Live Review: Mykki Blanco announces new mini-album and shares 'Love Me'

It's a good day to be a Mykki Blanco fan. The pioneering visionary artist has announced a new mini-album titled Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep, set for release via Transgressive Records on June 18th. And, to celebrate, they've also released a brand new single in the form of 'Love Me', tapping Jamila Woods and Jay Cue for the ride.

'Love Me' follows on from last month's 'Free Ride', an infusion of gospel and dance rooted in that forward-facing approach Blanco employs in everything they touch. 'Love Me' is a step away from this high energy, but still channels that gospel sound for an uplifting, emotional and yearning listening experience. It's deeply rooted in vulnerability, and armed with the fearlessness of the three vocalists to share in this, it's a powerful and evocative moment which shows Blanco is clearly holding nothing back.

Blanco said of the single, “‘Love Me’ is essentially about so many forms of love, patience, trust, time. It is about the potion that is created when you sift through the ingredients that create "love", the alchemy we as human beings take part in to convey these feelings deep inside of us.

They continued, explaining, "Jamila really comprises a lot of elements creatively that I just find awesome. Her soothing, soulful and folkloric voice reminiscent of great musicians like Janis Ian or Joni Mitchell. I was completely drawn into Jamila's leaning towards crafting songs with strong lyricism, poetry and themes exploring self-love, intimacy, Black pride, power and vulnerability, so I approached her about working with me and sent her the instrumental for ‘Love Me.’ She made my lyrics her own and created a hazy, cozy, mystical vibe to the production that really planted the seeds of what 'Love Me' became.

As for Jay Cue, Blanco said, "Months later I asked my little brother Jaycue (yes my real brother), to join in on the song. His section of the song he wrote himself and he poured himself into it, heart and soul. That day working with my brother impressed me so much because it was like seeing my own creativity, our family bond, his intense creative force just all coming together and it was extremely emotional for me and it really cemented for me what ‘Love Me’ is about.”

The track’s producer, Daniel Fisher (Physical Therapy) said, “Mykki and I were roommates in Chicago in 2006 and best friends since. They literally spotted me on the sidewalk one day, decided we should be friends and my life hasn’t been the same since. I followed them to NYC in 2008, where they introduced me to club music and we eventually started a band together. Ever since that band ended we have been trying to collaborate on a Mykki Blanco track. ‘Love Me’ really is the culmination of so much history for us.”

Reflecting on the forthcoming release and their evolution so far, Mykki said, “For me, I am one of those artists who many would say has taken the longer road to get to where I am now, but it’s that journey which has been the reward because the journey really has been my life; the career has just been the outer shell to the deeper things that I’ve experienced, and I can only be here now because of this journey.”

Proving they still have so much more to give, even with a decade in the game, Mykki Blanco remains at the forefront of innovative and eclectic hip hop. Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep is shaping up to be a very impressive record to say the least. Listen to 'Love Me' below:

'Love Me' is out now. Buy/stream here.

Broken Hearts & Beauty Sleep is out June 18th via Transgressive Records. Pre-order here.

Words by Emma Jones

Image by Luca Venter

LISTEN TO NEW MUSIC HERE

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MYKKI BLANCO ‘SHE GUTTA’ (OFFICIAL VIDEO)