Hailing from Macon, Georgia, Mike Clark Jr. is a 19-year-old singing sensation bringing the genre, “Southern Soul” to the forefront. Clark’s most recent song, “Auntie Outside,” has all the elements of Southern Soul, and he’s looking to grow his way to stardom as he continues his young career.
Clark spoke with rolling out about [starting] his career, being young in the industry, and his song “Auntie Outside.”
Where did your love of music come from?
It all started for me at church. Growing up, my mom used to lead the choirs. We had this thing called Real Kid Studios, and we used to go in there [singing]. My mom was a singer, and also my dad and my sister, so we would just teach each other. I was the one that just took off with it.
When did you realize you could do this as a career?
This year, in February, I had the chance to do a Valentine’s Day show, and I sang “Tennessee Whiskey.” That’s when I really knew, like, “Man, I can sing. I can take off.” I had been working at McDonald’s and Applebee’s for a long time, and I was big on TikTok, and I actually went viral overnight. That’s how I got my deal. In February, when I did that first show, I just said, I [had] more to come, and I just kept going and kept going and working hard.
How do you think being young in the music industry benefits you?
My dad always told me there’s nothing wrong with asking questions, so I make sure every time I have a question, I ask it if I don’t know the answer. I sit back and watch everybody so they can help me get better as a person, performing on and off the stage. I’m picking up a little bit of pointers from everybody. I think people try to use that “young” thing towards me, but I think I’ve been here before. I’m still learning as I go.
Tell us about your song “Auntie Outside.”
I made it back on May 25, I’ll never forget. When I first went to the studio, everybody was outside. It was summertime, and everybody was ready to [go]. I know it’s always [a] bad auntie with some kids, so it all had to make sense. It’s also relatable, which gives the song a plus.
