Greensboro, North Carolina native MYKA uses effervescent echos of electric guitar and fleeting lyricism chalk full of core memories to create deeply personal, distorted neighborhood feel on his latest release ‘american kids.’

The music video for ‘american kids’ combines VHS vignettes of high school homecomings, dizzying roller coaster loops, and diverse pop culture references to the American flag over time. MYKA mimics the nostalgic tone set by his ethereal sonics by captaining this tune with mellow, withdrawn vocals that haunt this track like a ghost. It’s a song about transformation; about an elusive girl who dyes her hair blonde and a kid who moves to Hollywood and starts drinking wine. It’s these cold and callous tropes which MYKA contrasts with warm, sacred memories of listening to Channel Orange and hotboxing his backseat amongst friends that capture the momentary bliss of youth and the dark plunge forward into adulthood thereafter. MYKA’s last words on the track are, “can’t stay here forever/ know it’s better if you don’t.” While there is a deep-rooted soft spot that MYKA clings to in his memories, he warns of the danger that comes with never letting them go. He ties the universal thread between his unique experiences and collective emotions, recognizing the “American kid” that lives inside us all.

Now based in Los Angeles, MYKA creates music that defies all genres and labels, touching his listeners’ core with honest, stripped down confessionals and messages that stir up a sense of hope and belonging. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Kid Cudi and Tyler the Creator, MYKA’s musical aesthetic produces a delightful surprise with every song.

Check out MYKA’s “american kids” here

WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

TIKTOK