February 17th, 2010 | By Rick From Chicago
For most college graduates, especially in today’s economic climate, finding work and making the transition into “real life” is an uncertain prospect. Not so for singer/songwriter/producer Mike Posner, who spent his senior year at Duke University juggling the academic grind and the hectic life of an up-and-coming musician. Needless to say, he had no doubt about his post-graduation plans – after receiving that diploma, Posner was finally able to devote himself full-time to making his dreams of music stardom a reality.
It’s been less than a year since Posner introduced his unmistakable, scratchy vocal style and equally unique production sensibility to Booth readers with mixtape cut “Smoke ‘n’ Drive,” but a lot has happened in that time. He’s released an acclaimed sophomore street album (One Foot Out the Door), collaborated with the likes of Kid CuDi and Wale (“Drug Dealer Girl (Remix)”) and, most notably, scored the all-important major deal. Now signed to J Records, Posner is getting ready to take his career to the next level with the summer release of his yet-untitled debut studio album.
In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Mike Posner steps into the Booth to discuss the superhuman feat of balancing college finals with a demanding touring schedule, his increasingly raucous (and sometimes destructive) live performances, and why his forthcoming full-length is like his mixtapes “on steroids.”
