Michael Todd Gordon, aka Mk.gee, is one of the highest-grossing artists right now, with a growth of 256,000 monthly listeners in just one week, a rise of 171.3%.
It seems the multi-instrumental singer-songwriter has a choke hold on the music industry.
Recognised as this generation’s Prince by none other than legendary guitarist Eric Clapton and Tyler the Creator, who also attended his gig in The Fonda, LA, he’s your favourite artist’s favourite artist.
A close friend asked me to attend the LA-based artist’s gig in Brixton, London, just 3 weeks before the event’s date. As someone who can never say no to free tickets, I jumped on the opportunity, not having listened to his music beforehand or even really knowing who he was.
It was the closer to a three-day stint at the Electric Brixton beginning on the 29th of October.
In preparation, I did what anyone else would do and drilled the music into my head he had released since he began releasing in 2017; in the few weeks, I had to prepare myself if I was to be among a crowd of super fans, and I was pleasantly surprised.
His debut studio album, Two Star & the dream police, released this year, is a unique mix of 80s rock with melodic synth and guitar riffs, all brought together by Mk.gee’s grungy yet harmonic voice.
The Frank Ocean-backed producer left an impression on me, leaving me feeling transfixed by how the artist accumulated all these elements so well.
However, the slow moody tone of the music meant that I couldn’t help myself from wondering how this could translate well to the stage.
The standout tracks amongst the crowd were “Are You Looking Up” and “DMA”, both from his 2024 studio release calling for an encore; Gee played the two songs a total of 5 times, each time causing the crowd to go into a joyous frenzy.
In my experience, artists can sink or swim when playing live, leaving those who listened to their music digitally disappointed; it’s rare to find an artist who is so accomplished at both; Gee is precisely that.
On the night, everything left me in awe. His smooth, husky voice translated so well to the stage, and his ability on the guitar is undeniable, treating it more like a bass than a six-string with his unique slap-like plucking.
I had never heard anything like it before. The crowd, music, and lights had me in a trance for the gig’s three-hour duration.
An artist who also feels so genuine and appreciative when talking to his fans, he stayed behind to speak to those who stuck around. It felt like an honour seeing him live so early in his career; it seems like the only way is up for him.
Another music drop cannot come soon enough.
4.5/5 ✩