Q&A: MCK

Having been discovered online as a young teen which led to her to recording and playing shows around the United States, the mesmerising Auckland-based artist & producer MCK has recently dropped two new tracks “Muse” and “Better” - a stunning duet with Wells*!

She beautifully opens up and delves deep into the stories behind her latest tracks and her self-produced EP “Confessions”, talks about her upcoming project “Hot Sounds” to be released later this year as well as advice she has for other artists and more.

We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey from when you first started singing to where you are now!

It’s been a journey! When I was 13, I was discovered online and spent a few years travelling back and forth to Nashville and around the United States recording and playing shows. I had put out a few songs under my full name. It took me a really long time to not feel embarrassed or ashamed by it all – when you're that young you don't know what you want and you don't realise that what you put on the internet stays there forever. I can look back now and be grateful for the experience, but for a while I wasn't sure if I would ever come back to music again. I knew that if I did, I would have to feel completely secure and have control over my creative process. Being independent is really hard work and I tend to wear a few different hats ... but it’s so much more rewarding.

We think your latest EP, the soul-infused pop “Confessions”, is absolutely incredible! Can you tell us a little bit about how you named the EP and the overall theme of it?

Thank you so much. I started working on it in January 2019, and I had just come into my own as a producer and gained the confidence to trust my own instincts. I wanted to finish a project without relying on anybody else’s creative input or validation, and it took a long time – about a year working out of Depot Studios in Devonport with Morgan Allen (he was an incredible listener and that studio became such a safe space for me to completely unravel).

Originally it was going to be called “First Love Feelings”, because for a while I thought everything that had gone wrong in my relationships was tied back to my first love – how it fell apart, left a bitter taste in my mouth and nothing else to compare it to. I realised somewhere along the way that I was just diverting blame, and not taking responsibility for my own self-destructive behaviour. Hence “Confessions”, because every story was quite painful to tell and share. I knew that I was going deep down and confronting every shadow and dark corner, without sugar-coating anything. But from hurt comes healing. I think “Lost Souls” is the best song I’ve ever written in terms of coming to such a revealing and accurate explanation for my actions.

What were some of your highlights working on this EP?

I remember writing “Strong Enough” on my couch at home and it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. It was a song that I’d been trying to write for years, and even though there were some hard truths in there, I knew that it was important for me to share and for others to hear. The response I got once it came out was also really beautiful and overwhelmingly positive.

We’re obsessed with your latest, more production-heavy single “Muse” with gorgeous lyrics, our favourite ones being “make me wanna paint my portrait and hang it in the Louvre”. Can you tell us what inspired the concept of the song and what it was like filming the stunning music video?

It's based around last summer (everything happens in the summer time) … there was a guy that I met - a painter, actually - hence the art references. It's about being admired and enjoying being swept up in that, even if you know it's probably not that deep. Josh (Wells*) and I had been working together for a few months by the time I wrote “Muse” so we were in a good rhythm when I brought him the demo. The video was definitely a career highlight to date – it felt big, like a culmination of every ounce of my creativity and what I'm able to contribute through my artistry right now. I had done the hours of planning and pouring over the treatment and brought together an incredible team of people, so I felt that confidence going into the day. Just making it happen was a huge milestone and I’m so proud of what we made. 

We’re also in love with your duet “Better” with Wells*! What was the writing process like for that track?

The day we wrote “Better” we were actually finishing up another song called “trippin’ up”, and it was around midnight that we decided to start something new. We had been talking over lunch about letting go of past relationships; how it’s always terrifying but more often than not, so much better for both parties. I found myself going back to tell a story that I thought I had already released from my system, which is just another layer of Josh’s brilliance – he not only makes everything sound good but he can also guide you further inward during a session. I think we achieved this beautiful synchronicity between our two stories, that were quite different but grounded in the same realisation. 

What can you tell us about the upcoming music on your next project “Hot Sounds” coming out later this year?

“Hot Sounds” started out as a little catchphrase between Josh and I as we would make music, aka if we loved something we’d always say “that’s a hot sound”. We never set out to make a project but the songs came together so cohesively, and when it came to naming the EP I didn’t want to overthink it. It’s quite the rollercoaster — it starts out quite high and ends on more emotional terrain, which pretty accurately reflects the range of feelings that I was experiencing at the time. 

Who are your biggest inspirations in music, and biggest influences on your sound?

I love RnB. Jhene Aiko’s album “Chilombo” and Alina Baraz’s “It Was Divine” are such beautiful projects. When I first started making music properly again I was also really inspired by H.E.R.

If there’s anything you could change about the current music industry, what would it be and why?

I would like to make more space for female producers. It took a lot for me to step into that role and I still don’t feel like I deserve that name sometimes. At the end of the day, it’s a skill that you can better at if you keep trying and experimenting with sounds and layers. So just encouraging more women to give it a go and speak up when it comes to production.

Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you love or connect with?

I’ve said it in a few interviews now but alayna is incredible. I can tell, I can hear that she has put her whole heart into her songs.. she’s really out here laying everything on the table and making such authentic art. “Muscle Memory” is my personal favourite, my flatmate and I got through the second lockdown listening to that song. Her voice is so soothing and I just love her.

What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?

My parents live on Great Barrier Island so I spend every summer out there and most long weekends. It’s great for slowing down and taking time out ... practicing self-care! That place is definitely my favourite thing about living in New Zealand, I can be there on a flight in 30 minutes.

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far and what advice do you have for new artists out there?

So many things ... I feel like I’ve lived nine lives honestly. Probably the biggest thing I’ve learnt is to seperate who I am as an artist to who I am in real life. I don’t feel like a “muse” every day and I don’t want to try to keep up with that. I also don’t really like social media, so apart from sharing music I try to stay off it. My advice would be to keep evolving and don’t stand in your own way. You don’t need anybody else to share your art, and if you believe in what you’re doing then you’re halfway there. Reach out to people in your city or neighbourhood in the industry and ask to collaborate, make a video on your iPhone, find a local distributor — just enjoy the process. 

Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?

Vote.

We hope you all voted too! Make sure you keep up with MCK on Instagram (@mckmusic), Facebook, Spotify & Apple Music.