Mie Music Reclaims Performance and Identity in Freakshow
- TYREE POPE III
- Apr 21
- 2 min read
At the Milwaukee Film Festival, Milwaukee-based artist Mie presents a music video that is as symbolic as it is personal.
Freakshow is not just a visual project.
It is a statement.
From Tarot to Transformation
The foundation of Freakshow comes from the Hanged Man tarot card.
A symbol of surrender, perspective, and eventual enlightenment.
In the video, that imagery takes physical form.
The upside-down pose.
The presence of snakes.
All representing the idea that growth often comes from discomfort.
From being forced to see the world differently.
The Reality of Performance
For Mie, the film is also about the vulnerability of being on stage.
Performing is not just about talent.
It is about exposure.
Standing in front of an audience that may support you.
Or may be waiting for you to fail.
That tension defines the experience.
And it is something every performer must learn to navigate.
Reclaiming the Narrative
Mie’s relationship with performance began early.
As a child, she was pushed onto stages without having control over how she presented herself.
What she wore.
How she performed.
Now, Freakshow represents a shift.
A moment of reclaiming that autonomy.
Of deciding how she wants to be seen.
And what her art represents.
Building the Visual World
The imagery of the video didn’t come from a traditional storyboard.
It started with a drawing.
A self-portrait of a ballerina, controlled by marionette strings.
That concept became the foundation.
From there, the visuals expanded.
Into the tarot symbolism.
Into the physical performance.
Into the fully realized world of Freakshow.
Art in the Age of AI
Mie also reflects on the growing presence of AI in creative work.
While acknowledging its role, she draws a clear line.
AI can assist.
But it cannot replace.
For her, real art comes from human experience.
From effort.
From emotion.
The difference, she explains, is like a home-cooked meal versus fast food.
One is crafted.
The other is generated.
The Sound of the Future
Looking ahead, Mie is continuing to evolve.
Her current project blends multiple genres into what she calls “electro folk.”
But her next step moves further into electronic music.
Exploring energy.
Movement.
And the freedom that comes with it.
The Meaning of Cream City
When asked about Milwaukee’s creative scene, Mie keeps it simple.
Community.
A city filled with artists who support each other.
Who connect.
Who collaborate.
Who believe not just in themselves, but in each other.
And that, more than anything, is what defines the work coming out of Milwaukee.
Comments