Artist to Watch: Mike Posner

It’s good to be Mike Posner.  His debut album 31 Minutes to Takeoff won’t even be released until August 10, and he’s already all over the Billboard charts.  The 21 year-old Duke University graduate’s first single “Cooler than Me,” which was recorded in his dorm room, has already reached No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has broken the top five on iTunes, giving Posner the rep of being one of the hottest breakout artists of the summer.

Posner started creating music when he was only 13 and had always expressed interested in music.  After learning the importance of getting his name out there, Posner began networking via the Internet.  He even interned at a radio station in Detroit and started working with the industry guru Big Sean only three years ago.  This collaboration led to the release of Posner’s first mixtape A Matter of Time only a little over a year ago.  Within months, Posner was signed to major label RCA/Sony Records after many major labels were involved in a bidding war to sign the young artist. 

But Posner felt his education was important, so he returned to school even after landing the record deal of a lifetime.  He toured weekends and recorded nights.  But the hard work paid off.  By October 2009, his second mixtape One Foot Out the Door was released and included huge names like Kid Cudi, Bun B, 3OH!3 and XV.  Posner has cited influences that include anything from Eric Clapton to Lauryn Hill. 

Posner was also recently added to the Vans Warped Tour, a predominately punk rock tour, in order to add diversity with bands like We the Kings, Hot Chelle Rae and the All American Rejects.  Posner also played at the Bonnaroo festival last month, and his performance received rave reviews from critics.

Known for his unique synthpop sound infused with R&B and hip hop, Posner has commented that his debut album’s title comes from a secret that happens exactly 31 minutes into the record.  Until then, it’s a secret.  But it’s for sure that his success is no secret.  Posner will be around for a while if his album is nearly as cool as “Cooler than Me.”

Check out more Artists to Watch

Image courtesy of RCA Records

Katherine Epstein for Citadel Digital © 2010