AceShowbiz - In 2023, when Bad Bunny appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone’s summer double issue, he named Young Miko as the artist who most represents the future of music. “She’s one of the new faces breaking out right now, and I like her a lot,” he said during a video interview. “I feel like she has a lot to show people, and she hasn’t revealed all her tricks yet. She was the first one who came to mind.”

Young Miko recalls the moment she saw the clip vividly. A fan tagged her on social media, and she was overwhelmed with excitement and disbelief that one of her musical icons had singled her out. “It took me by surprise, and I appreciated it so much,” she reflects. “It definitely motivated me as an artist and as a person to keep growing.”

At that time, the Puerto Rican rapper was steadily gaining traction, releasing a string of hits and collaborations, including the popular track “Classy 101” with Colombian star Feid. These efforts were building momentum ahead of her debut album, att. “I was definitely in a flow state,” she says. “I felt like every time I walked into the studio, I was so in love with what we were creating.”

When att. was released in 2024, it confirmed Bad Bunny’s instincts. Fans eagerly embraced the world she crafted, blending trap, reggaeton, and hip-hop sounds with smooth, deliberate Spanish lyrics. The album explores themes like nightlife, her climb to success, and her personal journey of self-love and acceptance as a gay woman. “I’ve been so unapologetic since day one,” she states. “I was discovering a lot, and the first thing people recognized about me is that I was openly queer, I was singing to women.” Every element came together as she continued her ascent toward stardom.

That spring marked a milestone for Young Miko when she landed her own digital cover for Rolling Stone’s 2024 Future of Music issue. “It was super special, and it’s still one of my favorite covers,” she says, emphasizing the significance of this achievement in her career.

Recently, she has been cementing her status in the music world. In a few months, she released her sophomore album, Do Not Disturb, opened arena shows for Billie Eilish, and sold out two nights at Puerto Rico’s premier venue, El Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, affectionately known as “El Choli.”

Reflecting on her journey, Young Miko finds the rapid success somewhat surreal. She remembers her early days when she saved earnings from tattooing to afford studio time. “When we were setting up the stage, my friends were walking down the hallways with walkie-talkies,” she says wistfully. “We all used to get together in a studio that we didn’t fit in and struggled to order a pizza so that we could eat. Suddenly, we’re commanding the hallways of this huge venue.”

Besides her personal achievements, Young Miko is also thinking about the broader future of music. “There are so many artists who are yearning for change, for more fun. Music is in really good hands right now,” she observes. She mentions a few artists she admires: “There’s Kwn; I love what she’s doing. It’s so cool to see a community sister totally kill it,” she says. “There’s this other artist named Destin Conrad, who is also queer and makes incredible music.” She gives a shout-out to Hybe’s powerhouse Katseye, her recent collaborator, and the rising K-pop group ILLIT, whom she describes as her current favorites. “I’m kind of obsessed,” she enthuses.

Despite her rapid rise, Young Miko emphasizes the lessons learned while creating Do Not Disturb. The album was inspired by the need to slow down and prioritize mental health. She had been grappling with burnout and exhaustion before starting the project, and stepping back allowed her to regain clarity and creativity. “I’m in a place where I’m very in love with my freedom and the mental peace that I am feeling both as a human being and as an artist,” she explains. “It gives me a lot of joy that things keep getting bigger and bigger. I just hope that that never ends for me – I’m hungry to keep growing.”