MIKA

Biography

Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., known professionally as MIKA, is a singer-songwriter born in Beirut, Lebanon, on August 18, 1983. His family was forced to leave Lebanon when he was a year old and moved to Paris, France. He learned to play the piano in Paris and wrote his first song at the age of seven. When he was nine, his family relocated to London. In London, he attended the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, where he experienced severe bullying. As a result, his mother homeschooled him for a time, during which he received training from a Russian opera professional. He later attended the Royal College of Music.

Career

2006–2008: Breakthrough with Life in Cartoon Motion

MIKA's career began with the release of his debut single "Relax, Take It Easy" in 2006. However, it was his second single, "Grace Kelly," that propelled him to international fame in 2007, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. His debut album, "Life in Cartoon Motion," was released in February 2007 and was a commercial success, selling over 8.3 million copies worldwide. The album won him a Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act and a Grammy Award nomination. Other singles from the album include "Love Today," "Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)," "Happy Ending," and "Lollipop."

2009–2010: The Boy Who Knew Too Much

MIKA's second studio album, "The Boy Who Knew Too Much," was released in September 2009. He described the album as dealing with his teenage years. The lead single from the album was "We Are Golden," followed by "Rain" and "Blame It on the Girls." The album received positive reviews and performed well commercially, particularly in France where it sold over 400,000 copies.

2011–2014: The Origin of Love and Television Roles

His third album, "The Origin of Love," was released in 2012 and featured a more simplistic pop sound. The album included the French single "Elle me dit" and the international single "Celebrate," featuring Pharrell Williams. During this period, MIKA also became a judge on the Italian version of The X Factor and the French version of The Voice.

2015–2018: No Place in Heaven

In June 2015, MIKA released his fourth studio album, "No Place in Heaven," which was noted for its mature pop sound inspired by 60s pop music. The album includes singles such as "Talk About You" and "Last Party." A special edition was later released, featuring a symphonic concert with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal.

2019–Present: My Name Is Michael Holbrook and Other Ventures

MIKA's fifth album, "My Name Is Michael Holbrook," was released in October 2019. The album was promoted with a worldwide tour. Singles from this album include "Ice Cream" and "Tiny Love." In recent years, MIKA co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022. He released a French-language album, "Que ta tête fleurisse toujours," in 2023.

Personal Life

MIKA is openly gay. After initially describing himself as "label-less," he confirmed his sexuality in a 2012 interview. He has been in a long-term relationship with filmmaker Andreas Dermanis. His legal name is Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., and he adopted the stage name MIKA, changing the "c" to a "k" from the nickname his mother gave him.