Parenting Panel with Mike Cykoski of A is For Atom

Balancing creativity and parenthood isn’t something most artists are taught how to do. It’s more of something you figure out in real time, often while everything else is shifting too. For Mike Cykoski, the songwriter and producer behind A Is for Atom, becoming a parent didn’t put his creative life on pause. Instead, it reshaped it.

With his unique style of electronic texture and personal storytelling, Mike has always written from his own life experience. Now, that experience includes fatherhood, with all of its challenges, recalibrations and unexpected creative doors.

In this exclusive Interview, Mike reflects on how becoming a parent has changed his relationship with time, sound and simplicity, and how children make for the most honest audience imaginable, and why staying flexible has become as important as staying inspired.

How many children do you have? And what are their names and ages?  

I have one child—a wonderful young boy. I’d prefer to keep his name private.

Did you have fears or concerns about how becoming a parent would interfere with your artistic endeavors? 

Time management has been the biggest adjustment. Becoming a parent has made me more deliberate with my time, and I’m focused on giving my child the attention he deserves while continuing to nurture my artistic practice.

Have those fears come true, or no?

Not really. If anything, it’s just meant adapting the space. He’s curious, hands-on, and naturally drawn to sound, so we’ve had to be a little more mindful about where instruments live right now. It’s less about restriction and more about making our home feel safe, welcoming, and creative for him, while still leaving room for music to be part of everyday family life.

In what ways has parenthood helped your creativity, if any?

Absolutely. Kids are the most honest audience there is—the feedback is immediate and unfiltered. Paying attention to what captures his interest, what makes him light up, or what he tunes out has sharpened my instincts as a songwriter. It’s taught me to trust simplicity, emotional clarity, and authenticity in a deeper way, and that’s had a real impact on how I approach my creative work.

What has parenthood taught you about yourself, your music, or your creative process?

Parenthood has expanded my creative palette in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve been surprised by how naturally I’m drawn to kids’ music and holiday music, and how easily ideas flow from that place. There’s a simplicity and sincerity there that feels really grounding, and it’s reminded me of the joy and wonder I felt around music as a kid myself. That sense of play and nostalgia has brought a new lightness into my creative process, and it’s been a genuinely joyful shift.

How do you juggle your family and your career? Who’s your support system?  

Honestly, it’s incredibly hard—probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Juggling family and a creative career requires constant recalibration, flexibility, and a lot of grace with myself. I rely heavily on my partner and close family, and on being intentional about how and when I work. It’s not always balanced, but the support system around me makes it possible to keep going.

What’s one thing you wish someone had told you before you became a parent? Any advice for others?

I wish someone had told me how much the rhythm would change over time. In the beginning, everything feels ideal—you feel deeply connected, creatively inspired, and like you’re influencing this new little person while still moving forward with your work. Then, gradually, there comes a moment when your child needs more of your attention in ways that aren’t career-oriented at all, and you have to recalibrate. My biggest advice is to prepare to be flexible—to let go of rigid expectations and trust that adjusting doesn’t mean losing yourself or your creativity.

Do your children inspire / inform your music? 

Yes, absolutely. I draw a lot of inspiration from his natural sense of melody—how he sings, repeats phrases, and gravitates toward certain sounds. Paying attention to what he responds to has been a subtle but meaningful influence on how I think about melody, rhythm, and emotional honesty in my music.

Have you ever written a song for or about your kids?

I’ve written a lot of songs for him that aren’t fully realized yet—little ideas, melodies, and fragments that came directly out of our daily life together. That process has opened the door to something new creatively, and I’m seriously considering writing kids’ music as a next chapter. It feels like a natural extension of both my songwriting and parenthood, and I’m excited to see where it leads.

Not every artist parent incorporates their children into their music - if you do not is this a conscious decision?

Right now, I don’t think it’s a fully conscious decision - I’m very focused on the day-to-day logistics of raising him and being present as a parent. That said, he’s a huge source of motivation. He’s pushing me to be more successful and more intentional, knowing that my work now directly impacts his well-being.

Creatively, I’ve been surprised by how drawn I am to holiday music and that sense of joy it carries. There’s something about it that feels timeless and connective - it taps into memories of my own childhood and reminds me why I started making music in the first place.

Listen to A is For Atom’s latest release “Enola” here:

About A Is for Atom

A Is for Atom is the indie rock project of songwriter and producer Mike Cykoski. Mike’s work often explores memory, identity, and emotional inheritance using personal experience as a lens for larger cultural themes.

An NYU graduate with a Master’s degree in Music Technology, Mike has also studied at Juilliard, the experimental music center Harvest Works, and DJ focused music school Dubspot. He has performed nationally and internationally, with live highlights including shows in Ireland, Mexico City, and Toronto (NXNE and Canadian Music Week), as well as appearances in key U.S. music hubs like New York City and Austin.

A Is for Atom’s releases, including Song for You and Last Man on the Moon, have earned strong press attention and established the project as a thoughtful, evolving voice in indie music.

With recent singles like “Enola,” Mike continues to explore new ground while staying anchored in honest and human storytelling.

Connect with A is For Atom on the Website