Cultural Connections: MKL’s Musical Inspiration

interview collaboration with

Nexus Lounge ADE Edition 2024

MKL is a 23-year-old powerhouse singer and songwriter from the heart of south Louisiana. With a voice that can melt hearts and the determination to back it up, MKL (aka Mary Kathryn Labbie) made some serious waves in the music world and during our Nexus Lounge Amsterdam edition at the Technics space!

Growing up surrounded by the soulful sounds of church choirs, MKL knew that music was her destiny early on. She told her parents that she would one day make a living singing and writing songs—and now, with her debut single and EP, You & Me, released on September 6, 2024, she’s proving that dreams do come true.

MKL believes that the stars aligned for her thanks to the third eye, a symbolic representation of her journey toward higher consciousness and awareness. It reflects her deep understanding of the interconnectedness of everything and everyone around her.

MKL describes herself as a very spiritual person who trusts her intuition and allows her heart to guide her decisions. Throughout her pursuit of a music career, she has experienced numerous synchronicities, which she views as signs from the universe. For her, the third eye is a way of honoring the source that has illuminated her path and helped her navigate her journey.

When asked what inspired her to cover “Never Too Much,” MKL shares that it all started a year ago. “I’m ashamed to admit it, but I had never really dove into Luther Vandross’s music before. I’d heard of him and knew about his iconic run, but I never really listened to the song in full,” she says. One day, she was captivated while hearing “Never Too Much” on the radio. “I couldn’t stop listening to it—it was on repeat for months. It was just stuck in my head!”

While brainstorming and listening to instrumentals on YouTube, MKL came across a Catronata-type beat that she found incredibly groovy. “I thought, ‘How cool would it be to turn Luther’s song into a modern-day dance/house track?’ And that’s how it all started,” she explains. From there, her cover of “Never Too Much” began to take shape.

MKL shared her vision with her manager, who reached out to none other than dance music legend Ultra Naté, who has sold millions of albums worldwide. Naté was impressed and connected MKL with esteemed producer DJ Victor Font (aka Mr. V), owner of Sole Channel Music.

Mr. V was blown away by MKL’s raw talent and her homemade video of Never Too Much. Together, they brought powerhouse collaborators like master keyboardist Albert Menendez (Shakira, Louie Vega) and Grammy-winning sound engineer Joey “808” Fernandez. The result is a modern, soulful classic ready for the dance floor. Though the release of Never Too Much is still in the works for 2025, MKL’s collaboration with Mr. V laid the foundation for something even bigger.

Memorial Day weekend 2024 brought an unforgettable turning point for MKL. At the Movement Festival in Detroit, she and her manager met Ultra Naté in person. Before they knew it, MKL was invited to perform at the prestigious Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) for a music showcase with Radio France.

When asked about the most rewarding moment in her career, MKL reflects on being invited to perform in Amsterdam. “That’s definitely been the highlight,” she says before taking a brief detour.

"A year ago, when I first got serious about pursuing music, I made a vision board and wrote down a bunch of manifestations in my journal for where I saw myself by the end of 2024. One of those things I wrote was that I would be traveling the world, performing."

The future is incredibly bright for MKL. With an EP under her name, a debut performance at ADE, and a growing fan base, she’s ready to take the world by storm. To learn more about MKL, including her celebrity crush, listen to our full interview below.