're lovely guys.

I asked Thom if I could prize him away from his beautiful girlfriend for the day to play the part of the documentarian and thankfully he agreed! A massive thanks to Thom who gave up a lot of his time for me and has always been a top man when I've needed help or advice. A lot of credit also to the actors working for next to nothing and the Record Company, Junction 9 Records, who were really helpful accommodating us! I think they got a few complaints from the shared office space when the girls were walking around in their undies!

The other friends/actors included Brendan "Rusty" McCoy (whose credits include Bronson and Sherlock Holmes), Stan Strawa, Bobby Stevenson, Archie Brooksbank, Lauren Garnham, Toby Bligh, Brooke Johnston, Stephanie Tripp and Niall Keelaghan. They were all amazing to work with and I'm so grateful for their invaluable contributions. A special thanks to the LAD Bible too, for plugging the video and helping get it out there...

What's your plans from here on in then Mikki?

I have written a lot of new sketches and I am going to make more music videos for some of the other album tracks so please keep an eye out for them... More coming this summer!

Otherwise, I'm going to take it one step at a time and try and find an agent who can help me achieve my goals. I love to write so I'm working on some other sketches and characters and a feature film! I'm also going to keep doing stand-up comedy. It is still early days so I'm grateful for all the opportunities. Thanks must also go to Orry Gibbens, a fellow comedian with a bright future who first encouraged me to give stand-up a go!

If anyone wants to book me for a gig or consider me for an acting role you can contact me through my Facebook page or Twitter: @MikkiRikkie