A one-man tour de force of irresistible charm, Mikhael Paskalev is just plain cool; his tracks ‘Jive Babe’ and ‘I Spy’ are the kind of songs that can define a summer and the music videos to compliment these two are some of the best around.
His rockin’ catchiness is pandemic potential, intense rhythm forged with tempo and panache. ‘Jive Babe’ is crafted in such persuasive fashion that it would be callous for me not to hammer the big orange Play button on his SoundCloud page into oblivion; ‘I Spy’ is likewise an instant favourite.
Half Norwegian, half Bulgarian and half Liverpudlian, Mikhael Paskalev has that lovable cocksure attitude the likes of Paolo Nuttini and OK Go exude in their finest works. Mikhael names Paul Simon and Elvis as influences and that somewhat shows, yet the former is more for this generation than the latter two: Mikhael has a more youthful edge more in touch with a digital generation now drowning in fringe-and-V-neck pop.
Not that Mikhael conforms: his sound is labelled as ‘bastardised country and soul’ and his a capella spontaneity jerks around with timing and consistency in form; his productions are odes to freedom within musical expression and reckless abandon, qualities oh so welcome in an industry with a knack for abstract attrition and rejection.
Mikhael’s got a first album out in November. All we can do is hope for more ooh yeahs and rara rai rais…
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