Slushii and Mackenzie Sol Talk About Joining Forces for New Collab, ‘After Midnight’

DJ and producer Slushii never misses the mark with his sleek tracks, and his new collaboration with singer-songwriter and TikTok sensation Mackenzie Sol perfectly demonstrates his abilities to craft unforgettable tunes.

The single is called "After Midnight," and with its lush soundscape and Mackenzie's soaring vocals being showcased in an entirely new light, it's one we'll be playing on repeat for months to come. We've been obsessed since first listen, and we got the chance to chat with both Slushii and Mackenzie to find out all about the song's origins and how it came together.

Sweety High: What was the songwriting and production process like for "After Midnight"?

Mackenzie Sol: I wrote "After Midnight" after I realized that I'd fallen for a close friend and didn't know how to tell her. All of my writing comes from feelings I have experienced myself.

Slushii: We actually recut the vocal from one of his old demos and even tracked the vocals together! It was a super fun and iced matcha latte-fueled studio session.

 

SH: What specific feelings or themes did you want to channel in this track? What does the song mean to you in the context of your forthcoming album?

Slushii: This song came to me during a very trying time in my life. I was truly unsure of who I was, and this song is a snapshot into what I would call a "coming of age" tale.

 

SH: How is this song different from what you've released in the past? Do you feel like your music is moving in a new direction?

Slushii: I feel like I've finally become comfortable with my production chops, but still ambitious enough to try to make it funky.

MS: This is completely different for me but I do really enjoy this genre. To be honest, I grew up on soul and Motown and I do believe that's my natural sound. However, growing up I've sung more pop music, as I have a young audience. I think if you have a natural ability to sing you can sing anything. When I was young I remember people saying "He could sing the phonebook." I think that means you can sing anything. I love working with different people and would love to do more electronic stuff, especially with Slushii. He's a genius!

 

SH: What was this collaboration like? 

MS: I already was a huge fan of Slushii's sound and style before we met. I first heard him on a Rocket League game with his song "All I Need" and I was instantly intrigued by his sound. When I met him, I was a little star-struck, but don't tell him! He was so down to earth and he asked to hear my music. I played a few tracks and he started working immediately on "After Midnight." He completely flipped the style and I recorded the vocal that night. I was even more honored to have seen his creativity firsthand. I'm so excited about this song and very thankful for the opportunity.

Slushii: His voice is so smooth. When people hear the song for the first time, look at their reaction when he hits that first vibrato note!

 

SH: What was it like to lend your vocals to a major electronic record? Do you feel like you got to utilize a different set of singing skills on the track?

MS: It's a completely different style of music for me as an artist, so yes, the vocal is something people haven't heard from me yet. I do classify myself as a versatile vocalist and I'm a huge fan of electronic music which made it even more fun to do.

 

SH: What's your favorite lyric from the song? Why?

MS: My favorite lyric is "Afraid to admit that it feels right, but it feels right," basically meaning sometimes you're afraid to admit to yourself you have feelings for someone for fear they do not feel the same.

 

SH: Is there anything else you can tell us about what's in store for you in 2022?

Slushii: There's honestly so much on the horizon, but all I can really say is—overload.

MS: So much music! The plan for me is to release a single a month. I have so much amazing music and I can't wait for people to hear it. During the two years the world suffered from lockdown, I focused very much on building my online fanbase and now the aim is to work on and release music. I'm also involved in some exciting acting projects too—it's gonna be a great year!

 

If you loved reading this interview with Slushii and Mackenzie Sol, click HERE to read our interview with Mackenzie to find out all of his favorite fun facts and trivia.