Mikky Ekko Tonight at Mercy Lounge

"It was taking the time to do it right,” Nashville-residing pop singer-songwriter John Stephen Sudduth — better known as Mikky Ekko — told me back in January. He was explaining the process of writing and recording his debut full-length Time, which dropped that month via industry juggernaut RCA Records.

Ekko’s attention to detail paid off, as Time has kept him on the road and garnering more and more fans as the year has progressed, with the video for his song “Smile” (see it after the jump) at roughly 3.7 million views as of press time. While a portion of his success can certainly be attributed to his high-profile collaborations — he’s written and/or performed with Rihanna and Giorgio Moroder, among others — his solo work has earned every view and listen it has harvested. Ekko’s pliable vocal range and knack for pairing evocative lyrics with catchy melodies and radio-friendly beats and production keep him at the top of Nashville’s short list of pop performers to keep an eye on.

Conner Youngblood will open tonight’s show, which starts at 8 p.m. and costs $15.