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Mika


Mika Biography

Mika
Mika (born Mica Penniman, 18.8.1983)

Mika is a Grammy Award-nominated singer / songwriter who was born in Lebanon and is now based in London.

Mika: Childhood

Mika was the third of five children born to a mother of Syrian / Lebanese heritage and an American father. He was born in Beirut, Lebanon. War forced the family from Lebanon and they moved to Paris. It was in Paris that he wrote his first song, a piano instrumental called 'Angry'.

When Mika was nine years old, the family then moved to London. He experienced much bullying and had problems with dyslexia. Mika attended St Phillips School in Kensington, then Westminster School and the Royal College of Music. He left RCM to record his first album for Casablanca Records. Frustrated at people mispronouncing his name, he changed the 'c' to a 'k'.

Mika: Musical Career

Mika's public musical endeavours range from creating the music for an Orbit chewing gum jingle, to writing British Airways in-flight music and appearing at the Royal Opera House.

His debut TV appearances were on Later With Jools Holland and The Friday Night Project. Mika topped the BBC News' influential Sounds of 2007 poll.

The debut single was a download / limited "7 vinyl release, 'Relax, Take It Easy'. The song was playlisted by BBC Radio 1 and was made Single of The Week by the station's DJ Scott Mills.

The single 'Grace Kelly' reached number one in January 2007 and the next month, his album, Life In Cartoon Motion, produced by Greg Wells, was released. Reviews of the album drew comparison to a number of established artists such as Freddie Mercury, Elton John and Scissor Sisters. The artwork for the album was created by his sister, who works under the name Dawack.

Mika won three awards at the 2007 World Music awards: more than any other artist that year and the first artist to ever win three in one year. In February 2008 he played at the 50th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. That same month, he opened the 2008 BRIT Awards. He performed his own songs, 'Love Today' and 'Grace Kelly' as well as a duet with Beth Ditto, performing her band The Gossip's song 'Standing In The Way Of Control'.

Mika Picture Gallery (302 Pictures)

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Mika Tickets


At In On Time  

SHEFFIELD

O2 Academy Sheffield

Thu, 18/02/201019.00Buy Tickets

MANCHESTER

Apollo

Fri, 19/02/201019.00

CONTACT VENUE FOR TICKETS

LEEDS

O2 Academy Leeds

Sun, 21/02/201019.00Buy Tickets

GLASGOW

O2 Academy Glasgow

Mon, 22/02/201019.00Buy Tickets




The Latest News

Boyzone may be too distraught over Stephen Gately's death to tour. The group confirmed....
04/11/2009
Pop star MIKA would still have an animated life should fans ever grow tired of his music - he'd....
15/10/2009
Mika is set to change career - and swap pop for cartoons. The 'Love Today' singer, who....
15/10/2009
Pop star MIKA has recruited LITTLE BRITAIN comedian DAVID WALLIAMS to star in the promo video....
03/10/2009
Pop star MIKA has been slammed by a crime prevention organisation for joking about....
27/09/2009



Festivals

16th - 19th July 2009 Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk The pioneering, genre-defying, award-winning Latitude....
16/07/2009



Video and Audio

Mika Blame It On The Girls video
Mika We Are Golden video
MIKA, WE ARE GOLDEN - VIDEO
Label -
10/09/2009

Mika, Love Today Video Stream and Information
MIKA, LOVE TODAY VIDEO STREAM AND INFORMATION
23 year old pop sensation MIKA follows up his....
16/04/2007

Mika, Grace Kelly Video Stream and Information
MIKA, GRACE KELLY VIDEO STREAM AND INFORMATION
January 29th 2007 sees 23 year old virtuoso....
08/01/2007

Mika Grace Kelly video
MIKA, GRACE KELLY - VIDEO
Label - Casablanca Records/Island UK
18/06/2008





Reviews

Review of Mika' s album The Boy Who Knew Too Much A lot of artists fear being forgotten when they prepare a....
03/09/2009
A blaze of glory surrounded the single release of Grace Kelly and with just cause. A clearly infectious pop sound with....
26/03/2007
"MIKA shows that his playful glam-pop platform is built on a foundation of wide ranging musical appreciation. This is....
01/03/2007



Interviews

oh sure! Well like a lot of people who were trying to get signed I was working with anybody to try and get somewhere....
13/09/2006






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Links


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Mika






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