Mk.gee’s 2024 album “Two Star & The Dream Police” marked a major career turning point for the New Jersey artist. The project helped turn Mk.gee from a relatively niche bedroom pop artist into one of the most talked-about names in indie music. This is how Mk.gee reinvented himself with Two Star & The Dream Police.
Mk.gee’s early years
Michael Gordon, better known as Mk.gee, was born and raised in Linwood, New Jersey. He started taking piano lessons at the age of six and began composing his own pieces just a year later. When he was nine, he discovered the music platform Pandora which allowed a user to get personalized recommendations based on listening habits. In an interview with Dazed he said “I built the weirdest, most extensive library of music that way”. He was inspired by everything from classic rock artists such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to rap stars like Jay-Z.
Gordon’s grandparents ran a jazz society in Somers Point, New Jersey which inspired him to form a jazz trio with his two older friends. They started gigging in bars and eventually travelled across the country to play shows. At the age of 18, he moved to Los Angeles to attend the USC Thornton School Of Music. It was here that he started producing and releasing his own songs.
Pronounced Mcgee
In 2018, Mk.gee released his debut album “Pronounced Mcgee” referencing the mispronunciations of his stage name. The album was featured on Frank Ocean’s Blonded Radio and received positive reviews. It was an album defined by the genre “bedroom pop” which was wildly popular in 2018. Other artists who, at the time, were associated with the genre include Mac Demarco, Her’s and Dayglow.
The experimental mixtape “A Museum Of Contradiction”
At the height of the pandemic, Mk.gee released his debut mixtape “A Museum Of Contradiction”. The album was a lot more experimental and alternative than its predecessor. The album was characterized by ethereal, ambient sounds and reverb-heavy vocals. Many were surprised by the change of style of the New Jersey artist.
Fan reactions were mixed. In one discussion on r/indieheads, a user states “The first four songs off Pronounced Mcgee are some of my favorite songs … Its a shame I find the new album boring”.
Touring With Dijon
After the release of A Museum Of Contradiction, Mk.gee worked with labelmate Dijon on his debut album Absolutely. He followed along on a nationwide tour, playing both guitar and keyboard. It was also during this period that Mk.gee worked with other prominent artists, gaining credits on projects by The Kid Laroi and Drake.
How Mk.gee teased “Two Star & The Dream Police”
In the summer of 2023, Mk.gee released the two singles “Candy” and “How Many Miles”. “Two-star” could be seen credited as the co-artist which left some fans confused, as it appeared to be a separate artist. The release caught fans off guard, marked by a noticeable shift in style but received surprisingly positive reviews, especially compared to A Museum Of Contradiction.
He followed up the release with a series of solo shows, where he also announced a new album would be released. He gradually released more singles throughout the winter of 2023 (including Are You Looking Up, You Got It, and Dream Police) ahead of the album’s release. One user on reddit stated “I remember when he performed those tracks … people were kind of thrown off, like, “What is this? This isn’t what we came to hear “”, following the tour in 2023.
The release of “Two Star & The Dream Police”
And so, in the beginning of 2024 it was finally released. The 12-track album Two Star & The Dream Police was a major shift from Gordon’s earlier work. It featured 1980s-style synths and flanger-heavy effects that drew comparisons to artists like The Police and Prince. The first reviews were mixed, but tending towards a more positive tone. Pitchfork gave the album a 7.8/10, stating “Gordon is a master of melody” while Anthony Fantano (The Needle Drop) gave the album a strong 6 out of 10.
When Mk.gee made his TV debut performing Are You Looking Up on Jimmy Kimmel at the beginning of April in 2024, the album’s popularity started to grow. In the performance, Gordon can be seen letting out a loud scream into the microphone which started gaining traction online. This resulted in an influx of new listeners and audience. He received praise from iconic musicians such as Eric Clapton who said “he has found things to do on the guitar that are like nobody else”. John Mayer stated “can’t get enough” in an Instagram story and Lil Yachty changed his Instagram bio to “Top Notch Mk.gee Fan”. His music has since been supported by Drake, SZA, Justin Bieber and many more. Even Timothée Chalamet claimed that Mk.gee is one of the artists that are redefining music in an interview.
Mk.gee went from being associated with bedroom pop playlists to becoming one of the world’s most critically acclaimed indie artists. His new mystical and liminal aesthetic made his earlier work feel like it belonged to a different artist. In an interview with Dazed, he even described Two Star & The Dream Police as his “first real album.” In many ways, Mk.gee had reinvented himself entirely.
Conclusion
With Two Star & The Dream Police, Mk.gee completely reinvented his sound and artistic identity. The 2024 album marked a turning point in Gordon’s career, moving him away from bedroom pop and into a more experimental indie rock direction. As the record continues to gain attention from fans and major artists, Two Star & The Dream Police may ultimately be remembered as the project that established Mk.gee as one of the most creative artists of his generation.