Mississauga, ON – January 19, 2024
by Lejla Pepeljak
Update as of July 2024, music video included in article.
“For those that are hearing Mikey Bloom for the first time, this is the greatest introduction I could ask for and I’m glad we could meet this way. Mississauga made me and now I made “Mississauga”.
– Mikey Bloom
Mikey (Michael) Bloom, born and raised in Mississauga, and this year’s winner of the 50th Anniversary Anthem contest comes into his own with the catchy song “Mississauga”. This contest, the vision of Ward 1 Councillor Stephen Dasko, facilitated by Mississauga Arts Council (MAC), Metalworks and SoundsUnite, speaks to the city’s evolution in many ways.
In 1974, the inaugural year of Mississauga’s new existence as it’s own city, country singer Tommy Hunter wrote and recorded “Mississauga”, a song to celebrate and uplift the newly formed city. Councillor Dasko thought back to Tommy Hunter’s original song “Mississauga” and what it meant for the community at the time. Thus began the search for the 2024 celebration.
“As we mark five decades of growth and unity in Mississauga, our 50th Anniversary Anthem stands as a testament to the city’s evolution, by weaving the unique narratives of each neighbourhood into a dynamic composition, Mikey Bloom’s song is a timeless reflection of our shared history. This anthem is a musical celebration and a statement of Mississauga’s boundless potential.“
– Gil Moore, Founder and CEO of Metalworks Studios
In a collaborative effort with Mississauga Arts Council, Stephen Dasko, Metalworks and SoundUnite we sought out a commemorative piece of music from scratch. The contest was overseen by MAC, bringing in over 20 song submissions, Mikey’s demo of “Mississauga” impressed everyone involved. Mikey says of the submission process, “I kind of freestyled it, in the last second” speaking to his background as a songwriter and producer among his many genres of interest. The demo was then recorded and mixed into a full song at the prestigious Metalworks Studios.
Mikey Bloom’s winning song “Mississauga”, out January 20, 2024 on all streaming platforms, captures the true essence of the city, one that has grown immensely in the past few decades, nourished by its diversity and opportunities. Opening with a strong shoutout to the city’s long name, the catchy lyrics and fun harmony makes you feel good. Mikey’s style pops right out: fun, positive and unique. He wanted the spelling of the city to be included, and saw the potential in children and adults alike joining in the chorus of this song, proudly spelling the city’s name. It was a way for the audience to celebrate their city, and proudly say this is where I am from and not somewhere adjacent as Mikey mentions during his interview.
Mikey continues to shout out various neighbourhoods and our parents’ hard work to perfectly highlight the general energy of a city like Mississauga. In one ref. “Opportunities for all communities/Built by people just like you and me” recalls the same support he receives from the city, MAC and the arts community. Mikey’s positive relationship with Mississauga runs deep, as he recalled during the reveal meeting of his song on January 16, he still owns a t-shirt from the 30th anniversary celebrations, and is thrilled to now be a representative of the city for the 50th. It is a badge of honour for Mikey to have created this song as he speaks of his past, present and future in his hometown.
“Mikey Bloom has cleverly woven Mississauga neighbourhoods and even the spelling into a story song that represents our city’s new era at 50 years young”
-Mike Douglas, Executive Director MAC
Mikey Bloom is a multi-talented musician that dabbles in pop, dancehall, R&B, hip-hop and rap; a versatility that is evident in his anthem for the city. Mikey takes inspiration from Michael Jackson, The Weeknd, Drake, Bruno Mars, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, and Partynextdoor. In his 5-6 years of songwriting, Mikey has been able to grow his Instagram page to over 25 thousand followers by livestreaming and performing freestyle. He has pioneered interactive performances using the platform to his advantage and staying connected with audiences in his home country, Ethiopia. With the release of the “Mississauga” track, Mikey hopes to have the tune catch on, and serve as a reminder of the importance of this city and its communities.
It was a pleasure for us at Mississauga Arts Council to continue creating capacity for local artists to showcase their work. A massive thank you to all those that made this anthem come to life, including Mikey Bloom our fantastic talent; Councillor Stephen Dasko for bringing this idea to life and his support; and Metalworks and SoundsUnite for giving their space and time to the creation of Mississauga’s 50th anthem, “Mississauga”.
“Misssissauga” by Mikey Bloom will be released on all streaming platforms on January 20, 2024. You can listen to the song at bit.ly/MississaugaAnthemPresave.
