my story...SO FAR
MKL bio
MKL is Mary Kathryn Labbie, a 23 year old singer / songwriter of French Creole descent from south Louisiana. She began singing at an early age in church choirs and declared to her mom and dad that she would one day make her living singing and writing songs. Fast forward to now and MKL is on the verge of releasing her debut single and EP, “You & Me”, produced by acclaimed Afro house tastemaker Ezel, coming September 6, 2024 on his Bayacou Records imprint.
MKL’s story is punctuated by one divine sign after the other. “It’s been crazy. That’s why I know this is meant to be.” After a few years of performing regional gigs, she had an idea to record a soulful dance cover of the Luther Vandross classic “Never Too Much” and went to her now manager with the idea, who reached out to his friend Ultra Naté, one of the best-selling dance artists of all time (Billboard). Naté suggested esteemed music producer and DJ, Victor Font (Mr. V), owner of Sole Channel music, for the project. MKL sent him a video of her singing the song over a beat she had found online and he was blown away. The two began working remotely, engaging the likes of master keyboardist Albert Menendez (Shakira, Louie Vega) and sound engineer Joey “808” Fernandez (2 X Grammy Award winner). The result may tip the hat to the original but is pure MKL, who with the skilled production of Mr. V, delivers a modern day soulful classic for today’s dance floor. There are no current plans to release “Never Too Much” but the project will hopefully see the light of day in 2025.
Memorial Day weekend of 2024 would forever change MKL’s course when she attended the Movement Festival in Detroit to meet their team in person. A meeting with Ultra Naté resulted in an invitation for MKL to perform at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) for a music showcase for Radio France in October. “This changed everything,” says MKL, “because we weren’t ready to release “Never Too Much”. On one hand I have this amazing opportunity extended to me and on the other hand, it was like, what am I going to perform? I could perform ‘NTM’ but what would be the point? Other than exposure.” The good news is that new music was already in the works. Mr. V had introduced MKL to Ezel, a highly respected producer, multi-instrumentalist and label owner (Bayacou Records) known for his deeply soulful, Afro house grooves. They had already started collaborating on two original songs, with MKL recording and producing the vocals in Louisiana and Ezel creating his magic at his studio in the Dominican Republic. Ezel assured MKL that he could release “You & Me” through his Bayacou label in time for the Amsterdam event. But much would have to be done in a short amount of time. First on deck was to finish the music followed by the monumental task of putting all the moving parts in place for the official release date of September 6, 2024.
With a voice that is both confident and soulfully sultry, MKL is making the songs she wants to make with a sharp focus on building a repertoire that bridges R&B, pop and dance. “R&B has always been my first love but I love dance music and the people I’ve met in the dance music industry. Everyone has been so loving, welcoming and accepting so I’m really excited to be here, releasing these songs,” she says while taking a break from putting the finishing touches on the vocals for ‘333’, the second song on the ‘YOU & ME” EP, also penned by MKL and produced by Ezel. “All the styles I love will come together on my first album, which I’m working on now.”
“This last year has been so cathartic for me, one that left me both vulnerable and resilient. Going through it, the highs and the lows, things ending and beginning, I noticed it just started to spill out in my writing. That’s why ‘You & Me” and “333” are so close to my heart.”
Follow MKL on social media: @mkldivine / mklmusic.com
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