Hailing from Italy,
A country celebrated for producing some of the world’s most gifted musicians Gerardo Penna
/Jer-ah-doh/) carries a natural vocal talent deeply rooted in his heritage. Growing up Canberra, Australia and blessed with a rich baritone voice, he delivers in-tune pop vocals without the need for auto-tuning, alongside smooth, perfectly timed rap performances that showcase both precision and style.

Though he has yet to release official music of his own, Gerardo has been quietly working towards perfecting his craft, developing a signature sound that bridges soulful R&B with rhythm-driven pop and rap. His influences stretch across decades: the silky grooves of 1990s and early 2000s R&B icons, combined with the energy of legendary rappers from every era. This fusion gives him a rare versatility — equally at home in heartfelt ballads and high-energy club tracks.

Determined to carve his own lane in the modern pop landscape, Gerardo has teamed up with life long friend and acclaimed multi-genre musician/producer mikrucio to form 18billion. Together, they are blending timeless vocal power with forward-thinking production to create something fresh, emotional, and undeniably modern. With dedication, versatility, and raw talent.

Favourite quote
"Just make it sik!"
‍

From the shadow of a heavy metal legacy,
To the bright lights of pop innovation, mikrucio (Gergely Poloskei) /mik-roo-sheo/)is a multi-genre musician whose journey has been shaped by resilience, reinvention, and raw talent. The son of a Gypsy Hungarian pianist and dulcimerist, mikrucio was introduced to music at an early age, studying under his father’s guidance. While his father excelled at piano, mikrucio gravitated toward keyboards, mastering synthesizer technology, and later adding electric guitar to his repertoire.

Tragedy struck in 1993 when his father was killed in a car accident at the age of 40, leaving a 14-year-old boy to navigate life on his own. That very same year he traded a 386 PC his father had left him for an Amiga 500 and discovered the exciting world of 8-bit digital music production — a move that would ignite his life long passion for music production.

Growing up in Canberra then later moving to Orange NSW.
It was in Canberra during college years mikrucio met a talented guitarist and soon-to-be close friend Jarome. Together, they formed Armourise, a progressive power metal band and then began work on their debut album. After nearly a year of recording, disaster struck: their entire studio was burgled, and all of their work and gear was stolen.

Refusing to be defeated, mikrucio pressed on with Armourise. 10 years later, he released "Armourise - The Return of Agony", a full-length conceptual album brought to life with five vocalists, seven musicians, and 53 minutes of original compositions. The album earned critical praise within its niche and achieved strong CD sales.

‍Today, mikrucio has evolved into a versatile, multi-genre music producer with his own distinct style and technique. Writing and production for a new soon to be hip-hop project began as early as 2017, Later teaming up with old Canberra friend Gerardo Penna, "18billion” was born. mikrucio now embarks on a bold new chapter spear heading the pop-hop duo. With a career built on talent, determination, and persistence, mikrucio proves that no matter the setbacks, artistry, passion and talent will always find their way to the stage.

Favourite quote
"Make Art, Not Music"