Mk.gee Returns With the Beautiful and Blurry “ROCKMAN”
Photo: Will Shaw
If there is any single reason for 2024 to go down in history as an incredible year for music, it’s Mk.gee’s recent sonic contributions, February's Two Star & The Dream Police and now his latest single “ROCKMAN.” The “Lonely Fight” artist has delivered his second post-album single of the year, and in typical Mk.gee fashion, it is a dreamy and smokey blur.
“ROCKMAN” starts out with a crackling guitar intro, a signature of Mk.gee’s quintessential sound. The drums and production (and eagle screech) are a modern spin on '80s anachronisms, reminiscent of The Police and Bruce Springsteen. His chugging foggy bassline lays a solid foundation for his layered harmonies to swim around atop his unrestrained vocal. And lyrically, the passion is palpable.
Mk.gee’s only collaborator on the song is his touring band member Zack Sekoff, an LA-based producer whose credits include Thundercat’s Drunk, Vince Staples' Big Fish Theory, and Tinashe’s “Nasty.” Listed as a co-lyricist, Sekoff perhaps contributed to some of the song’s feverish lines like, “Can’t see you, but I see what you’re saying / The little moves that you’re making / We can bite down on the world for the taking / Baby, ooh, can’t you take it?”
Having just wrapped the North American leg of his world tour, this release feels like Mk.gee’s parting gift before heading overseas. “ROCKMAN” is the latest addition to the artist’s oeuvre, a discography that’s seen a lot of evolution since his early releases. It seems he’s hit his stride, honing in on a sound that is distinctive, dreamlike, and always leaves listeners craving more.
Listen to “ROCKMAN” below:
