Mika is a charismatic 23-year-old British pop singer who was born in Beirut to an American father, so identity is an important part of his act. The lyrics are from his radio hit "Grace Kelly," and while his face and name and falsetto are new to American audiences, he is the musical equivalent of soccer: famous everywhere except in the U.S.
Mika - born Mica Penniman - hopes to change that on his first headlining American tour, which includes a stop tonight at In the Venue.
"I've never lived in the U.S., but having an American father means I don't feel like a stranger," said Mika (pronounced "Mee-ka"). "I don't feel intimidated."
He called The Salt Lake Tribune after a soundcheck in Chicago and talked about what an experience traveling America has been.
"It's massive," he said.
"Every state has a distinctive different culture. There are totally confusingly strange things."
Any preconceived idea about Utah, a place he has never been?
"Cold, and mountains," he said. Mika is gaining American success little by little - he is nominated for Best Dance Recording at Sunday's Grammys - but took over the world quickly. He swept the World Music Awards in November, winning best New Artist, Male Entertainer, Male Pop/Rock Artist and British Artist awards.
His debut album, "Life in Cartoon Motion," is an irresistible, unapologetic and sugary amalgam of upbeat orchestration, ambivalent sexuality and Mika's five-octave voice, with a falsetto so pretty it would make Freddie Mercury envious.
The sudden success caught Mika a little by surprise, he said, but now he's used to it. He is sensitive to the backlash that inevitably follows any breakthrough, he said, and critics on one side who call his music "euphoric" while others call it "proper hatred." Accompanying the songs is a stage show he calls "quite a big show for a very small space."
"Every venue has its charms and challenges," he said. "You constantly have to adapt."
Mika said, as always, he will bring colorful "tricks" to the show that have come to be a part of his performing identity. But, he said, "songs are the biggest trick of all."
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* DAVID BURGER can be reached at dburger@sltrib.com or 801-257-8620. Send comments to livingeditor@sltrib.com.
Big show, small space
* MIKA PERFORMS TONIGHT at 7 at In the Venue, 579 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets are $25 at SmithsTix and 24tix, with additional service charges.
