In a creative landscape saturated with fleeting trends and recycled styles, artist Mykel emerges as a powerful force of originality. With a style that fuses raw emotion, cultural storytelling, and modern technique, Mykel has carved out a space where vulnerability meets bold expression. Mykel’s music invites viewers to confront the complexities of identity, transformation, and the human experience. This article dives into the evolution of Mykel’s artistic journey, the themes that drive their work, and the impact they’re making.

Where are you based?
Los Angeles

You were raised initially Mormon in Salt Lake City, Utah. Did that upbringing shape you or your sound as an artist in any way?
I think it informs a lot of things. My writing perspective, existential nature, but most importantly — my desire to sing soulfully and powerfully. Music and singing is a huge part of the Mormon services, albeit a more reverent tone and style. In any case, I grew up singing every Sunday and I’m sure some of my desire to wail and become a powerhouse vocalist was in rebellion to the reverent hymns.

You have a beautiful voice. How did you get into music?
It sounds cliche, but it really chose me. My family are all athletes, but my dad loves music and plays guitar/drums. So when I popped out the womb with full vibrato… they were like - “ok we gotta get this girl in some sort of lessons”. I’ve been singing ever since.

You also have a background in musical theatre. You’ve credited your grandiose vocals and elaborate storytelling to that. Are there any other tools musical theatre supplied you?
Musical Theater gave me confidence and versatility. The ability vocally to step into multiple genres/roles/ and maintain a rigorous vocal health regimen has benefitted me immensely!

Who were your biggest musical influences growing up, and how have they shaped your sound?
Whitney Houston, Etta James, Christina Aguilera, Jessie J, Tori Kelly, Queen, Celine Dion, Adele. Anyone owning their power and making an impact was on repeat.

Are there any non-musical influences, like film, literature, or art, that inspire your songwriting?
Spirituality, nature, and film shape my writing. I also write music for sync (film/TV) so I’m always inspired by scenes, and the use of music in film.

What do you want people to feel when they hear your music?
I want them to feel heard, to feel safe. To feel validated in the fact that nobody has everything figured out. I want them to feel that it’s real.

Your new EP, Hometown Runaway, dives into themes like ego death (and escaping death), self-worth, imposter syndrome, and your layered relationship to faith. What about those topics inspired you to turn them into songs?
My accident changed everything. I quit music for good — I was in the process of moving home and re-routing. These songs were born out of pure emotional processing. I needed to cope and music is how I do. It was a complete accident. All of these topics are relevant to my real life and to my recovery and healing after the accident. It felt only right to release them — since they seem to be the thesis statement of who I am as a person.

You were assisted by Grammy-nominated producer and mixer Yang Tan, who has worked with artists such as Janelle Monae, and three-time RIAA Certified producer and engineer Gehring Miller, working with those such as Giveon and Ella Mai. What was working with such big names in the industry like?
The best part of this EP in my opinion is — I got to work with my genuine friends. I’ve been blessed to find real great people in this industry — who happen to be very talented and successful. We all met organically and have been collaborating for years. So when I say this album was born out of my pure need to process my emotions — I mean it. I called up Gehring and said hey I need to create — everything is shit. And he welcomed me with open arms as my friend. Same with Yang - she’s always been telling me to lean into my real authentic story - especially my religious upbringing. We would spend hours going out to dinner and chatting about nuance and duality. It was healing working with them to say the least.

You have said that working with Gehring Miller on “Brace for Impact”, a single off of your EP, helped build a safe space for you to face the traumatic event of a near-death experience. What did this mean as an artist for you?
It meant complete freedom. Freedom from self judgement, from expectation or outcome. Freedom to just be heard, understood, and then bolstered. It was magic.

You have mentioned that “Brace for Impact” stemmed from being involved in a near-fatal car accident. Can you tell us more about this and what this song means to you?
I was on my way to Death Valley with some friends, and our back tire seized up out of nowhere. We went rolling four times, at 80 mph off the side of the freeway. I walked away with PTSD and Whiplash — that's it. The fact that I’m alive is a miracle that I am still questioning to this day. It shook everything. Survivors' guilt, reframing my perspective, getting in the therapy I knew I needed but couldn’t afford. Everything fell out of place and then into place because of that event. And the song is my healing anthem. My final bow on that experience. My rock bottom.

“Hometown Runaway” helped give you renewed perspective and appreciation for life. Can you tell us more about this?
I realized in my healing I’d been trying to run from myself. White knuckling what I thought I needed to prove to everyone (and myself) so hard that I was miserable. I wasn’t owning who I really was. I was running from everything. Hometown Runaway is me accepting all the parts of myself. Realizing I need to lean in to who I’ve always been. Not run away from it. It’s a nuance anyone who’s left home to start a new life will relate to.

You’ve written songs for reality TV shows such as Love Island and Vanderpump Rules. What was this experience like for you? How was it different from writing for yourself?
It’s so different. Having a brief–a goal to aim for–in a lot of ways frees you up to experiment. Which is amazing, but it can also generalize you, since you need to write in a universal way. Writing this project for me was the exact opposite of all of that.

In celebration of your new music, you partnered with Couplet Cafe in Downtown LA for a custom beverage, and you also run a popular beverage account on TikTok. Where did your love for beverages come from?
I have Utah culture to thank for that. Utah is obsessed with mocktails and soda (Swig). I remember being little and watching ASMR cafe content to fall asleep. I’ve been drinking matcha specifically since high school (since Mormons don’t drink coffee). It’s always been something I loved. I leaned into it as a creative outlet during the period where I was convinced I was quitting music. I started sharing stories, and the rest is history. So wild where the universe will take you.

What got you into making drinks? Are all your drinks healthy?
Most of my drinks are healthy at this point, but not all, and I’m definitely no stranger to putting vanilla creamer in my Diet Coke ;)

Do you have a go to drink? How do you come up with new mixes all the time?
My classic matcha latte with agave and 2% milk is my morning go to. Or a good old coke zero with lime. I have a huge beverage cart in my house and I just love trying new combos for my friends and family when they come over so that’s where I let my creativity fly.

You partnered with The Wounded Warrior Foundation to do a workshop on making drinks. Can you tell us about this experience? What did you decide to teach?
It was an amazing experience. Matcha is one of my biggest passions, and I happen to have worked at a cafe where training in the traditional ceremonial preparation of matcha was required. So I got connected to the foundation and they wanted to do a workshop to teach the warriors and their families how to prepare matcha and taste different blends to see what they like. It was amazing to bring the community together and learn from them. I would love to keep doing community workshops like that.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give other emerging artists trying to find their voice?
Give it time and try your best to be honest and authentic. I thought I knew my voice, but until I really had a perspective on life it didn’t click for me. Everyone's timeline is different.

It has been a crazy past few years, and we suspect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
Breath work honestly. It’s the perfect nervous system hack for me.

What is your life motto?
“You’ve gotta relax to be a star”

Please list any websites and social media you would like Jejune to promote:
@HometownRunaway on IG and TT
@dont.chase.your.d on IG and TT for beverage content
Stream the new music: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mykel2/how-do-you-know

Meet Mykel: The Sound That Sticks With You