Mica Levi (also known as "Micachu") was born outside of London to a record collector and professional Cellist in a household where music was not just a hobby, but a starting point for everything. Mica was playing violin as soon as she was old enough to hold one. She was classically trained at the Purcell School on a scholarship from the Music and Ballet Scheme, then went on to win another scholarship to study composition at the Guildhall School of music where she met 'the Shapes' (of eventual band 'Micachu and the Shapes') Raisa Khan and Marc Pell. Largely on a laptop in Mica's bedroom Micachu and the Shapes made their critically acclaimed debut album 'Jewellery' (Rough Trade, 2009). Using unorthodox, handmade instruments the group collaborated with The London Sinfonietta (one of the world's leading contemporary orchestras), the group release the album 'Chopped & Screwed' (Rough Trade, 2011), recorded live in front of an audience at King's Place. In 2012, the band released their second studio album 'Never' (Rough Trade) which was fully recorded and produced by the band themselves at Pell's handmade studio. Renowned for recording with unconventional, often household or handmade instruments such as hoovers, decks of cards and bowed CD racks, on 'Never' the group built upon this resourceful creativity by visually accompanying the album with self-directed and produced music videos for every track.
Mica is an artist in residence at London's Southbank Centre, the youngest individual musician to have ever been granted this unique role.
Mica composed the soundtrack to Under the Skin, a film directed by Jonathan Glazer and starring Scarlett Johansson, scheduled for release spring 2014. The film is based upon the eponymous novel by Michel Faber. Mica was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for her music in Under The Skin in the Best Technical Achievement category, and the soundtrack continues to get praise from multiple sources.
