We recently had the chance to connect with Micah Nachtigal and have shared our conversation below.
Micah, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Who are you learning from right now?
Being over a decade into Tigers on the Roof, we’ve covered a lot of musical ground. Lately, we’ve been learning from bands who’ve been around even longer — the ones who manage to reinvent themselves without losing their core. Finding new directions and ideas that truly excite us feels more challenging the deeper we get into our career, but that challenge is also what keeps us moving. We look at those bands who’ve gone through several phases and think about what we can take away from their journey — how to keep chasing that spark without repeating ourselves.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
We’re Tigers on the Roof — a project built on curiosity and instinct. I’m Micah Nachtigal, the singer, writer, and guitarist, and my brother Matthew plays the drums. We started Tigers on the Roof in 2014 in Wichita, KS, simply writing the kind of songs we wanted to hear. Over 10 years and nearly a dozen self-produced albums later, that mission hasn’t changed: make music that excites us first.
We’ve never felt the need to tailor our sound for anyone else — if we don’t love it, it doesn’t go out. We want each record to be a little bit of a mystery, a thread for listeners to follow as the albums evolve.
Now based in Lawrence, KS, we spend most of our time creating in the studio. While we occasionally play shows in Lawrence or Kansas City, our real passion is the writing and recording process — that’s where we feel most at home.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
We were kids chasing sounds in our heads, with no plan other than to make something that felt true. Before the world told us who to be, we were just two brothers in a basement, following whatever music excited us — and honestly, that hasn’t really changed.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Plenty of times. Making music for over a decade without chasing trends or outside validation can feel isolating at times. But every time we’ve thought about stopping, we end up writing something that reminds us why we started — and that spark keeps us going.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That success is measurable. Streams, followers, charts — they’re treated like the ultimate validation. But none of that defines the worth of music. Some of the most important songs we’ve ever heard will never trend, and that’s okay.
We’ve seen too many artists lose their identity trying to fit into what’s popular. The truth is, the most timeless music comes from people who ignore that noise and follow their own instincts.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That we followed the thread, wherever it led. That our music felt like a secret worth sharing. If people talk about Tigers on the Roof like a strange little universe they stumbled into and didn’t want to leave, we did our job.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tigersontheroof
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Asto8igqwtTM8sBIfEo6o?si=oRccZqU8QuG4QFiFjOdYWw
