Mackenzie Nicole – Complications

By starrymag | August 27, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

 

A) I generally avoid describing my sound because I don’t believe in defining art, but if I had to put my music into adjectives, I’d say it’s a darker flavor of pop focused on the internal facets of being a human being. I feel like the content of most music, particularly pop music, focuses on external experiences such relationships and other very blatant life occurrences. I prefer to focus on the more abstract, insular aspects of humanity. I like slightly unclear music that one can project one’s own life onto and into because I think that makes music so much more involved and relatable. Now, on occasion, I still write very literally of some exterior happenings such as relationships, but for the most part I try to avoid that. There’s enough literal, superficial music.

 

Now that that’s all written out, I realize how pretentious I sound. I’m sorry.

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

 

A) Oh my goddddd, I have so many musical influences. Obviously, I grew up around my labelmates, who I’ve learned so much from. However, I’ll focus on non-Strange Music artists.

I grew up on 90s hip-hop and R&B, so I’m in love with acts like Tupac, TLC, Snoop Dogg, etc. I also love current rap such as Young Thug, Lil Peep, Post Malone and Kanye West.

In terms of other non-contemporary artists, I’m in love with Johnny Cash, The Smiths, The Doors and Stevie Nicks to name a few. I don’t listen to too much pop, but of pop acts I prefer MARINA, Jessie Reyez, Halsey, Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish. My top bands are The Front Bottoms (all-time favorite), Glass Animals and My Chemical Romance.

I’m heavy into underground artists like Aries, Angelo Mota and Kai Straw, for just a few examples…I’ve actually had the privilege of speaking to all of these men, and they are absolutely wonderful, intelligent, highly talented individuals.

Finally, my production icons are my in-house producer Seven (my hero and mentor), Marshmello, Flume and, again, Kanye West.

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Complications.”

 

A) I am a hot mess. Complete trainwreck. Highly neurotic and self-destructive. “Complications” is my way of making fun of that. I cannot stand myself 99% of the time. I am constantly in my own way! These are my worst qualities. And, while I was wallowing in self-pity, I decided to air myself out and publicize my flaws musically. Sonically, my producer Seven and I loved the idea of taking a super upbeat pop beat and marry it with innately dark subject matter.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

 

A) I think human beings are innately self-destructive. It’s what the religious call “Original Sin” ― our tendency to do what we do not want to do. Everyone has done, does and will do things at our own detriment. That, in my opinion, is why people connect with “Complications.” We’re all throwing one big pity party for ourselves!

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

 

A) Like I said, this song is a pity party, so when I conceptualized and directed the video, I wanted to throw a literal pity party complete with balloons, cake and confetti. In the video I wreck that aforementioned party, just like I wreck my life. It’s the perfect metaphor.

 

Q) What is your songwriting process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

 

A) Generally, my producer Seven will send me a gorgeous beat and then I write new content to that beat. However, I also jot down lyrics and phrases that come to me in my day to day life and I often integrate those notes into songs as I write.

 

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

 

A) When I work with my producer Seven, it’s definitely a collaborative effort. The process is as follows: I email Seven a series of tracks I’m inspired by with explanations of why I’m inspired. He then creates a beat that is an amalgamation of the most compelling elements from the tracks I sent. It’s the system we’ve always had and it’s always worked. Seven is an insane genius when it comes to channeling references into original work in an organic and non-plagiaristic way.

 

Q) What can fans expect from a live Mackenzie Nicole performance?

 

A) My biggest goal as an artist is to improve my live performance. I grew up watching extremely aggressive, masculine hip-hop performances, so I’m always trying to channel that energy in my own way. I also try to make my shows interactive. I try to engage the crowd. I really like to make the performance less like a lecture and more like a conversation. My favorite thing to do right now is a medley I do at Strange Music shows of all the hooks and features I’ve done on my labelmates’ music. I’ve been working with artists on Strange since I was nine years old, so it’s a crazy throwback that really tells the fans how long I’ve been doing what I’ve been doing. A lot of these people at these concerts have been watching my career for ten years, so it’s a cool trip down memory lane for all of us.

 

Q) What songs off your forthcoming album Mystic can you tease that you are looking forward to performing live?

 

A) I’ve already started performing some songs from Mystic! I’ve performed three tracks so far.

“Five Months, Four Days” is a turbulent, abstract song about a chaotic relationship. The hook ensures, “I’ll hate you back, I’ll love you more,” and I think that captures the essence of a helter-skelter bond with another person.

“Happy” is an extremely dark song that follows the narrative of being unable to satisfy someone else emotionally and general feelings of inadequacy in a relationship. I say, “I can’t make you happy” eight times in the song. In another lyric I ask, “We were Kurt and Courtney. Why don’t you adore me?”, which is one of the most difficult lines on the album for me. It’s so humbling to ask someone why they don’t adore you.

“The House Above The World” is about the search for and discovery of enlightenment and the vulnerability and self-awareness that takes. One line claims, “My heart is a magnet for cupid’s arrows and poison darts.” That, to me, means that I’m soft-hearted enough to be susceptible to persistent love and hate. I fall in love very easily and am an easy target for toxicity, which is a very dangerous blessing.

 

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to your upcoming album as a whole?

 

A) This album is about stages of mental health and my personal experience with it. The goal of this album for me is to increase understanding of self and others. That is what it’s done for me. I became so educated about myself in the process of creating this album and every time I play it for others, they open up to me about what they’ve underwent, creating this beautiful dialogue about what it is to be surviving as a human being. As someone who struggles constantly, mental health is so important to me, so I hope this album can open gateways to better acknowledgment of the subject.

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform, and what makes those locations so significant to you?

 

A) I don’t necessarily have distinct favorites. If anything, my favorite thing on earth is performing in new places for the first time. I love to travel and I’ve come across so many incredible new places and people through touring. I love Seattle. I have an amazing fanbase in Phoenix. I had a blast in Salt Lake City. As a Strange Music artist, Denver is always a party because that’s a massive hub for our cult fanbase. I haven’t even gotten into how much the people I meet make certain cities complete destinations for me. I’ve made friends in so many cities I’ve toured and I look forward to seeing them every time I hit their cities. My next goal is to perform in New York City, my favorite place on earth. I also can’t wait to perform internationally.

 

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

 

A) SO MANY ARTISTS. A long-term goal of mine has been to collaborate with Flume. I think his production is mad dope. Marshmello or Kanye would also be amazing to produce tracks with, obviously. As a Post Malone superfan, I would absolutely die if I ever got on a track with him. I’d also love to work with Young Thug, Millie Go Lightly style (listen to their track “Family Don’t Matter” and you’ll know what I mean).

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

 

A) My aforestated current favorite is Aries. I discovered him via his track “Carousel” (my current favorite song) summer of 2018 and it became an integral part of me. That track helped me through so much and means so much to me. The more I got into his albeit short discography, the more I fell in love. His songwriting is innovative. It’s the exact same abstraction I strive to convey in my own music. Furthermore, he produces his own music (with the occasional aid of his uber-talented friends), which I always find impressive in an artist. His persona is intriguing. Upon first glance he’s mysterious and aloof, as hard to pin down as his lyrical content. But upon communicating with him, he is remarkably friendly and interesting, all while maintaining this effortlessly cool air. He just dropped his debut album, WELCOME HOME, which I think everyone should listen to. For bonus content, check out his production project WUNDERWORLD on Soundcloud, where he’s posted up some incredible interpretations of several popular songs, primarily of the hip-hop variety.

I kind of hope Aries never reads this, because he’ll probably think I’m a creep for ranting about how much I adore him.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

 

A) I actually am not a big social media fan (I think it’s pretty generally damaging for humanity as a whole), but the saving grace for these platforms is getting to virtually meet the people that make my career possible. I have made friends with SO many fans via social media. Just like I want my performances to be less a lecture and more a conversation, I want my entire career to be a dialogue, not a monologue. Communication strengthens our mutual love for each other and makes us all appreciate the music so much more.

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

 

A) I LOVE YOU.