Mike Perry

Mike Perry, aka Mikael Persson, is a Swedish DJ and dance producer known for the hit single “The Ocean.” Working as a serviceman for Volvo in the Swedish town of Skövde, Persson pursued music as a hobby in his spare time. Exploring his creativity and a multitude of ideas, he started writing with singer/songwriter Shy Martin and Nirob Islam of the electro-pop trio Sodra Station. The result was the aforementioned song, an upbeat dance track composed of warm, summery synth work, pulsating electro beats, and entrancing vocals. Stating that he made sure to not over-complicate the song sonically, Persson aimed to depict the feel and tone of 21st-century dance music with simplicity yet surefire positive vibes. Not expecting it to be a hit, the DJ was astonished when the track eventually went viral, surpassing nine million streams in just six weeks. It shot to the top of the charts in Sweden, while also climbing the Top 40 throughout the rest of Europe. Persson received more offers for live appearances and was signed by Sony Music Entertainment. “The Ocean” reached number 11 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. Perry followed with additional singles “Inside the Lines” with Casso, “Talk About It” with Hot Shade, and “Body to Body” with Imani Williams. The singles “Rocksteady” (featuring Dima), “California” (featuring Hot Shade and Karlyn), and “Don’t Hide” (featuring Willemijn May) were released in 2018, with “Rise and Fall,” featuring Cathrine Lassen, arriving in early 2019. ~ Rob Wacey