MKTO

MKTO is an American duo consisting of Malcolm Kelley (rapper) and Tony Oller (singer). Their sound is a mix of pop, hip hop and R&B. Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller are both accomplished adolescent actors. They formed MKTO and signed to Columbia Records in early 2012. They released their first song on Twitmusic in fall 2012 and are currently working on their debut album, Role Models.
History
2010-2012: Formation
The duo first met while filming the TeenNick series, Gigantic, in 2010. In early 2012, MKTO was discovered by longtime musical collaborators Emanuel “Eman” Kiriakou and Evan “Kidd” Bogart, and signed to Columbia Records in March 2012.
“While acting, you got a lot of down time, so we would just crack open the computer and start making some music,” Kelley recalls. He had been rapping with his friends since he was in his early teens, but had finally found a companion to help pursue the passion seriously. “We used Garage Band a lot on our Macs,” remembers Oller, who has played piano and sung since his adolescent years, and even appeared on Showtime at the Apollo and Star Search. “We didn't know at all how to record. We loved music for the simple pleasure of loving music. Not
trying to do anything, just enjoy creating it.”
Before long, the savvy upstarts uploaded a handful of videos to YouTube, displaying the unique flavor they offered by rerecording other artists’ hits and giving them a fresh spin. With songs like “Made In America,” “Just The Way You Are,” and “Champion,” they’d post videos of themselves recording the cuts, with Oller’s vocals easily distinguishable from the original and Kelly’s rapped verses adding an otherwise unexpected but fitting twist.
In early 2012, MKTO signed to a new partnership between longtime musical collaborators Emanuel “Eman” Kiriakou and Evan “Kidd” Bogart. The two, who stumbled upon the guys’ video for “Champion” online, have been responsible for hits from Beyonce, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Hot Chelle Rae, Sean Kingston, Jason Derulo and many more. MKTO felt that this formidable creative
partnership was the perfect hit song breeding ground for their diverse song style.
Shortly after they initially linked up, the foursome headed to New York and took meetings with every major label, as MKTO wowed execs with their total package. In March, they signed with Columbia Records. “They showed us longevity in their artists,” Kelley compliments.
2012-Present: Role Models
The duo released their first song “Thank You” via TwitMusic in fall 2012. The song received a glowing review across the web. Music blogger Arjan writes, "Filled with heaps of positive energy and a healthy dose of confidence, "Thank You" is the ultimate feel-good anthem for the "no job out of schoolers, the future cougars, the ones that choose to be losers" and anybody else that has been put down by nay-sayers and came out stronger as a result of it." http://www.arjanwrites.com/arjanwrites/2012/10/mkto-thank-you-free-mp3.html
“We're really happy with it,” says Houston-bred Oller of the single, "Thank You." “We’re still working on the rest of the album, but as of right now, I think we have most of what we're wanting to get across. We have ballads, really soft, ‘Someone Like You’ stuff. We have up tempo party songs. We're trying to do a lot of sounds.” And it’s not just the sounds, but also the content: The two discuss the ups and downs that go with adolescence and growing up, navigating a territory that anyone coming of age can find relatable.
“I think there's a lane for everything in music,” Oller continues. “If people like it, great, but if people don't, we made a record we're proud of.” In addition to their sound, it’s this sort of comfort in their own skin that defines MKTO, and informs not just the content of their music, but also the origins of their name. “It's simple,” Oller says of the moniker, which not only
represents their combined initials (Malcolm Kelley, Tony Oller), but something more. “It also stands for what our album kind of is: Misfit Kids and Total Outcasts—just like the kids we were in high school.”
“Whether we like it or not, some kids are still gonna look up to us, and if I can give them a good direction to go in, or be a positive factor, then I'll be that,” Kelley says.
Band members
Tony Oller - vocals (2012-present)
* Tony Oller, born on February 25, 1991, is an American actor and musician from Cypress, Texas. Oller’s credits include starring in the Disney Series, As the Bell Rings, and Image Entertainment’s, Beneath the Darkness.
Malcolm David Kelley - vocals (2012-present)
* Malcolm Kelley, born May 12, 1992, is an American actor and musician. Kelley is best known for his role as “Walt” from ABC’s hit TV show, Lost.
Discography
;Albums
*2013: Role Models
;Singles
* 2012: Thank You

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