Micki XO Ignites with Euphoric Energy on New Single "Power Outage"

The following feature is now included in our online magazine which is also available in print.

Issue #3

Portland upstart Micki XO turns fatigue into joy on new single "Power Outage," released today. A burst of electropop throb, bursts of fizzy noise, and a drop that hits like lightning, the song embodies the sensation of being running on fumes but somehow still having the getup to dance through.

At its core, "Power Outage" is a burnout song — the media overload, the never-ending cycle of politics, the grind of having two or three jobs. Micki is crooning about being tired and worn down, but the music springs to life, as if having the courage to declare that joy can still cut through the haze. The contrast is deliberate. "It's about offering an escape," says Micki. "Even for a few minutes, you get to forget the worry and refuel."

That epiphany was the result of a very literal power outage. Written from the midst of one of Portland's worst ice storms, when Micki had no electricity for almost two weeks, the solitary was based on the eerie tranquility of being disconnected. Without the ubiquitous illumination of screens, she knew sleep, silence, and focus. That paradox — that deprivation of power might, in fact, energize her — was the genesis of the song.

The track hums with nods to references so expansive as Lady Gaga, Rezz, and Dua Lipa. It becomes trance-like but motor, club-ready but intimate in a way that's safe for listening on headphones. Micki weaves hope into the rhythm, making "Power Outage" something of an anthem for anybody who feels pulled too thin but won't stay down.

Since starting her music career in pandemic year 2020, Micki XO has established herself on the Pacific Northwest circuit by playing at The Nines Hotel and Atlantis Lounge, releasing eight singles, and working with musicians around the globe. With several more releases in the works for 2025 and 2026, she is curating a catalog that blends sparkling pop with actual human heft.

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