Mishayla

With her new EP Sincerely, Mishayla steps into her most honest era yet. Written closely with producer Gracie May, the project captures a journey of growth, clarity and emotional truth. In this exclusive interview, Mishayla reflects on the moments that shaped the EP, the empowerment behind 'The Man', and the confidence that shines through its closing track 'Too Much'.

‘Sincerely’ feels like a personal letter to yourself and to anyone navigating their early 20s. What was the moment you realised this EP needed to exist as a cohesive story of growth, closure and self-discovery?

After working with my producer Gracie last year on two different singles, we briefly talked about aiming for an EP in 2025. The moment it really clicked for me was when we wrote ‘growing pains’. that song felt different because it was the first time I wasn't writing about someone else or a heartbreak, but actually turning the lens back on myself.
From that point on, everything unfolded really naturally. Each session became this space where I could process the changes, growth and clarity I was experiencing and as we kept writing, I realised these songs weren’t just individual ideas, together they were forming a really honest story about who I was becoming. sincerely became a cohesive letter of growth, closure and self-discovery, not just for me but for anyone navigating that same stage of life.

‘The Man’ is a powerful turning point on the EP — a moment of clarity, honesty and emotional reclaiming. Can you talk us through the headspace you were in when you decided to stop romanticising that past relationship and finally confront the truth?

Thank you so much! I’m definitely someone who tries to see the good in people, and sometimes that can be blinding. The people-pleasing came into play with that situationship. Instead of speaking my mind when it ended, I kind of just let it fizzle out. I never actually addressed that I was hurt.
I even wrote a super nice song about him at the time, and looking back now, I realise I really let him walk away thinking he was ‘the man’. he got this sweet, flattering song and probably felt pretty chuffed with himself.
writing the man came from this headspace of finally wanting to reclaim that power. It took time and a lot of healing to reach that point, and honestly, being in a healthy relationship now made me realise just how poorly I was treated back then. Once that clarity hit, the sugarcoating stopped. The song was born!

You mention that you like to see the good in people, even when they don’t deserve it. How did writing ‘The Man’ serve as a form of closure or self-protection compared to the earlier “super nice song” you wrote about the same person?

I think speaking my mind was definitely really scary, and putting something that honest out into the world was even more nerve-racking. I'm so used to softening the truth that actually saying, ‘no, this hurt me,’ felt huge. but it also felt really necessary.
Because I already had the previous nice ‘bittersweet’ song sitting in my discography, the man became like a part two. The first song was how I coped at the time, and the man being me finally healed and able to reflect without rose coloured glasses.
So yeah, writing it was definitely a form of closure and self-protection. It felt like reclaiming my voice and making sure my story was represented honestly, not just in the sugarcoated version I wrote before.

‘Too Much’ introduces an extra-confident version of yourself — someone unafraid to own their quirks, flaws and individuality. What helped you tap into that energy, and why did it feel like the right note to end the EP on?

Growing up, I was such a confident kid, I'd sing for anyone who’d listen and I never really questioned myself and as I got older, that shifted a bit. Anxiety crept in, and depending on the situation, I’d find myself overthinking or worrying about how I came across.
too much was my way of reconnecting with that younger version of me who didn’t hold back. Writing it felt really fun and freeing, almost like reminding myself that it’s okay to show up exactly as I am, quirks and all.
So ending the EP with that song just made sense, it closes the whole project on this bright, uplifting note. After all the growth and honesty throughout the EP, it felt right to finish with something that celebrates being yourself!

You crafted all five tracks with Gracie May in her Newcastle home studio. How did that intimate environment influence the emotional honesty, sonic direction and overall cohesiveness of ‘Sincerely’?

Gracie's home studio honestly became a second home for me this year. Being there every week created this really safe, comfortable space where I felt completely free creatively. We built such a strong bond, and sometimes it genuinely feels like we can read each other’s minds when we’re writing. It's the kind of collaboration I’d been longing for for so long.
We'd always start our sessions by talking about the music we were loving at the time and swapping song suggestions, and that would naturally shape the sonic direction of whatever we were about to make.
I also shared so many personal stories with Gracie while writing sincerely, and she understood everything so deeply. She helped bring those experiences to life in a way that felt honest and true to me. I think that level of trust and intimacy is a big reason why the EP feels so cohesive, both emotionally and sonically.

You’re wrapping this era with a headline NSW tour. How do you plan to bring the vulnerability, confidence and emotional arcs of the EP into your live show — and what can fans expect from seeing these songs performed with your full band?

We have been working on this live set for months, and bringing in live backing tracks has completely elevated the show. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for ages, and now everything feels so much fuller and more intentional.
We’ve mixed in some older songs too, which are a lot more stripped back, there are moments where it’s just me and my acoustic guitar, and then other moments where I get to go full pop-girl mode and really run around and have fun.
I wanted the set to reflect all the vulnerability, confidence and emotion of the EP, so it kind of moves in an arc. Fans will feel those softer moments and then the big, bold ones with the full band. It’s the most ‘me’ my live show has ever felt.