Mika looks back: ‘Nowadays you wouldn’t get away with the things journalists said about my sexuality in the noughties’

January 18, 2026

TL;DR

Mika was born in Beirut in 1983 and moved between Paris and London due to his father's work and the civil war in Lebanon.
His mother, a driving force in his musical education, instilled a disciplined approach akin to training an athlete.
'Grace Kelly' was written in a moment of anger after rejection by a management company, channeling frustration into a song of empowerment.
Fame brought challenges, including public scrutiny of his sexuality and pressure to commercialize his music, which he felt distorted his self-perception.
Mika's new album, 'Hyperlove', is inspired by a desire for rebellion and yearning, akin to Hunter S. Thompson's spirit.
His mother, who worked with him until shortly before her death in 2020, was a significant influence, fostering a brutally honest and energetic relationship.

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