Duke University student Mike Posner will perform at Stamp Student Union on Saturday
Only a year-and-a-half into his burgeoning professional music career, future pop success story Mike Posner is convinced he is ready for his time in the spotlight.
After releasing two mixtapes in 2009 alone, as well as numerous collaborations, the young singer, a senior at Duke University, has begun building himself a enormous fan base through his blend of melodic hooks and hip hop rhythms.
Student Entertainment Events is bringing the singer’s compelling live act to the Stamp Student Union tomorrow. The concert will also feature rapper and collaborator Big Sean, a recent signee to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music label.
Posner, who began playing drums in the fifth grade before moving on to producing tracks and hip hop beats at 13, has devoted his life to writing and performing music. The Michigan-born musician admits he would be doing music whether or not fame was involved, but he’s not blind to the career’s advantages.
“I’ve sort of tricked everybody,” Posner said. “I’m getting paid to do what I love.”
The promising artist has a unique singing voice that calls to mind the raspy whisper of Macy Gray, only with enough force to cut directly through the electro-urban groove of his tracks.
Songs like “Hey Cupid” and the minor hit “Drug Dealer Girl” from his Matter of Time mixtape feature heavy drums and eminently catchy synthesizer sequences as backing for his simple, yet memorable, lyrics.
Posner’s newest mixtape, One Foot Out the Door, was released three weeks ago via free download on his official website. The record features more emphasis on danceable beats and impressive hooks in an effort to market his music to an even wider audience.
While many reviewers protest that his compositions are derivative of mainstream, radio-ready songs, Posner disagrees. He claims his notoriety ballooned when he stopped playing by modern pop music standards and started writing songs that he wanted to hear. His personal aim for the music is to make it as fun and inviting as possible.
“I’m trying to make un-corny pop music,” Posner explained. “People like it, so I don’t care to make grandiose or political musical statements.”
The majority of Posner’s fame has risen through his free viral marketing plan, netting him fans around the country. Multitudes of supporters have downloaded his album based purely on what they consider to be the merits of his music.
However, Posner would not be where he is today without the healthy live show he puts on. To start, his stage presence in conjunction with Big Sean is undeniable. The two entertainers have been friends for many years, traveling and playing together for a wealth of concertgoers.
On stage, Posner is known for pumping up crowds into a frenzy. Whether on a college campus, at a club or playing a bigger venue, Posner is always trying to create the perfect party atmosphere.
“I like to make inclusive music,” Posner said. “People of all ages and genders are rocking out. On a college campus, all the social groups are in one room jumping around and smiling.”
By virtue of his concerts, the young songwriter was able to meet interested members of the music industry, eventually signing a major label deal for J Records owned by RCA.
His quick rise to fame has caused many critics to draw comparisons between him and fresh-faced rapper Asher Roth. Posner might love college, and he admits that he and Roth are friends, but Posner sees himself as more of singer than a Roth-imitator.
Still, in the case of these suburban kids with a solid grounding in hip-hop, the association reveals a tendency in pop stardom for multiple stylistically similar musicians to be quickly brought to the tops of the charts and then quickly moved out in favor of a new fashion.
Nevertheless, Posner is so assured of his own distinctive qualities that he can’t imagine his career going anywhere else but up.
“I don’t think I sound like anyone else,” Posner proclaimed. “If I thought I did, I would quit right now.”
It is this exact frame of mind that keeps Posner running through the motions of his busy work week. With classes all day in the first half of the week, he is never at a loss for school work. At nights he is in the studio recording for upcoming releases, sometimes staying up to see the sunrise.
On weekends, including Fridays and most Thursdays, Posner is traveling across the country to different gigs and interviews, trying his best to keep up with the quick-paced music industry.
Although the pressure and stress bother him, Posner chooses to praise the benefits of his situation.
“Sure, there’s a lot of missed homework, a lot done on airplanes and in cars,” Posner said. “But I’m a college kid living the dream, working the dream job, and I promise I’m not gonna mess this up.”
While no one can say for certain whether Mike Posner will go on to super-stardom, it seems clear that, if anything, his live act is a party not to be missed.
Tickets are $5 for students and $12 for general admission. They can be purchased at the Hoff Theater box office or online at umdtickets.com.
diversions@umdbk.com
