There’s a particular kind of courage in leaving.

Packing up your life for something so unpredictable can be nerve-racking, yet exhilarating at the very same time. It’s almost never neat or easy; you can ache for the streets that raised you while falling hard for a city that challenges you to grow

That’s what Mykel’s EP Hometown Runaway and its song “Brace for Impact” are all about. This is a celebration for those daring enough to break free from everything familiar, and dive – headfirst and unapologetically – into the unknown.

Hometown Runaway - Mykel — Hometown Runaway – Mykel

Hailing from Salt Lake City and now based in Los Angeles, Mykel is a versatile singer/songwriter who fuses pop power ballad with soulful R&B flair. Moving from her small hometown to a big city at 19 profoundly shaped not just the person she has become, but her musical artistry as well. Since moving to California, her confidence has flourished, giving rise to music that is both bold and expansive. Some have drawn comparisons to vocal powerhouses like Adele and Kelly Clarkson, and you can hear that true force and determination throughout Hometown Runaway.

That force comes into sharpest focus on “Brace for Impact,” a centerpiece, inspired by a dangerous, nearly fatal car accident, that turns Mykel’s powerhouse vocals into a full-bodied exhale. Rather than framing reinvention as a clean before-and-after, the song lingers in the suspended seconds when everything feels suddenly fragile – when ambition, exhaustion, adrenaline, and surrender all collide at once.

Escaping a near-death experience forced Mykel to reconsider her life.

It’s that confrontation that fuels the fire behind her music. Every note on her EP feels charged with urgency, resilience, and raw honesty. Hometown Runaway showcases the risks we take for a life fully lived, inspiring others to dive deep into the unknown.

Atwood Magazine spoke to Mykel about her EP, its emotive single, her love for her craft, and more! At its core, Hometown Runaway holds space for every version of Mykel at once: The girl who loved the safety of home, the young artist who chased a city that felt inevitable, and the woman learning to surrender control without giving up her fire. It’s a record built from impact and aftermath, but it moves with the lift of someone still choosing possibility.

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:: stream/purchase Hometown Runaway here ::

:: connect with Mykel here ::

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A CONVERSATION WITH MYKEL

Atwood Magazine: How has your sound evolved and which artists have influenced your music?

Mykel: I have really relinquished any limits on my sound. I used to pigeon hole myself into anthemic pop and dance music. I feel I’ve now settled into an indie pop rock era that I’m very excited about.

Your EP Hometown Runaway focuses on your journey moving from your hometown near Salt Lake to Los Angeles. Can you tell us more about what that was like and how it inspired this emotive 6-track body of work?

Mykel: Leaving everything at 19 years old in a decision that felt extremely preordained was really hard but amazing. At the time I remember having no fear. It felt like destiny. The 8 years that followed were where the challenges began. Making your way in a city like LA is not for the weak – and combine that with surviving near death experiences… it forces you to grow up fast, and gives you more perspective/detachment/gratitude. All of those things inspired this EP.

I understand that “Brace for Impact” was born from a near death accident. How has that occurrence altered your perspective on life?

Mykel: It forced me to stop. It forced me to cut the hustle and focus on what matters most. It was the catalyst for me to give up on music and move home. Little did I know the universe had other plans for me before I had the chance to give up for good. The accident helped me realize that we are not in control of the outcomes of our lives. We are responsible for our effort, which is important. But there’s a necessary letting go of control that allows life to be aligned.

The title track, “Hometown Runaway,” resonates with anyone who’s ever taken the leap of leaving home to chase their dreams. What prompted your own bold leap of faith?

Mykel: I visited LA for a few months to write my very first EP out of high school with my now mentor and good friend Brandon Jarrett. From there I fell in love with LA and everything felt like it’s what had to happen.

What do you love most about your hometown, and what do you enjoy about living in LA?

Mykel: I love the safety and community of my hometown. It’s an absolutely gorgeous place with even more gorgeous people. It was the most idyllic place to grow up. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I love the diversity of LA. The access to so much art and culture. I thrive being a small fish in a huge pond, it feels freeing.

What advice would you give to anyone who is looking to leave their hometown in search of change?

Mykel: Brace for impact… literally. It’s the hardest thing you’re going to do, and it will be bittersweet but so worth it.

What first sparked your love of music?

Mykel: I cannot even remember a genesis moment. It’s always been part of me.