Guelph, ON-based dark-pop/alt prodigy Mikalyn Hay – and co-write partner EDM and pop artist, Xtro (Chris Graham) has dusted off an earlier fave for a fresh remix with a global vibe in “Close”.
Discovered by International label and management outpost Reven, “Close feat. Mikalyn & Xtro” was reimagined by Brazilian bass/future/tech house artist RQntz (Requintes) and Russian EDM duo 39 Kingdom for the Spring 2020 release.
The original video from Mikalyn and Xtro’s initial imagining remains available via YouTube here.
“‘Close’ was a very fun song to write,” Mikalyn recalls of the track’s creative process some two+ years ago. Hay and Graham — who were 16 at the time — collaborated for a six-track EP, Love Again where the original version of “Close” was featured. “Chris and I have written many songs and this one started out the same way all of them do: alternating between our makeshift home basement studios, mine in Guelph and his in Toronto.
For ‘Close,’ we had been freestyling around the line ‘close to me’ and, once we had the song fully written, I knew it was my favourite,” she continues. “It’s been so cool seeing where the song started, and comparing it to what it’s become. It’s crazy.”
Check out the video for the remix below and find out more about Mikalyn via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
I’m Mikalyn! I’m a singer-songwriter from Guelph, Ontario.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
I’ve been writing and performing for as long as I can remember. I write in lots of genres, but my favourites are indie pop and EDM! I have a bunch of unreleased music that I can’t wait to put out to the world.
Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?
I’ve been doing lots of live gigs on platforms such as Facebook and Instagram because of COVID. I usually have a pretty steady stream of live gigs, in various places across Ontario. I can’t wait to get out and see everyone in person again, and usually, my live gigs consist of me and my keyboard. I love doing intimate sets! I also occasionally bring my friend Chris Grey along and he brings lots of fun to the gigs as well, by involving tracks. I like to bring a mix of covers and originals to my sets, and I love taking requests!
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
I have so much unreleased music I’m excited to put out, and will be releasing soon. Out of songs that I have already released, I would say my latest single “Close,” in collaboration with some Brazilian producers. Out of upcoming music, I would say “Uber.” I can’t wait to release that one!
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/ artists?
I love so many amazing Canadian artists! Some of my current favourites are The Weeknd, Jessica Mitchell and Tyler Shaw. I also love Joni Mitchell! There are so many amazing artists.