MK
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Producer, remixer, DJ and Area10 label boss, MK (marc kinchen)'s background is what electronic music dreams are made of. His roots are Detroit underground, combined with a virtual mash up of sounds from Motown soul and Chicago house, to Britain's early electronic leaning bands like Depeche Mode, New Order and The Cure. MK's path is a series of seamless transitions between house, hip-hop, pop and R&B, with a dedicated return to dance music during more recent years.
MK's teenage years were packed with studio sessions alongside Detroit's
young techno legends Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson.
"When we were at the studio together, the guys always went out of
their way to make me feel welcome. They were like mentors to me. And,
when they were on tour, they would let me use the studio to play around
as much as I liked."
During those early years, MK was able to begin perfecting and honing the tools he needed to make timeless tracks like 'The Rains', 'Burning', and 'Always'. By the mid 90s, Marc had become one of music's top remix producers, initially with an iconic rework of the song 'Push The Feeling On' by a little known group The Nightcrawlers. MK rewrote and reproduced the song's underlying music and created a brand new vocal by chopping up the existing one. Following the global success of 'Push The Feeling On' MK was commissioned to create a slew of top remixes from artists ranging from Jodeci, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Pet Shop Boys, Moby, Ethyl Meatplow, Mary J. Blige, and more. He has remixed over 500 songs to date.
As 2000 neared, Marc headed to LA to delve into the world of hip-hop and R&B, hooking up with artists like Will Smith, Quincy Jones, Diane Warren, Jay-Z, Tyrese, Brandy, and Pitbull. MK recalls what it was like when he got to LA: "It was a transition for me at first. R&B had a whole set of new people, new studios, and a new way of working. Just as I was fitting in nicely and building my little crew up, Pitbull sampled Nightcrawlers and then everyone wanted to work with me again. After a few years of sessions, sessions and more sessions, I got an itch for a new challenge. Somehow, I heard that these really cool DJs Jamie Jones and Lee Foss were on a mission to find me to see if I would play with them at a Hot Natured party at the Electric Pickle in Miami. I said yes and suddenly, it felt like I was home again".
MK's discography runs the gamut of both his own original releases, as well as his popular remixes that feature the signature sound of his memorable keyboards. MK has managed to find the fine balance that teeters somewhere between the underground and the more mainstream sounds without betraying his own integrity or the respect of his fans. He has built a bridge between the two crowds with custom mixes, MK Dubs, and vocal mixes. "My goal is to produce great songs, great artists, and great music, whether they are in acoustic form or in the inimitable 4/4 club musical measure. "I want to make music that harnesses my spirit as a producer and a songwriter. My hope is that it reflects more than a one-dimensional sound or genre. I find that once I am happy with the actual foundation of a song, I can always go in and make a club version, a chill version, or even an orchestral one. It's the song that serves as the building block for all of these things."
Around this same time that MK returned to dance music, Marc's classics 'Burning', 'Love Changes' and 'Always' were starting to find a new audience in the UK and Europe. Defected Records signed him to be a part of their House Masters series, but the real defining moment came when he asked to remix Storm Queen 'Look Right Through'. After an incredible 18 months of being in the charts, Marc's distinctive rework went to #1 in the UK singles chart. "I knew it was going to be something special as soon as it was done!" he beams. Shortly thereafter, he was asked to remix 'My Head Is A Jungle' by Wankelmut & Emma Louise, which shot to #4 in the UK Charts and cemented a spot as the Ibiza Anthem of 2014.
MK's remix streak continued with songs like 'Forward Motion' for Hot Natured and Lana Del Rey's 'Blue Jeans' and 'Summertime Sadness', as well as reworks for Sam Smith, Pharrell, Paloma Faith, Ellie Goulding, Disclosure, Haim, Mary J. Blige, Diplo, Rudimental, Halsey, and most recently, Justin Bieber, Tove Lo, Elderbrook, Sigrid, Rihanna, and more.
While keeping busy with remix projects, MK was also working on originals, such as 'Piece of Me' featuring the amazing Becky Hill. To date, the track has surged to over 70 million Spotify streams and was the precursor to the mighty '17' (over 120 million Spotify streams), a rich house anthem powered by MK's trademark piano chords layered over a strong bassline.
With the Platinum '17' peaking at #7 in the Official UK Top 40 singles chart and rocketing to #1 on the UK Dance Chart, the success of the song (MK's highest ever charting original solo production) set the tone for his worldwide '17' tour in 2017. The tour made stops all over the UK, with highlights including Cardiff, Manchester's Warehouse Project, Leeds, Newcastle, Area10 stages at Creamfields, SW4, We Are FSTVL, Parklife and more.
Last year, he released 'Back & Forth', yet another soulful house song with Becky Hill on vocals, which now boasts over 61 Million Spotify streams. MK's newest single 'Body 2 Body' is out now and is a sultry, soulful romp into a different sort of twist for MK.
On the touring front, his popular Area10 events have touched down across a range of locations, holding parties in Dublin, Bristol's iconic 'Motion' venue, and a fantastic Miami Music Week winter party at Miami's Delano Beach Club with guests Camelphat, Solardo, Lee Foss, Detlef, Latmun, and special guest Diplo. At Creamfields' 21st Anniversary, MK's premiered his most recent single with Becky Hill, 'Back & Forth', and his Area10 stage included guests such as Idris Elba, Armand Van Helden, Eli & Fur, Groove Armada, KC Lights and more. Marc also held his first series of Area10 Pool Parties at Ibiza Rocks, along with a series of special appearances at Amnesia, Pacha, Ushuaia, We Are FSTVL, and Tomorrowland. Similarly, he's hosting his own showcases at ADE, and a run of dates across Ireland, Scotland, Italy, Germany, France, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, Australia, New Zealand and his native USA, ending in his home city of Detroit, MK was also asked by Zane Lowe to host his own Area10 Radio show on Beats 1.
2019 has been just as exciting for the Detroit native as he continues his steady rise. Bringing in the year with a sold out shows with Defected at Printworks and Manchester's WHP, MK's Area10 hosted a stage at the sold out party at Tobacco Docks in London in late March, a headline slot at Ireland's magical Life Festival, mainstage at We Are FSTVL, along with confirmed Area10 stages at this year's Creamfields, Parklife, E1 in Scotland, Ibiza, and more. This season, MK will return to Ibiza and the festival circuit as he continues to record and remix music he loves, then gets to play it out to all his friends. The old saying is true, "Do what you love, and you won't work a day in your life."
MK
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27 Jul, 2020
MK’s latest single ‘2AM’ is out now
https://www.instagram.com/marckinchen https://www.facebook.com/MarcKinchen/ https://twitter.com/MarcKinchen
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16 Aug, 2019
MK: With Gorgon City 'There For You' Radio 1 Hottest Record
'Hottest Record' on BBC Radio 1 tonight...
Acclaimed UK House Duo Gorgon City team up with the platinum selling and genre-defining US producer, DJ and remixer MK (Marc Kinchen) for a slice of vocal-house heaven on 'There For You'.
No strangers to creative and successful collaborations, MK & Gorgon City have each achieved close to 1 billion global streams, and more than 10 million in global track sales across their careers to date.
Loaded with MK's signature piano melodies and blended with a versatile vocal direction, 'There for You' is undoubtedly both a celebration and testament to the hard work that the talented and well-oiled London duo & Detroit mastermind have put in over the last decade.
Both Gorgon City and MK are giants amongst house music hitmakers and 'There For You' is set for further dominance across dance floors and airwaves.
www.GorgonCity.lnk.to/ThereForYou
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09 Jul, 2019
MK: Pool Parties At Ibiza Rocks Hotel
Yesterday MK kicked off his Area 10 Pool Parties in style, catch the remaining dates at Ibiza Rocks Hotel over the summer.
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17 May, 2019
MK: New Single 'Body 2 Body'
DJ, producer and Area10 label boss MK (Marc Kinchen) has followed up on the chart success of last year's single 'Back & Forth' with 'Body 2 Body,' his first release of 2019. Out today (May 10th) on Columbia / Area10, 'Body 2 Body' finds MK switching it up from his well-known warm piano house sound in favour of a more progressive flavour. Arriving just in time for summer, 'Body 2 Body' is a record that's destined to have an impact not only in the charts but in clubs around the world.
It follows on from last year's gold-selling single 'Back & Forth', which peaked at #12 in the Official UK Top 40 Singles Chart and remains a mainstay on streaming playlists everywhere. To date 'Back & Forth' has been streamed over 60 million times on Spotify.
This was preceded by 2017's '17', Kinchen's most successful career release, which has amassed just under 120 million Spotify streams to date.
MK's newest single, 'Body 2 Body' leads into another hugely busy summer for MK, who is poised to take the Area10 brand to some of the world's most sought-after party locations. As well as hosting Area10 stages at festivals including Creamfields, Parklife, Life Festival and Scotland's EH-1 in the coming months. MK will also kick off the return of his weekly Area10 Pool Party held Ibiza Rocks in July and August with a wealth of high-profile special guests soon to be announced. In the U.S. he will appear at Gather Festival and Movement this month with club dates confirmed in Miami, Atlantic City, and Las Vegas into the summer.
'Body 2 Body' represents the next chapter in the career of this internationally-acclaimed multitalented artist, who continues to ride on his rapid ascent to the pinnacle of the dance music world.
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22 Feb, 2019
Creamfields 2019
The Creamfields festival will take place in Daresbury, Cheshire from 22nd-25th August and features Primary Talent International & Decked Out artists:
...La Fleur
...Malaa
...MK
...REZZ
...Tchami
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31 Jan, 2019
Creamfields 2019
The Creamfields festival in the UK between 22nd - 25th August will feature Primary Talent and Decked Out artists:
...MK
...Tchami
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11 Sep, 2018
MK: New Single 'Back & Forth'
MK's new single 'Back & Forth', featuring Jonas Blue & Becky Hill is available now on Ultra Music.
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17 Aug, 2018
South West Four Weekender 2018
The South West Four Weekender 2018, takes place on Clapham Common, London on the weekend of 25th / 26th August & features a whole host of Primary Talent International & Decked Out artists.
Saturday 25th August
...Dizzee Rascal
...MK
...Will ClarkeSunday 26th August
...Toddla T
...Basement Jaxx
...The Prototypes
...Party Favor
...The Manor
...Steel Banglez
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11 Jul, 2018
Boardmasters 2018
The Boardmasters festival, takes place in Cornwall from 8th - 12th August and features a whole host of Primary Talent International & Decked Out artists.
...Catfish and The Bottlemen (Friday Headliners)
...KANO
...The Horrors
...Fun Lovin' Criminals
...The Sherlocks
...MK
...Will Clarke
...MJ Cole
...Krystal Klear
...KIOKO
...Bad Parents
...Saint Agnes
...RedFaces
...Rosborough
...Bryde
...Mike Skinner
...Barely Legal -
07 Jul, 2018
South West Four Festival 2018
The South West Four festival takes place on Clapham Common, London on 25th & 26th August, and will feature many Primary Talent & Decked Out artists:
Saturday 25th August
...Dizzee Rascal
...MK
...Will ClarkeSunday 26th August
...Toddla T
...Basement Jaxx
...The Prototypes
...Party Favor
...Steel Banglez