After a successful performance as an opening act for Northwestern’s Dillo Day last year and a short set this past summer at Debonair Social Club in Chicago, recent Duke graduate Mike Posner is returning to the Windy City to perform at Enclave Nightclub on Jan. 30.
“I expect the energy to be what it was in the summer time,” Posner said. “I know I’ve developed since then and I know our fans are even hungrier.”
In the months following his performance at Northwestern, Posner graduated early from Duke University with a 3.59 GPA (he walks on June 12) and was signed to a label, J Records, where artists like Jamie Foxx, Alicia Keys and Leona Lewis are signed.
“I am signed to the best label in the world, J Records, you know, where it’s all about the music there,” Posner said. “You find a lot of places where money comes first, but at my label, music comes first and I’ll look into the crowd and I’ll see the chairman of the company like in the middle of the crowd rocking out, you know?”
Now, he’s focusing on finishing up his album, which Posner said will “definitely” be released before the end of the year.
“It’s like all my mixed tapes on steroids,” Posner said. “So all this time I’ve been saving the best songs.”
He added as he laughed, “I’m just getting better and better every week, I’m like a beast that can’t be stopped.”
It was a busy year for Posner, who finished his mix tape “One Foot Out the Door” (which made it to number one on iTunes’ Top Downloads section) and who performed with artists like Akon, 50 Cent, Gym Class Heroes and Kid Cudi. However, Posner said the most worthwhile part about performing is making people happy during his shows, which he called “big parties” where everyone comes together.
“The most gratifying thing for me is putting smiles on people’s faces,” Posner said. “This is a tough year for America, a tough year for the economy and you know, I’m just blessed to be able to do what I love, make a living doing what I love.”
Despite all the success Posner has experienced since coming to Northwestern, including being highlighted on Perez Hilton, he said his experiences here won’t be forgotten.
“It was one of the most beautiful views I’ve ever seen, with Lake Michigan and [...] all the kids in front of me having such a good time, it was definitely an image I’ll never forget,” Posner said. “[It was] kind of a surreal moment. I can’t wait to come back.”
He added, “I’ll never forget you guys. When I’m on the radio and things of that nature, I’m your guy, you helped me get there, you know what I mean? I really mean that.”
Saturday’s concert begins at 9 p.m. and will feature guest performances by artists like 2AM Club, Dj Skyler and Addison Park.
“I’ll be singing their favorite songs from ‘One Foot Out the Door’ and ‘A Matter of Time,’” Posner said. “And I definitely have a few treats for everyone, so they should definitely come out. If they saw me at Dillo Day, it’s going to be a thousand times more fun than that and it’s going to be an amazing night, I promise.”