Michael Marcargi is an up-and-coming folk/pop artist, known most notably for his hit song “Scared to Start,” which has amassed over 500 million streams on Spotify and earned a spot on Billboard’s “Hot 100” List. The song first gained popularity on social media app TikTok and enabled him to begin working solo, a couple of months later signing with Warner Records. Marcargi is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and was in a band called “Heavy Hours” before joining Warner. His debut single, “The Other Side,” came out in 2023, and has generated over 100 million Spotify streams. In February of last year, he released American Romance, his debut EP.
Marcargi’s music transcends traditional genres like pop, indie, alternative, and folk– creating a sound that is raw and authentically his own. The lyrics are intimate and vulnerable: “Scared to Start” about the terrifying emotions that arise in the beginnings of a budding romantic relationship; “The Other Side” about life alone during the COVID-19 pandemic. He references popular folk artists Noah Kahan and The Lumineers as “key inspirations” for his style of music, and most recently released a song called “Midwest Kid” in 2025. Recognized internationally, Marcargi will be embarking on tour in 2025 in the US, UK, and Europe, with pop-country artist Ashley Kutcher as a special guest. Lucky for us Washingtonians, DC is one of his national stops, performing at the 9:30 Club on 2/14 at 6pm. You can purchase tickets here to listen to some of his fantastic songs live!
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