Revealed in 2007 with his album “Life in Cartoon Motion”, Mika, the 41-year-old Lebanese-American-British singer decided to “take a break from French television”. After 6 albums, the pop star wants to devote himself fully to his role as sponsor of the 38th edition of the Telethon.
This is the face of the 2024 edition of the Telethon. Mika will be the sponsor of the charity event, which will be held on Friday November 29 and Saturday November 30. On this occasion, the Lebanese-British-American artist confides in “Past, present, future“, broadcast on franceinfo social networks. This child of exile and artist without borders dissects the timeline of his careerwhich took root at a young age in Lebanon.
Born in Beirut in 1983, Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr. spent part of his childhood in Paris, after fleeing Lebanon, then moved to London with his parents at the age of 8. A youth marked by varied cultural influences which shaped him from an early age. “When I think of where I come from, I don’t think of a place. I think of cuisine, I think of a community, I think of this mix between this early Parisian childhood with this Lebanese bubble transplanted from Beirut, this education and my English adolescence”, remembers the singer with nostalgia.
“Creativity, ideas and this artistic fiber were a much more meaningful passport than my American passport”reports Mika. The singer also remembers his childhood marked by harassment, when he was eight years old. “I started to have a lot of problems with dyslexia, I couldn’t read, I couldn’t write. I stopped speaking for a few months and that caused problems in class, especially with a teacher. And Now I’m kicked out of school.”he remembers.
It was at this time that Mika met Ala, her Russian piano teacher who introduced her to music: “It became an obsession. I was in a musical cocoon. I did that 4 hours, 5 hours a day. Six months later, I am at the Royal Opera [de Londres].” A universe that allows him to feel like himself. “Here, no one makes fun of each other, I have a job and we pay for it”concludes the singer with a broad smile.
An artist with a thousand facets, Mika’s career is not just about music. The artist now intends to invest in causes that seem noble to him, as evidenced by his new role as sponsor of the 38th edition of the Telethon: “The reason why I do the Telethon is simple. The Telethon, the Généthon, is something quite miraculous and inspiring. It’s the impossible that becomes possible, it’s the power of belief in the impossible.”
A commitment that also resonates with his recent positions for the children of Lebanon with Unicef, or against school bullying and homophobia. “L’idea of getting involved is a natural and human response. We all do it in a different way. This is why one commitment is not more valid than another. There are some who make more noise than others, but that doesn’t matter.”assures the singer.
After six albums and international tours, Mika wishes to continue creating and imagining: “How to continue to stay curious? How to continue to cultivate creativity? How to build things”, asks the singer at the age of 41. If Mika wishes to leave a trace, it is that of “beau”. “I hope at least once to achieve something that is truly beautiful. I feel that I am not there yet and I would like to get there”he concludes.
