Mika

Biography

Michael Holbrook Penniman Jr., better known as Mika, is a Lebanese-British singer-songwriter born on August 18, 1983, in Beirut, Lebanon. He grew up in Paris and London, becoming a multi-talented performer with skills in acting, playing the piano, and songwriting, and fluent in several languages. His diverse background helped him connect with audiences worldwide, leading to success in many international markets.

Mika gained recognition with his 2006 extended play "Dodgy Holiday," featuring the hit single "Relax, Take It Easy," which was a chart-topper in Europe. His first full album, "Life in Cartoon Motion" (2007), made him a big name in pop music. The album's lead single, "Grace Kelly," held the top spot on the UK Singles Chart for five weeks straight. The album itself was number one in the UK, selling over 8 million copies globally. This success won him the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 2008 and international awards like the NRJ Music Awards.

After his debut, Mika kept releasing successful albums, mostly in Europe. "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" (2009) hit number four on UK charts, while "The Origin of Love" (2012) topped the French album charts, featuring the French number-one single "Elle me dit." His later albums, like "No Place in Heaven" (2015), "My Name Is Michael Holbrook" (2019), and the French-language album "Que ta tête fleurisse toujours" (2023), kept him relevant in European music. In January 2026, his seventh studio album "Hyperlove" became his highest-charting UK release since 2009.

Outside of music, Mika branched into TV and broadcasting. He was a judge and mentor on the French and Spanish versions of The Voice, and the Italian version of X Factor. He had his own Italian TV variety show, "Stasera Casa Mika," for two seasons, winning the 2017 Rose d'Or Award for Entertainment. He also hosts "The Art of Song" on BBC Radio 2, sharing his knowledge of music. In 2022, he co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest, increasing his presence in European entertainment.