I Want - Mk.gee
Toog's Tune of the Day # 12 - December 27, 2024
In 1999, Disney did something absolutely diabolical. They asked Phil Collins to help put together a soundtrack for their new movie, Tarzan.
Phil Collins responded by dropping some of the biggest bangers of the decade. You’ll be in my heart, Two worlds, Trashin’ The Camp featuring fucking NSYNC? Never has God been closer to the soul of man than the 1990s.
I’ll admit, Tarzan has absolutely nothing to do with what I am here to talk about today. But Phil Collins does.
You see in early 1996, he conceived a child with Sting and Jai Paul.
That child’s name? Mk.gee
Before you tell me how ridiculous this sounds, let me be clear. Mk.gee is not his actual name. Its Michael Todd Thorpe.
Give his song I Want a listen.
You can hear his fathers’ influences right?
When I first heard about Mk.gee (pronounced mc-gee) about a year ago, I was enamored with his guitar tone. But I made the mistake of forgetting all about him. It wasn’t until the release of his 2024 album Two Star & The Dream Police that I realized something cool was happening.
Mk.gee has revolutionized a new style of instrumentation. He has created an entirely original sound that pairs modulated guitars, synth pads, and roomy vocals with a swampy conception of time and rhythm.
He brings together all of these chaotic slices of tone into one of the vibiest music pies I’ve ever eaten.
There is no doubt in my mind that Mk.gee will be a star. But more than that, I believe he will play an important role in helping redefine how popular music is structured. For too long, the record industry has pushed standardized song formats, forcing conformity to maximize marketability and reach.
Mk.gee represents a potential alternative to this approach. Its weird, but it works.
For now, he still has a long way to go before he can be considered a mainstream artist. His fan base is still dominated by dudes who ask everyone they meet if they’ve ever listened to Mk.gee. They are exactly what everyone accuses vegans of being, only more annoying.
Keep an eye out for people wearing oversized grey hoodies and cargo pants. That will be your sign that Mk.gee is capturing the cultural imagination. That, or depression is on the rise.
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If you want to know where to start, throw on Two Star & The Dream Police. It’s the best representation of his sound. And a word of advice, if you fall asleep while listening and wake up in the 1980s, make sure to tell everyone that Exxon Mobil is lying about recycling.
TOOG OUT.