Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller are MKTO. The pop, R&B, hip hop duo are best known for their smash hit, “Classic”. Both began their careers as actors. Oller appeared in Disney’s As the Bell Rings as well as in the films, Beneath the Darkness, and The Purge. Kelley starred as Walt Lloyd in ABC’s Lost. He also appeared in several films including Antwone Fisher, You Got Served, True to the Game and Detroit; along with television roles in Malcolm in the Middle, Judging Amy and Saving Grace. Kelley and Oller met on the set of Nickelodeon’s TeenNick series, Gigantic.
MKTO stands for the duo’s initials, but they are also quick to point out that it represents a version of their high school selves – Misfit Kids and Total Outcasts. MKTO was signed to Columbia Records in 2012 and released their first single, “Thank You,” which has over 24 million views on YouTube. Their second single, “Classic” was released in 2013 and peaked at #8 on Billboard’s Top 40 chart and #14 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The music video for “Classic” currently has over 119 million YouTube views.
Their self-titled debut album went #1 in Australia, #6 in New Zealand, #21 in Sweden and #31 in the US. The band has toured with Demi Lovato and Emblem3 (season 2 of The X Factor) and has performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden, Good Morning America and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Following a 2-year hiatus, MKTO is back with a new single “Shoulda Known Better” out now!
LEG: How soon after meeting on the set of Nickelodeon’s Teen Nick series, Gigantic, did you start making music together? Did you always have the goal of getting signed to a major label? How did that all happen and what was that experience like for you both?
Malcolm: We were actually making music while shooting the show on our down time hanging in our trailers or after a day of shooting. The show only lasted a season so but from our cover videos we would upload on YouTube fans would comment asking for original music. Tony hit some people up about music and they saw our stuff and we took a meeting, cut some songs like "classic” and some others, and being young and excited we kind of jumped in head first.
Tony: Not exactly sure I think it was apparent from the start we both just loved creating. At the time the top of the line recording equipment we were using consisted of “GarageBand” followed by a cheap USB mic (no interface required). At that point, I don’t think we foresaw the future of two dudes who met on a show making music that eventually would be played on radio worldwide. Therefore peaked vocal levels along with terribly compressed noises made up the prepubescent sound of what became “MKTO.”
Being young and suddenly picked up on this roller coaster ride that in the back of your mind you secretly always wanted to do but realistically it was more likely you’d become a survivalist and the go-to man for a show like “Naked and Afraid”. Being young we were truly just excited for the opportunity, of course, you learn in this business sometimes you shouldn’t sign something right away but everything is a learning process and regardless of the knowledge of any angel sometimes the best way to learn is to learn first hand.
Columbia became the label thru our producers Eman and Evan. It was once we cut “Classic” those doors opened. We were both truly grateful to have had the opportunity to cut that song and that led to years of opportunities and adventures. It became the first step into the music world for “MKTO”.
LEG: Your breakout hit single “Classic” reached #8 on the Billboard Top 40 chart, earned a double-platinum plaque from the RIAA, and transformed into a worldwide sensation with platinum and gold certifications in Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom, and Denmark. What was the most valuable lesson you learned from that incredibly successful run?
Malcolm: Still learning everyday! But just learned a lot about the business behind the scenes and my advice to upcoming artist get on these platforms build up your own fan base and don’t sign the first deal that comes to them they have the leverage and make sure you have a lawyer examine every contract and don’t sign a long deal. So far it has been a journey none less comes with its ups and downs but if you love it you take the good with the bad.
Tony: “All good things come to an end” such an incredibly cliché saying I’m sure my past English teachers would cringe at the sight of a response beginning with that but it’s true. We had years that went by and before I knew it I wasn’t 19 I was 24.
You don’t realize what you have till it’s gone and being YOUNG that should be magnified, bold, and underlined. I look back on it now wishing I visited a certain place or I wish I wasn’t hungover because I could have done that. I guess as long as you learn from that your older years may thank you for at least realizing that before you hit 30. Enjoy every moment because it can be gone in an instant.
LEG: Of all the shows you’ve played around the world is there one that is most memorable to you?
Malcolm: They are special in different ways. I will never forget our first headlining tour, Touring Overseas, and performing with Taylor swift at Gillette stadium was also a great moment. Meeting Obama in the White House was also very special. That’s just in music I’m pretty blessed to be able to be in entertainment and be in so many fields.
Tony: This is the one question I’m truly always stumped on. To me these shows all are on one shelf in my mind merged together no way to distinctly separate one from the other. The small segments I always appreciate is the eye contact I make with someone and instantly feel their energy and can somewhat see what they’re going through. We are all humans we all feel pain. I think when you see that light turn on in someone’s spirit when they sing a song you helped create those will those are the most memorable moments you always remember.
LEG: Your fans are very excited that after a two-year break you’re now back together and making music again. What kind of perspective on business, family, and life did that two-year hiatus give you? What advice would you give to anyone struggling with any sort of addiction in their life?
Malcolm: I mean my perspectives are still the same. Everybody has their own reasons but busy is good for me. So while not doing MKTO my availability for acting opened and landed opportunities and still writing and involved in music. I sharpened a lot of things business wise and strengthening family relationships but while I work.
Advice to anyone knowing you have a problem is the first step. Talking about the situation I think helps instead of holding it in. Being around good people who can comfort u and have your best interest at heart.
Tony: It’s nothing but gratefulness to the support of our music and the return of creating more. We’ve both grown up since we started “MKTO” and even though we still are I think you grow an appreciation in whatever you do as you get older. For me, I can say I’m grateful I woke up this morning. It took many years many mistakes and many tears to get to the way I think today and to be truly sober(body and mind). Guess what? I still don’t know shit. That’s the sort of way I have to think. The mistake I’ve always made is being overconfident in something you’ve hidden almost your entire life.
You don’t just get sober for a year or two years or ten and magically have the cure. It’s something I will always have to deal with but I do believe with that mindset it helps me personally. My only reason for being an open book about my sobriety is solely to reach out to the person who feels alone. Super cheesy but honestly for me, I couldn’t find anyone my image of a “rockstar” was someone who drinks until 6 am then gets back on tour bus and doesn’t stop until the next show. All that’ll do is kill ya and if it doesn’t it’ll just destroy your relationships and whatever career you hope to have unless your Keith Richards.
LEG: Your first release since getting back together was “How Can I Forget" which was another instant fan favorite and has already seen over 60 million streams to date. Talk about your follow up single “Shoulda Known Better”, the inspiration behind it, and what’s on the horizon for MKTO.
Malcolm: Appreciate all the fans for showing us love since weave been back. Feels good to have some content out to give them. Yeah “Shoulda Known Better” is just about going back to a girl when you should have known that it would end up and again. But something about her you can’t resist when you drink.
Tony: Personally, I really prefer to be apart of the creating process. Just makes it much more real and more honest when recording. When I heard “Should’ve Known Better” I think I was maybe a year sober and once the chorus hit with the lyrics saying “I don’t drink no more...” I knew I’d have no problem conveying honesty while singing those lyrics haha. It was already a great song I was grateful to cut it and thrilled as it’s the newest single. Hope everyone enjoys it!
LEG: In early 2018, you hit the studio again with longtime collaborators Emanuel “Eman” Kiriakou (Selena Gomez, Ne-Yo) and Evan “Kidd” Bogart (Beyonce, Rihanna) to work on music for the new project which is being released through their label Crooked Paintings. Both Eman and Bogart co-wrote and produced all of the previous MKTO releases and have had a significant amount of success with the band and many other superstar artists. Can you describe the chemistry when you all get together and what that process of making music in the studio is like with such a talented team?
Malcolm: Yeah just a process they like to keep in-house. They have shown us a lot about the music business.
Tony: Well, living in Houston at the moment our experiences are somewhat quick when I come out. Honestly, we’ve just recorded a song here and there but soon we will block out a solid month and start writing. I’m just grateful that I’ve gotten the chance to work again with such a talented group of individuals.
LEG: When you’re not working what do you enjoy doing for own personal well-being?
Malcolm: Just being regular, hanging with friends, playing basketball or something competitive, in the studio or in my bed lol.
Tony: Years ago I’m not sure if I’d even understand that question. But I love the question it’s something everyone should make sure they do. Weirdly enough I enjoy being organized like extremely organized to me I’m just more put together when I have that tidy. Also meditation as opposed to downloading fortnight or the new app that will force you to spend massive amounts of money so that you can build your fortress up faster spend some of that on meditation apps. Seriously amazing and it being mobile you can do it anywhere. Find your inner zen.
LEG: What advice would you give to yourselves just starting out knowing what you know now?
Malcolm: Well I would only need advice on how to navigate through the music industry it’s nothing like acting nothing to protect artist. So I just would have set things up a lot different.
Tony: Be humble. Sit down.
For more MKTO visit:
www.wearemkto.com
Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube