MkX – Down

By starrymag | August 26, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I would describe my sound as futuristic pop music with a nostalgic twist. I love to juxtapose experimental sound design with the sound of 90s/00s pop.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) I’m super inspired by producers like Cashmere Cat and Sophie. They are incredible sound designers and make fascinating records. I grew up listening to 90s/00s pop music, so I’m super inspired by Max Martin and Darkchild. I’m also a huge Lady Gaga fan. I love how her songs always have a full artistic vision that goes along with it.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Down.”

 

A) The night before I wrote the song I went to a party and saw someone I thought was really hot standing by the DJ table. I took that scenario and wanted to write about what would happen if I took them to my apartment. I have lots of colorful lasers, lights and other crazy stuff in my apartment. My goal was to use really strong imagery in this song to give the listener that same feeling I had when I wrote the track in my apartment.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think the hook is really bold and daring, but pretty simple at the same time. I wanted to write a song that would get stuck in peoples’ heads. So far, I’ve received some pretty good feedback from my listeners which is a really good feeling.

 

Q) How did you and CupcaKKe hook up to work on this track together?

 

A) I knew CupcakKe was someone I wanted to have on my record one day. I’ve seen her live a few times and she has such an incredible energy. Her lyrics are extremely clever, and her delivery is insane. She heard the track and wanted to drop a verse on it. I was SO thrilled; it was a dream come true! She absolutely KILLED it and brought the song to the next level.

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) Honestly, it depends on the song for me. Sometimes I’ll have a fun lyric idea to start with. Other times I’ll make a beat and topline over it. Wherever that spark of creativity starts, I always follow it. For “Down,” I started the beat and the rest just flowed out naturally.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) I write and produce my own records, although I do love collaborating. I recently released a song called “Stay” that I wrote with Myah Marie and Zac Poor. Besides that though, all of my other songs I wrote and produced by myself on my computer. I do have some other collaborations that I’m currently working on and I’m excited to release them in the near future!

 

Q) Will there be a full album or EP coming in the near future?

 

A) Right now, I’ve been releasing a bunch of singles, but I’d love to put out a full body of work soon!  I’d be lying if I said I haven’t brainstormed album names in the shower! [laughs]

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I’ve performed all around the country, but ironically enough I think the most significant places were in my home state Massachusetts. There were a few venues that I grew up going to see my favorite music artists play at. When I eventually got to play at those venues, it felt really surreal.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) I’d love to collaborate with Tinashe. She’s an incredible songwriter and producer. I remember when I was in high school, I saw this video of her making a beat and recording a song in her bedroom. It was super inspiring to see an artist I look up to create music in their own bedroom, just like I do!  I’d also love to collaborate with Charli XCX. She’s such a skilled writer and her sound is so dope. I recently remixed her song “c2.0” and it was a lot of fun to make! (check it out on SoundCloud lmao).

 

Q) You’ve toured with Ariana Grande, Christina Perri and Rixton. What did you take away from your experiences?

 

A) I was so mind-blown by how many people it took to put on those shows. Some of them had crews of hundreds of people who would build and set-up a gigantic stage, take the whole thing down, bring it to the next city and do it all over again. Ever since, I’ve been sketching stage ideas in my notebooks for what I want my future stage to look like.

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) I’ve been listening to a lot of Ayesha Erotica. She’s an incredible producer and songwriter who makes these dope hip-hop and pop bangers with a heavy ‘00s influence. I would love to collaborate with her one day as well!

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) A lot of my following is from people finding me on social media. I think it’s such a powerful way for artists to connect with fans and vice versa. It also lets me give people an inside look at my creative process. I love interacting with the people who support my music. It’s really cool that we live in a day and age where these kinds of connections can be formed.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) First off, thank you to anyone who listens to my music and supports my artistry. Without you, I’d be nowhere. My main goal is to inspire people to find what makes them unique. I want my listeners to know that being yourself and standing out is a lot more rewarding (and fun!) than trying to blend in with the crowd. Take the thing that makes you YOU and RUN with it!

 

 

 

Check Out The Single “Down”

 

Check Out New Single “Fall”