Pop is one of the most listened to genres in music. Pop music is what’s played the most on radio stations, in public coffee shops, and in tv shows or movies. So when a new artist makes a break in the pop industry it normally wouldn’t create a lot of waves, that was true until King Princess. 

About the Artist 

Mikaela Straus, 19-year-old, began making music by playing around in her father’s music studio at a young age. She was offered her first recording contract at age 11, but she declined in order to continue her education. After high school she moved to Los Angeles to go to college but instead decided to commit herself fully to her music. She later signed to Mark Ronson’s record label Zelig Records. 

Body of Work 

In February of 2018, Straus released her first single 1950. The song gained its fair share of attention when former One Direction star, Harry Styles, tweeted the lyrics from the song “I love it when we play 1950.” The song had a deeper meaning than originally thought, Mikaela went on the popular Youtube series Genius to describe what the song was about. The track was inspired by the way sexuality was hidden in the 1950s and how being gay was hidden.  

She followed up the track with the heart wrenching ballad Talia. The song describes a failed relationship in which Straus feels that she must abuse alcohol in order to be with her past lover. ”If I drink enough, I can taste your lipstick”  In the music video she has a doll stand in to represent her ex-girlfriend. 

On June 15,2018, she released her first EP Make My Bed. The EP included her first two singles, along with three new songs titled Holy, Upper West Side, and Make My Bed. All songs tackle a different aspect of a relationship, from the beginning to the end. The EP charted well in Australia, Europe, and America.  

More than a Singer 

Aside from just singing on her EP, she also played all of the instruments. Straus takes pride in the fact that she writes her own music and makes it as well. “The great part about doing all the instruments is that if I don’t like something I can easily go back and change it” She said in an interview with KFOG. 

Straus identifies as gay and genderqueer and makes her music to relate to all people. She has been open about her relationships. At the 2018 VMAs Mikaela debuted her relationship with actress, Amandla Stenberg. 

Straus has also been an activist for the LGBQ+ community. She openly uses female pronouns in her music and is not afraid to speak out on pressing topics.