(Image by by Panda Banana)
Mimi Carpenter is a musician originally from France and
now based in Toronto, Canada. Singing and playing guitar for over 15 years, she
combines her performances with live looping and hopes to reintroduce piano into
her repertoire soon. Mimi performs in multiple languages, including English,
French, German, and eight others, sharing her eclectic style on platforms like
Second Life and Twitch, where she’s built a global community of music lovers. I had the very real pleasure of catching Mimi
at a recent concert, and stayed around afterward to ask her a few questions,
a request to which she most graciously agreed. What follows is her story.
Josh (Thomas1 Bellic) (JB): So tell us, Mimi. How long have you been
performing your music, and in what types of venues?
Mimi Carpenter (MC):
I started singing and playing guitar for an audience thanks to Second
Life. It's been more than 15 years...
Interestingly, I began as a DJ at a French club called the
W1ldstyle on the sim Area 51, which sadly doesn’t exist anymore. Spinning 90s
and 2000s tracks weekly was a blast, and I’d occasionally sing along or between
songs. The positive feedback gave me the push to try performing live.
I’ll never forget my first show: it was on a neighboring
sim, and the venue was full. Do you remember when you’d sometimes have to wait
for a spot to enter your own event? Performing in SL gave me the courage to
explore real-life open mics while I was living in Germany. It was
nerve-wracking at first, but an incredibly kind host helped me ease into it.
Since then, I’ve played open mics regularly, done small local gigs, and
discovered my love for busking. Singing on the street has an unmatched mix of
fear, freedom, and joy.
JB: What is your favorite musical
genre?
MC: I’m pretty eclectic. My repertoire
includes over 1,000 songs in 10 languages, spanning acoustic folk, Britpop, 90s
hits, French chanson, and more. Even my originals differ quite a bit in style.
One day, I’d love to explore EDM and trip-hop projects.
Growing up, I was exposed to country music, French chansons,
and world music through my parents. Music was always present in our home or
car, and we sang along together all the time.
JB: I know you
enjoy a significant following in SL. Do you perform in RL as well?
MC: I do perform
in RL, though not as much as I’d like since Covid. I’ve played at open mics,
busked on the streets, and even joined SL Jam meetups and private events like
birthdays, weddings or community gatherings. I especially love intimate
settings like living room concerts or small coffee shops, they create such a
special connection with the audience.
These days, Twitch has become my main stage, giving me the
chance to interact with people live from all over the world. It feels like
hosting a cozy living room concert but with a global audience. That said, I’d love
to get back to RL performances soon.
(Image byMaya Raynier)
JB: You mentioned
Twitch and I see it on your Profile, something I’ve not heard of before. So tell us, please? What is Twitch, and how
did that come about?
MC: Twitch is a
live-streaming platform where creators share their passions in real-time, from
music and gaming to creative arts and more. I started streaming music there
over 3.5 years ago during the second year of the pandemic, which helped me
connect with people in new ways and grow my audience. It’s a bit like hosting a
concert from my home, with people tuning in from around the world!
What makes Twitch so special is the real-time interaction.
Viewers can request songs, chat, or just quietly enjoy the music while
multitasking (we call it “lurking”). I’m close to 10,000 followers now, and streaming
on Twitch has helped me grow musically, collaborate with other artists, and
build an amazing global community.
JB: What has
been the most memorable performance of your career so far?
MC: Performing at
TwitchCon Paris in the summer of 2023 was unforgettable! Coming from my
beginnings in SL, it was an honor to be selected. Forming a band with talented
streamers from Switzerland and the U.S. that I had never met in person was an
incredible challenge—musically and personally. We performed with harmonies,
harp, piano, and guitar: it was quite a special experience.
Another highlight was being featured on the Twitch front
page, where 15,000 viewers tuned in! It felt like playing in a stadium but from
home.
(Mimi live at Bryn Oh's Skyfisher by Ryse Rizzler)
JB: Who were
your musical idols, and who have been the greatest influences on your style?
MC: It's hard to
mention just a few, there are many. The Cranberries and Stereophonics have been
huge inspirations. I was lucky to see both live: The Cranberries in Berlin,
just a year before Dolores O’Riordan passed away. It was an unforgettable,
intimate concert.
Jean-Jacques Goldman is a major influence. He’s written over
300 timeless songs for himself and others, including Céline Dion, a true legend
in French music. Collaborating with him would be a dream.
JB: What has
been your biggest challenge breaking into the music industry?
MC: Learning to stay
authentic in an industry often focused on fitting people into specific boxes
can be challenging, but it's also helped me form a unique connection with my
audience. Starting on Second Life taught me to connect with people beyond
traditional paths, and that’s a skill I continue to rely on today.
I’ve learned to embrace my eclectic style, which helps me
connect with a wonderfully diverse audience. It’s a journey, and recording my
own songs is my next big goal. I know many of you have asked about this, and
I’m excited to make it happen eventually. Stay tuned, there's more to come.
(Mimi live at Dreamfest by Spence Wilder)
JB: So tell us,
Mimi? What advice would you give to aspiring musicians today?
MC: Be true to
yourself and embrace what makes you unique. Collaborate, ask questions, and
learn from others. There are so many people out there who want to help and
connect. Stay curious and consistent. Even small, steady progress can lead to
big breakthroughs. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start. Take the leap
and let things unfold naturally. Music is universal, and versatility can be a
huge strength. Performing in different languages and styles has helped me forge
incredible connections. Above all, enjoy the journey: it’s the people you meet
along the way who make it magical.
JB: Where can
SL readers hear you live?
MC: I perform
every week in Second Life and stream on Twitch. You can find me by searching
'Mimi' in the Live Music category under SL Events. There's even a button to set
a reminder.
To stay updated you can:
·
Save my Google Calendar: https://tinyurl.com/mimicarpenter
·
Join my SL group: Fan Club de Mimi Carpenter ( secondlife:///app/group/aa81b6f9-fe5b-c995-d688-f689489bd716/about
)
·
Join my Discord server: https://discord.gg/mialy
JB: Do you have
any social media where readers can learn more about you?
Absolutely! You can find me on:
·
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mialymusic (Click the bell for notifications!)
·
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/mialymusic.bsky.social
·
YouTube: https://youtube.com/mialymusic
·
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mialymusic
Follow me for updates. I’d love to connect!
(Mimi live at semicolon by Maya Raynier)
JB: Anything
else you'd like to share with our SL Enquirer readers?
MC: I might attend
the SL Toronto Music Jam in late May, so come and jam if you're going.
I’d say Twitch makes live music incredibly accessible,
whether you’re active in the chat or just enjoying the tunes while working in
the background, which I do often myself. These small moments of connection are
what make streaming such a rewarding experience for me.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like to collaborate or just
share your thoughts. I love meeting people from all walks of life. Thank you,
SL Enquirer, for this feature and to everyone reading it!
So there you have it, Folks. From her mouth to our paper, to your
minds. If you truly love music and especially
LIVE music, you simply HAVE to go catch one of Mimi’s events. Her unique blend of musical styles, lilting
voice, and rock-star delivery will have you begging for more. Check out her calendar above and catch a show
soonest. And when you go there, tell ‘em
Josh sent ya. You’ll be glad you did
Be There! Aloha!!
JB
Get ready to rock the grid, because the SL Enquirer Open Mic Songwriter Auditions are back — and they’re more totally awesome than ever! 
Our dynamic duo of hosts is back to keep things rad and rowdy: the legendary Ninja Antwoord, a true virtual rock god with a flair for the dramatic, and the sensational Wolfie Starfire, a vocal queen who brings the thunder and the heart. These two will guide you through a night of gnarly performances, neon dreams, and musical madness.
This month’s show is powered by SecondLife.music, the freshest new platform on the scene — dedicated to turning up the volume on virtual live music. With their righteous support, this event is bigger, badder, and bolder than ever, giving both up-and-comers and seasoned performers a stage to shine.
So tease that hair, throw on some fingerless gloves, and lace up your high-tops — it’s time to moonwalk into the spotlight and show Second Life what you’ve got. This is your moment to live loud, sing proud, and totally own the stage.
Don’t flake — mark your calendar, tune up, and show up. We’re talkin’ neon nights, big dreams, and a whole lotta music magic.
️The stage is set. The mic is hot. The only thing missing… is YOU. Let’s rock! 
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