The Multi-platinum, BRIT Award-winning, and GRAMMY®-nominated global pop star MIKA heads to Dallas for a headlining concert at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum on Saturday. This will be his next stop on his recently launched The Spinning Out Tour which he kicked off April 29. A new album and tour has MIKA busy these days, but like his music, he does it all with a sense of grace, style and upbeat positivity.
The tour supports MIKA’s first English-language studio album since 2019, Hyperlove.
The album touches on vintage production while exploring the modern world and human connection. From a queer artist, this can easily refer to gay men and Grindr. No? Just us?Well, connection is connection and where MIKA finds it is at his live shows.
“The people are there collectively in this sort of celebration,” he said via Zoom. “When we are all there together in that way, there’s this power of connection that is beautiful.”
There is much about Hyperlove that feels affirming. Gone are the exuberant stylings of his smash debut 20 years ago, he 2006 album Life in Cartoon Motion that featured his No. 1 hit “Grace Kelly.”
This album marks a distinct sophistication but MIKA hasn’t lost his vibrancy and energy of his early days. But his tempered tunes have a sharpened sensibility and melodic wit. He can still bring a smile to listeners, but like his audience, he’s grown in those decades since his debut.
Hyperlove reunites the singer with Nick Littlemore, (Empire of the Sun and PNAU), producer of MIKA’s The Origin of Love. And for an added queer bonus, Adding another distinctive layer, filmmaker, icon and the Pope of Trash John Waters appears as a guest narrator across the album.
And like any grown queer man, he has an affection for his pets — most famously for his golden retrievers.
The album’s first single is a tribute to his dog Melachi.
“It was time. She has been with me for so long and that love is just something quite special. You see it in their eyes and you’re undone,” he said.
So pet lovers be warned for Saturday’s show for any sappy tears shed while dancing along to the song.
DJ Sliver opens the show. Doors at 7 p.m.
–Rich Lopez
