Today we’d like to introduce you to Mychael Ball.
Hi Mychael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m originally from Midland, Texas, but Austin has been home for more than a decade. I came here with a love for music and a willingness to figure things out as I went, and over the years I’ve built a life that has taken me places I never could have fully planned.
I perform professionally as Myke B. The Label, and music has taken me across the country and around the world, from residencies abroad to corporate stages, festivals and television appearances. I’ve had the opportunity to perform alongside incredible musicians, support major artists, and create my own shows and projects right here in Austin.
But my story has never been just about being onstage. I’ve always been interested in what happens behind the scenes too: communication, business, travel, conflict management, branding and creating opportunities where they didn’t exist before. That curiosity led me to earn a master’s degree in Conflict Management and build businesses and creative projects alongside my career as an artist.
Right now, I’m in another really exciting creative season. I’m recording two new singles and was recently featured as an artist in Red Light Diaries, a global narrative centered on resilience within a marginalized community. I’m also taking more than a decade of experience as a working vocalist and putting it on the page, crafting a new book about what it actually takes to become and sustain a career as a professional singer.
Austin has really been the place where all of those different parts of me have been able to coexist. I can be a singer, entrepreneur, traveler, producer and creative without feeling like I have to choose just one.
More than anything, I think my story is about trusting myself enough to keep creating a life that fits me. It hasn’t followed a traditional path, but somehow the music, education, travel, entrepreneurship and community have all connected. I’m still building, still learning and still singing, but I’m proud that the life I once imagined has increasingly become the life I actually get to live.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road. One of my biggest lessons has been learning my value, not just as a singer, but as a professional. In this industry, you can become so grateful to be working that you forget to ask whether the opportunity actually reflects the years of experience, preparation and skill you bring to the room. Learning to negotiate, say no, ask for more and understand that my talent has real value has been a major part of my growth.
One of the most significant challenges came when I had to undergo a vocal procedure that temporarily paused my career. When your voice is both something you love and the way you make your living, suddenly not being able to use it changes everything. I had to step away from performing, recover and trust that taking care of my instrument was more important than rushing back to work.
That experience changed my relationship with my career. It taught me that longevity requires boundaries, rest and knowing when an opportunity simply isn’t worth the cost. I came back with a deeper appreciation for my voice, but also a stronger understanding of my worth.
I’ve learned that a sustainable creative career isn’t just about how often you can work. It’s about building something valuable enough that you don’t have to sacrifice yourself to maintain it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a professional vocalist and performing artist known as Myke B. The Label. I’ve been performing professionally for more than a decade, and what I’m most proud of is that I’ve built a career that allows my voice to take me around the world while still keeping Austin as my home and community.
My work lives somewhere between R&B, soul, pop and live entertainment. I’ve performed everything from intimate rooms and theatrical productions to festivals, corporate events and national television appearances. I’ve supported major artists, performed at events surrounding the CMT Awards and CMAs, sung for Austin FC, completed an international residency in Seoul, and created my own grant winning productions in Austin, including Legendary Keys at the Long Center.
I think what sets me apart is versatility. I can walk into a room with a full band, perform a stripped down soul set, entertain a corporate audience, build a tribute production or travel across the world for a residency and still sound and feel like myself. I’ve learned that being a working artist requires more than having a good voice. It requires musicianship, preparation, adaptability, professionalism and the ability to connect with people.
“The Label” in my performance moniker, and has also come to represent something bigger for me. I’ve never wanted to be defined by one genre, one type of stage or even one creative lane. Alongside performing, I produce experiences, develop creative concepts and use my background in communication and conflict management in the business side of my career.
After more than a decade, I’m proud that singing is not simply something I dreamed about doing. It is something I have built a life around. And I’m still curious about how far the gift can take me.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that if you’re going to be a creative, you have to learn the business with the same dedication that you learn your instrument.
Knowing how to sing got me in the room. Learning how to negotiate, communicate, understand contracts, build relationships and properly value my work helped raise my bottom line and keep me there.
I’ve learned that sometimes you have to leave low paying environments instead of waiting for them to suddenly see your value. And you can’t base today’s rate on a business deal you made years ago. Experience grows, demand changes, and your rate should be allowed to evolve with you.
I’ve also learned something incredibly simple: be on time. You’ll arrive sooner. Reliability, preparation and being someone people actually want to work with will take you further than talent alone.
And finally, network across, not just up. Some of the most valuable relationships I’ve built have been with people who were growing right alongside me. We’ve recommended each other, hired each other, opened doors for each other and watched those relationships compound over the years.
The creative part may be the gift, but learning the business is how you protect the gift, create longevity and make sure the career can actually support your life.
These lessons, and plenty more from more than a decade of making a living as a working artist, will be explored in my upcoming book, The Nature of the Gig, coming at the end of 2026. It is a 30 day guide to help singers unearth the gig lifestyle!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.Mykebthelabel.com
- Instagram: @mykebthelabel
