MKTO stop by Build Series for one of their first appearances since their hiatus in New York City on Friday (October 12).
The two musicians – Tony Oller and Malcolm Kelley – opened up about returning to music after a few years break, what they learned in that time, and of course, their new music.
Tony Oller and Malcolm Kelley just dropped their comeback single, called “How Can I Forget” – which sounds like it’s about a relationship – and it is.
“It’s talking about how I can’t forget that certain someone or going to some places and you just can’t help but think of somebody and reflect on those memories,” Malcolm told Billboard of the track.
However, it can also be interpreted to be about their fans.
“To know that there are millions of streams of our songs we have put out previously and knowing that there is still support for MKTO, it was only right we put out new music,” he adds.
Tony also adds that their reunion was inevitable.
“There’s no better feeling than having that and to be back on stage with one of my best friends,” he says. “We both think with the creation process so far that these are some of the strongest songs we’ve done.”
MKTO announced they were back together last month, and now we are VERY close to new music!
The duo – Tony Oller and Malcolm Kelley – announced they have a new label and recently shared a new image with a bunch of random numbers.
Some fans have decoded the sequence as an alphabet code translating to “How Can I Forget”. Perhaps the title of their new single?!?!
While no release date has been set, they are offering fans a chance to hear the new music first. The guys have created a “Classic Summer Playlist” on Spotify and if you follow that playlist, you can enter for a chance to go live with the guys and “maybe” hear new music. The contest ends in 37 days.
Tony Oller and Malcolm Kelley made the big announcement on social media today, with a little behind-the-scenes video from what looked to be a photo shoot.
Malcolm Kelley and Tony Oller, who met on the set of Teen Nick’s Gigantic, were the brilliant voices and musicians behind our faves like “Classic”, and “Monaco”.
Sadly, the guys announced their break up over Twitter this week with a peace sign emoji.
“Even though it sucks sometimes. It’s still better when we’re apart,” Tony shared on his personal Twitter a few days earlier, adding that he’ll be moving home soon.
“It’s been swell La. Moving back home at end of this month. Thanks for all the memories.”
“It’s an awesome day. It marks the third year anniversary of our first song ‘Thank You,’” Malcolm says in a new Instagram video, which you can watch below.
Tony says, “That is a big deal. We feel like this song right now has more relevance and can be relateble, especially everything going on with the election. So we hope you enjoy the song. We want to thank you so much.”
“We just want to say thank you so much. We’re excited to get new music to you,” Tony added.
TELL JJJ: Are you pumped to hear new songs from MKTO?
“We’re like brothers and that makes it so easy for us to push each other to make even better music together,” Tony toldTeenVogue about working with Malcolm. “We came into the studio with [this] concept and the song just came to life.”
