Close-Up is Stardust’s short-form digital cover series spotlighting talent through what feels most revealing: current obsessions, routines, creative process, and a few wild-card hypotheticals that capture them in the moment.

Mikayla Geier is entering 2026 with real heat around her, though the strongest part of her rise is how clearly she already comes across on her own terms. Even before the recent attention started building, her work had a distinct point of view. The songs feel cinematic without getting swallowed by concept, and the visuals always seem tied to something deeper than surface-level style. There is drama, polish, and a strong sense of mood running through it all, but every element feels purposeful. She has the kind of artistic presence that makes even an early catalog feel fully imagined.

That is part of why this moment feels so promising. In January, Spotify named Geier one of its Artists to Watch for 2026, spotlighting “piano in the sky” as her essential track and placing her among a rising class of names expected to have a major year. It is easy to hear why. Her music already carries the confidence of someone thinking beyond a single release, pulling sound, image, and emotion into something that feels increasingly distinct.

Her latest single, “HOTLINE,” only sharpens that impression. Built as a mischievous, campy break-up-with-your-boyfriend anthem, the track lets Geier play with attitude, glamour, and bite while keeping every choice precise. That control gives her music its edge. She knows how to go big without letting the performance outrun the song itself. The official visuals tied to tracks like “piano in the sky” and “diva” have already made clear how naturally she connects her sonic and visual language, and “HOTLINE” fits easily into that growing body of work.

That is what makes Geier so exciting to catch right now. She has a new single out, major co-signs behind her, and an even bigger stage ahead this summer as she opens for MARINA on her UK tour. What stands out most is the sense that she is arriving in this moment with a style and perspective already intact. “HOTLINE” may be the current entry point, but the fuller picture is what lingers: an artist with theatrical instincts, a cinematic eye, and a perspective that already feels singular.

Stardust: What’s your most-streamed song of 2026 so far?

Mikayla Geier: “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue. It’s such a perfect pop song! It’s been on repeat this year because I’m doing a cover of it when I open for MARINA this summer.

Stardust: What’s the last album that really left a mark on you?

Mikayla Geier: Justice’s Cross album! It’s been a hyper fixation for me.

Stardust: What’s something you do that helps you reset outside of music and dance?

Mikayla Geier: Eating ice cream. I love ice cream. Ice cream is a very important part of my lifestyle. Whenever I’m crashing out, ice cream is the one and only answer because my therapist retired—miss her. I am also recently into puzzles, and I’ve been attempting to integrate into the puzzling community. Apparently, people trade puzzles on the FB marketplace?

Stardust: As someone drawn to cinematic aesthetics, what’s your go-to genre, and why?

Mikayla Geier: My favorite genre is no genre [laughs]. I love how films like Parasite don’t slot perfectly into a genre box.

Stardust: What’s one thing that you prefer to have around when you’re creating?

Mikayla Geier: Someone that I’m comfortable with! I love working with the same collaborators on music, visuals, choreography. I think that consistency has allowed me to really build and evolve a world. It’s so rewarding to grow with people.

Stardust: If you had to build a moodboard for this era, what would be on it?

Mikayla Geier: I still feel like I’m scratching the surface of what this new era will be… but for now, high heels, tutus, and a spaceship with a disco ball.

Stardust: How would you describe the core idea behind your new single “HOTLINE”?

Mikayla Geier: At its core, it’s cheeky and yearn-full. I definitely recommend reading the lyrics.

Stardust: What part of you feels most present in “HOTLINE”?

Mikayla Geier: “HOTLINE” is the tiny sliver of my soul that has a dash of chaotic evil. Most of the time I’,m a very sweet cinnamon roll-esque person, but I woke up the day I wrote “HOTLINE” and chose chaos.

Stardust: If the song had a pre-existing cinematic counterpart, what would it be, and why?

Mikayla Geier: Center Stage. Because there is a love triangle, and “HOTLINE” has some ballet influence in the pre-chorus and intro. The last dance scene of Center Stage is fun, sexy, rogue ballerina to me, which is all very “HOTLINE.”

Stardust: As a lifelong ballerina, what’s something ballet has given you that still shapes your work today?

Mikayla Geier: A really strong work ethic. To be great at ballet you have to work incredibly hard, through a lot of mental and physical obstacles.

Stardust: What kind of sonic detail are you most drawn to right now?

Mikayla Geier: I asked my producer what he thought, and he said, ‘your own vocals.’ I’m very particular about vocal production to a point that is probably unhealthy. It’s hard to like the way you sound—okay?!

Stardust: Where do you feel you’ve grown the most lately?

Mikayla Geier: I mean, hopefully my butt has grown since I’ve been training so hard for this tour? But as a person and artist, I’m learning to trust my instincts more. I’ve always been a really intuitive person and have made crazy huge life decisions on a complete whim just because it felt right. In my artist project, I overthink a lot because I want everything to be perfect. Now that I’m so busy, I have no choice but to let go and trust myself!