Famed TikTok Dancer Mikaila Murphy Dishes on Her Musical Debut, ‘What Goes Around Comes Around’

If you're a big fan of dance, chances are that you already know Mikaila Murphy.

The talented dancer, choreographer and model has 975k followers on Instagram and 14.7 million fans on TikTok thanks to her powerful dance moves and emphasis on confidence. And, she's about to add yet another skill to her resume as a singer-songwriter. Her debut single, "What Goes Around Comes Around," is out today, and we got the chance to ask her all about the empowering new single and what it means to her to release it.

Sweety High: What was the songwriting process of "What Goes Around Comes Around"? How does it reflect your real-life struggles, and eventually learning your own worth?

Mikaela Murphy: The songwriting process was definitely a unique one, and so incredible. Every lyric in the song reflects what happened to me in real life. I was deeply involved with a guy who treated me very poorly, and I walked into the studio session, literally, right after I got off the phone with the girl he told me not to worry about. This song actually helped me to heal, and it held me accountable. If I make a whole song about it, that means I can never go back to him and it'll force me in a more positive direction. It really helped me express myself and say everything I could never say to him. The song came together and I filmed the music video and found my worth again. I bossed up, made a whole song from the experience, hired a whole production crew and made the vision come to life. The best revenge is success and living well.

 

SH: Do you have any advice for girls who find themselves in the situation you describe in the song?

MM: Yes. If it feels wrong and you are being mistreated leave. Get out! Cut him off! No one, and I repeat no one, is worth making you hate yourself and losing your peace of mind. If he can put you and multiple other women through hell like that, then he doesn't truly love you and you will find someone who will love you. The longer you stay, the more trauma you will have to heal from.

 

SH: How has dance been a tool for you to embrace your body and boost your self-esteem?

MM: Dance is all about using your body to create art and a visual for others, and/or for yourself to view! I started dancing in heels and doing sexier and more feminine dance styles because it really helped me start loving myself. Dancing makes me feel sexy and powerful.

 

SH: Was it important to you to incorporate dancing into the music video?

MM: Absolutely! Dance has been my whole life since age 3, so I will always try to incorporate it into everything I do. I feel my best when I am dancing and that has always been my number one way to show my self-expression, so I had to include that element into the music video to show what a boss I am! I also made it a point to make sure I paid all my dancers adequately. A common problem in the dance world is that these music artists are not properly compensating their dancers. Dancers are trained professionals and should be paid as such. My music video was great, but once the dance scene came together, it took it to another level. As an independent new artist, I paid my artists, and I hope these big artists follow my example. The choreography process for my video was amazing as well. My good friend Hannah Niskar flew from Michigan to Los Angeles to help me choreograph the dance part of the video.

 

SH: What's your favorite lyric from the song? Why?

MM: "Said you're working on yourself. Is she helping with that too?" That's my absolute favorite line because he always swore he was working on himself to be an amazing man for me, but it was really because he had multiple women and he was telling them the same thing.

 

SH: What did it mean to you to be able to feature your real-life love interest, Austin Hines, in the music video?

MM: That's funny. He's cool and all. I'm honestly shocked he was down to be in the video.

 

SH: Why did this track feel like the perfect musical debut for you?

MM: Because it was so real to me and I feel like so many others can relate to it. It really helped me heal and I feel like I gained my whole public platform from bossing up and loving myself, so why not do the same thing with my music career?

 

SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

MM: I would just like to add that I am so thankful for each and every one of my fans. I've always been passionate about music, but I never thought I'd end up in this position where I'm really able to put out my music and visuals to millions of people who follow me. I'm very proud of the art that I created and I hope that you guys love it too. I hope that it's able to help someone who may be going through a similar situation. Take your bad situation and turn it into art!

 

Eager to learn more about Mikaela and her art? Click HERE to find out all the reasons we made her our Woman Crush Wednesday.