At only 17, Mahkenna Tyson, who associates herself with her stage-name as only Mahkenna, was born in Ireland and raised in Southern California, and is already a tour-de-force as a Recording Artist, DJ, and Actress.
Her newest single, “One More Time” elegantly showcases Mahkenna’s unbelievable raw talent and musical intuition, delivering a pop-infused electronic track that not can be listened to at home, but definitely delivers a sound that is most often heard by the superstar DJs at the festivals and clubs.
We caught up with the young prodigy and spoke to her about single, some of the toughest challenges she has faced, and her dream collaborators.
T.H.E – Hey Mahkenna! How’s it going for you and what have you been up to?
Mahkenna – It’s been going well. I’ve been in school, working on new music, getting more involved in the social side of entertainment (that being attending events and such).
T.H.E – Let’s touch upon your musical background. You began vocal training at the age of 5. What made you want to be a singer when you started off?
Mahkenna – Well, as you said, I started vocal training at the age of 5 and I don’t exactly know why I started that, but I can say that music has been an essence that has always surrounded me my whole life. I pursue music because music has been engraved as part of my character.
T.H.E – Which artists inspired you to get into music?
Mahkenna – The artists that have inspired me to get into music would be Taylor Swift, I remember being in like third grade and ecstatic when I got her album on Christmas, and couldn’t get enough watching her live performances. Now, the artists I currently admire would be Ariana Grande, Blackbear, G-Eazy, Billie Eilish, Melanie, Russ, and Mac Miller…RIP. I appreciate their originality. I wouldn’t want to sound like them, you know, but you could say they influence me to work hard, establish my name as an ARTIST, and pursue my own views in art.
T.H.E – What was the moment in your life, when you knew that you had to make music a career?
Mahkenna – I don’t think I had a sudden moment of “yes, music will be my career,” it was just that there is nothing out there I care more about than music. So, of course, I will be doing this for the rest of my life.
T.H.E – Considering you’re 17 and quite young, you have made a name for yourself in the industry. What are some of the most difficult challenges you have faced till now, and what kept you going?
Mahkenna – Some challenges I have faced is getting over my doubts and what people have told me is the “Right Thing.” What I have learned is nobody is going to make an artist into a star, they can turn you into a puppet, but that does not make you an artist. An artist works for themselves and doesn’t bow to what people say because an artist knows what’s best for their craft.
T.H.E – Fast forward to your latest single, ‘One More Time’, could you tell us a bit about how it came about?
Mahkenna – “One More Time” is my latest single. How it came about is my writer, Alicia Madison, had lost someone she loved very much and spilled lyrics of her loss, although the song sounds like a break-up song, it has a deeper meaning.
T.H.E – 2018 is almost heading to a close, how has the year been for you, and what have been the highlights?
Mahkenna – Wow, yeah, 2018 is coming to an end. I’m trying to come up with highlights and what comes to mind are the organic ones, like hiking with my boyfriend, looking at clouds on an airplane, fireworks on the 4th of July, some parties here and there, time with my cousin, all that sentimental stuff…haha!
T.H.E – Name 5 artists in the industry you would like to collaborate with, someday.
Mahkenna – I would want to collaborate with Billie Eilish because she is just so honest and talented, her mom and brother are apparently musical geniuses, so I think it would be really fun. The other artist would be Blackbear, I’ve listened to his music almost every day, for like 2 years now. I think his lyrics are so unique and the tracks are just so interesting, each one of his songs are so different from the other, but Blackbear’s voice is so original it puts them all together like “oh, yeah, that’s Blackbear, duh.”
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