Channeling 80s pop undertones with a modern, experimental twist, Mykki Blanco’s newest single, ”Your Love Was a Gift” featuring Diana Gordon and Sam Buck, is a collision of sound and honest emotion. Thematically, it is a testament to the ups and downs we face while on the pursuit to find pure love — the duality of this journey leads us to understand that love is something we can find externally, but it’s also something that must be found within; a gift for yourself, from yourself.
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“‘Your Love Was a Gift’ is for me” mentions Mykki Blanco. “If not the most honest, it’s the most beautiful song I’ve ever written. The idea for the song comes from my own wins and losses in the game of love, and it’s a story of coming of age as much as coming to terms in adulthood with feeling unloved, yearning to be loved and yearning to be understood.”
Opening up with atmospheric, echoey instrumentals and luscious vocals from Gordon and Buck, the song transitions into abstraction, with Blanco’s vocals fading in and out of the foreground, looping sermon-like monologues with an open rapping style intrinsic to Blanco’s unique style. Taking more of a facilitating approach, Blanco ushers in Gordon to interpret and execute their lyrics.
“Diana Gordon is a standout songwriter and singer and I’m crafting this song with her as the lead vocal and myself taking the more experimental backseat was a deliberate choice,” Blanco notes. “Diana doesn’t just glimmer on this song, she shines, she owns it she makes the heartfelt lyrics I wrote come alive.”
“Your Love Was a Gift” is the second single Blanco has released this year, following the emotionally raw “Family Ties” featuring Michael Stripe. Both singles prelude Blanco’s upcoming album coming this fall via Transgressive Records. In addition to new music, Mykki Blanco will be going on tour across the US and abroad with tour dates in Palm Springs, June 2 at The Alibi and in West Hollywood on June 5 as part of the Out Loud Raising Voices Pride Music Festival taking place at West Hollywood Park.
Words: Patti Sanchez
For more on Mykki Blanco, make sure to check out their website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter.
Mykki Blanco – Live Dates:
May 13: Oblivion Access Fest – Austin, TX
May 20: Pride Fest Ancienne- Brussels, BE
June 2: The Alibi – Palm Springs, CA
June 5: Raising Voices Pride – Los Angeles, CA
Jun 15: BK MAG FEST – Brooklyn, NY
Jun 17: Summer Solstice Fest- AK
Jun 25: Seattle Pride – Seattle, WA
Jul 08: Bilbao BBK Fest – Bilbao, ES
Jul 19: Boomtown – Ghent, BE
