Mikky Ekko
A Nashville-based singer-songwriter who vaulted to global recognition by co-writing and featuring on Rihanna's haunting ballad 'Stay.'
Born 1983 (age 43)·American singer and songwriter·Birthday: December 17·Millennials
Biography
Mikky Ekko, born John Stephen Sudduth, emerged from Nashville's collaborative songwriting scene with a voice that blends soulful vulnerability with a rock-edged intensity. His breakthrough was seismic: co-writing and providing the haunting counterpoint vocal to Rihanna's 2013 global hit 'Stay,' a stark piano ballad that showcased his raw emotional delivery. Rather than chasing pop immediacy, Ekko used that spotlight to build a more nuanced, artist-driven catalog. His debut album, 'Time,' was a moody, textured exploration of relationships and introspection, while its follow-up, 'Fame,' grappled with the complexities of his sudden visibility. He operates in the space between alternative rock and atmospheric pop, a craftsman who values songwriting depth over fleeting trends. Ekko's path proves that in the modern music industry, a single, perfectly placed collaboration can open the door for a sustained and personal artistic journey.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Mikky was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Mikky Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Mikky's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Co-wrote and was featured on Rihanna's single 'Stay,' which peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a global multi-platinum hit.
- Released his debut studio album 'Time' in 2015 on RCA Records, featuring the singles 'Smile' and 'Love You Crazy.'
- His song 'Who' was featured in the popular video game 'FIFA 15,' expanding his reach to a worldwide audience.
Did You Know?
He chose his stage name, Mikky Ekko, as a childhood nickname that stuck.
Before his breakthrough, he worked construction jobs while pursuing music in Nashville.
He contributed vocals to the track 'I'm Not Calling You a Liar' by the electronic dance group Florence + the Machine on their 2009 album 'Lungs.'
“I'm not trying to be a star; I'm just trying to make something that feels true.”
