New dance artist MKL, has just returned from Amsterdam for her first ADE event and celebrating the buzz around her #1 Afrohouse gem “You & Me” (Bayacou Records). She took a few moments with HMWL to share songs and artists that have influenced her along the way. 

“FREE” – Ultra Nate

A song that both equally moves me and makes me move. “Free”, by my dear friend Ms. Ultra Naté, will always hold such a special place in my heart. This song marked the beginning of my journey into the dance music realm. When I began my job as a bartender at a local venue in Louisiana, my boss at the time, and now current manager, Van Roy, began to introduce me to rich house and club classics- with house music being a genre that I’d never really explored. We had a ritual every late night after working a long event- Van began to play his late night mixes. I remember hearing the enticing guitar intro to “FREE” and immediately being drawn in. Ultra finds a way to seamlessly blend messages of self empowerment, unity, and love through her lyricism throughout the song. This song is more than just a tune to get you dancing; “Free” speaks to the interconnectedness between us all with such a strong and powerful message. This song was a major influence in the writing process for “333”. The initial concept for “333” started out as a simple- but strikingly powerful melody and the line – “the only things that stays the same is everything changes.” Our only constant in this lifetime is change, and the inevitability of it. I definitely aimed to convey a similar message as Naté when expanding on the lyrics for “333”.

“YOU’RE THE ONE” – Kaytranada

I first discovered Kaytranada in the midst of Summer 2020 when the pandemic was in full effect. A month prior to worldwide lockdown, I had gotten into a horrible car accident. I was in the midst of the dog days of summertime, I was miserable, isolated and handicapped. To say I was at a low point in my life would be an understatement. I had recently discovered KAYTRANADA’s album “99.9%”. “YOU’RE THE ONE” was a major outlier of the album for me…. Listening to it took me out of the miserable place I was in for the entirety of the song. It was on repeat pretty much throughout lockdown for me. Upbeat, groovy, and clever- This song was definitely a huge inspiration for where I saw myself taking my future musical projects. It would be a dream come true to work with him.

“DANCING ELEPHANTS” – Rochelle Jordan

When I first heard this song, I remember telling myself “I wanna make music like this.” I knew that I wanted to emulate the same energy Rochelle gave me when I first heard “Dancing Elephants” – seduction, a little bit of mystery, and groove. Her sensual vocals intertwined with the smoothness of the beat are bound to make anyone feel elated and in the mood to dance. Rochelle Jordan’s music has definitely served as a muse throughout my writing- and her style has always been so captivating for me. She has definitely inspired me in navigating and curating my own personal and unique sound.

“FREEFALL” – Durand Bernarr

This song played a huge role in inspiring the message I aimed to convey with “333”. Letting go of control, being in the moment, trusting the process and the changes that inevitably come with life. This song was an imperative part of my life when I was going through a major life transition. It was at the peak of me beginning to accept that certain things were out of my control and shifting my entire paradigm. Along with the lyrics, the sounds of Durand’s vocals/ runs also served as inspiration when writing “YOU & ME”.I hope you all take the time to give these tracks a listen and can share the experiences I’ve had when listening to them. All love💗 MKL

Buy/Listen to YOU & ME & 333 here