mothica is the audio-visual project of McKenzie Ellis, a dark electric pop artist from Oklahoma, United States. Her work sits across alternative pop, electronic, electronic rock, electropop, pop and pop rock, and she is associated with Heavy Heart Records.

Background

Ellis grows up in the suburbs of Oklahoma and attends an arts-focused public high school, where she plays in a classical guitar ensemble. She writes original songs at home over arpeggios learned in guitar class and uploads both originals and covers to YouTube. She later moves to Brooklyn, New York in 2013 after receiving a scholarship to Pratt Institute for visual web programming.

While studying, she writes music as a release from school work. In her second semester, she shares her songs with a classmate, who introduces her to electronic producers on SoundCloud, lends her a MIDI keyboard and encourages her to buy a proper microphone.

Recording and releases

mothica's first release on SoundCloud is Starchild, produced by melodrama, which receives 100,000 plays in 24 hours. Ellis later learns Ableton so she can produce her own instrumentals and releases the self-produced EP Mythic in 2013. She also releases the EP Heavy Heart, which draws on her experience of depression.

Her song No One reaches No. 6 on the US Viral Spotify Charts. She also releases Clear with Canadian producer Pusher, and the track gains a large audience on Spotify.

Style and collaborations

mothica presents as an alter ego that is open about vulnerability. Her lyrics use wordplay and often deal with intimate, frequently dark experiences. She has a raspy voice that is described as coming from emotion rather than formal vocal training. Her writing and melody choices help distinguish her within electronic-leaning pop.

She remains independent rather than signing the record-label offers she receives, and performs in New York. Her first solo show sells out. She also works with Tennyson, Crywolf, Said The Sky and Electric Mantis.