Mickey And The Crash Capture DIY Charm On “Study Abroad”

Tiny Desk season always brings a surge of local talent into view, serving up videos from familiar names trying out new material alongside rising artists eager to make their mark. Some win you over with pristine songwriting, others with jaw-dropping performances. Then there are the ones that land right in between: a strong song elevated by the magnetic presence on screen, which is exactly where Mickey And The Crash settle in on “Study Abroad.”

Mickey And The Crash are relative newcomers to the scene, first turning heads with “Playing Ghost” on Halloween last year. Fronted by singer Mikaela Craft and backed by a rich ensemble–Ankur Patel (guitar), Anthony Burnham (bass), Kirby Farineau (baritone saxophone), Cale Davis (drums), Hugo Mendoza (keys), Porcelyn (background vocals), and Rubus (background vocals)–the group leans into a sauntering blend of jazz-funk that emits a lively cabaret glow, captured effortlessly on their debut single. “Study Abroad” carries that spirit forward, built around an infectious, playful call-and-response melody between sax and keys. “I just want to be normal,” Craft declares in the song, soon joined by the band in a repeated refrain, a tongue-in-cheek admission from a group that thrives on its unique charm, something audiences at the recent Richmond Fringe Fest saw in full bloom.

The video for “Study Abroad” aims to capture the true spirit of the Tiny Desk contest, eschewing the polished settings these videos have taken or the creative ways people have tried to turn the formula on its head. What we have here is a true DIY affair offering a candid glimpse of what Mickey And The Crash is all about. Still, it’s not just a static shot of the band staring down the lens. Porcelyn’s editing shifts the perspective throughout, capturing both the group and the song from multiple angles, framing it “Study Abroad” as a work in progress from the band: 95% locked in, with the final stretch left to whatever magical whim intrigues the band that day.

A ten-track debut album is expected later this year, according to the band’s Spotify bio, making now the perfect time to get this group on your radar so you don’t miss what’s coming next.

Watch the video for “Study Abroad” below and make sure to follow Mickey And The Crash on Instagram for more.