Mk.gee (pronounced "McGee"), born Michael Todd Gordon on September 27, 1996, in Somers Point, New Jersey, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist known for his genre-blending sound that fuses indie, R&B, lo-fi, and experimental rock. Raised in Linwood, he began studying classical piano at age six and later picked up the guitar at eleven, developing a distinctive style that emphasizes exploration and emotional depth.

Mk.gee's music career commenced in 2017 with the release of his debut single "I Know How You Get," followed by two EPs, Pronounced McGee and Fool, in 2018. His 2020 mixtape, A Museum of Contradiction, garnered critical acclaim for its innovative blend of genres.  In 2024, he released his debut studio album, Two Star & the Dream Police, which was lauded by critics.‍

Beyond his solo work, Mk.gee has collaborated with artists such as Dijon, Omar Apollo, Kacy Hill, and Bon Iver, contributing as a songwriter and producer.  His live performances are noted for their dynamic energy and inventive arrangements, solidifying his reputation as a compelling and forward-thinking artist in the contemporary music scene.

I have been really inspired by Mk.gee and I've had the song 'Are You Looking Up' stuck in my head, so it's time to pull it out my head. I fully covered the song 'Are You Looking Up' and I show you how to recreate the guitar tone and how to produce the vocals to get that '80s pop R&B sound from Mk.gee. Keep reading below the video to learn how I did it step by step.

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Mk.gee Guitar Tone: '80s touch and Chorus

For the lead guitar, I used the Cory Wong Archetype amp simulator with the following preset, in which I slightly modified the EQ and added saturation. It only has a compression pedal and nothing else. As you can see, it has a fairly clean and bright, yet somewhat crunchy sound. Listen to the difference between the guitar without effects and with the plugin activated. Big difference, right?

Mk.gee 'Are You Looking Up' - Raw Guitar Sound

‍Mk.gee 'Are You Looking Up' - Cory Wong Guitar Sound

Then I used the Valhalla chorus with this preset to give the guitar that 80s feel, Mk.gee's signature sound.

Mk.gee 'Are You Looking Up' - Chorus Guitar Sound

There's another guitar track with a bit more saturation that only appears in some parts. Later, two more guitars appear, which you can listen to if you download my project on Patreon.

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Mk.gee Vocals Production

For the vocals, I first used the same effects chain that I always use in all my projects. If you're interested, I have more articles on this website talking about it in detail.

However, what interests us are the last two effects. First, there's an ADT reel from Waves. It's the only plugin that offers the authentic tape-delay-based Artificial Double Tracking effect, created by Abbey Road Studios. Then I use Fabfilter's Saturn to add a touch of distortion and filter to the vocals, to give them a more broken, Mk.gee-like feel. Listen without these effects and with them to see the difference.

Mk.gee 'Are You Looking Up' - Vocals without effects

Mk.gee 'Are You Looking Up' - Vocals with ReelADT and Fabfilter Saturn

I have also duplicated one vocal track and pitched it one octave up and distorted it a bit more, similar to what Mk.gee does in the song. Can you hear the octave up vocal?

Mk.gee 'Are You Looking Up' - Vocals and octave up

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That's all, just a quick look. But if you want more details, you can find more information on my Patreon, where you can support my work so I can continue creating this content for you, as well as download lots of exclusive content like sound banks, Ableton projects, tracks, presets, and exclusive tutorials. Don't forget to give your feedback on my youtube video!