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Stream Mikky Ekko’s Gleaming Soul-Pop ‘Smile’

Mikky Ekko 'Smile' Stream Time Album

“Smile, the worst is yet to come,” coos Nashville pop/soul man Mikky Ekko on his brand new song, “Smile.” The SPIN Best New Artist alum is at last gearing up to release his debut album, Time, via RCA Records, this fall, and we’re hoping it’ll include the Clams Casino collaboration that put him on our map, “Pull Me Down.” Of course, it was his stellar voice-and-piano turn on Rihanna’s “Stay” that positioned him square on top of the globe. And now, Ekko’s got a lot to look forward to, even if his latest offering features such a foreboding line.

And to be fair, “Smile” is very bright sounding — a sunny song that about living in the moment that, musically, expands ever outward while marching forward to a stomp-along beat. As demonstrated in Thursday night’s live-stream (now streaming below) his vocal performance is nothing to be trifled with, which is no doubt why thelikes of Ryan Tedder, Benny Blanco, Dave Sitek, Jeff Bhasker, Stargate, and Dennis Herring have pitched in on Time. Here that album’s latest offering, and keep an eye out for what’s yet to come, which should be even better.

A word from Ekko: “‘Smile’ captures that moment when you’re a teenager and you lose somebody for the first time and you don’t know what to do about it.” Listen up here:

Here’s Mikky’s full performance from Thursday night:

//www.youtube.com/embed/bWL1EUmo6fM?rel=0