Mackenzie Day
What caught my attention when listening to Mackenzie Day‘s music for the first time is her unique tone and her incredible vocals. What a voice. What a talent. Her new single “Stuck in the Wrong Movie” is mind-blowing. Mackenzie’s vocals are emotional and powerful, the lyrics are incredible and the melodies are beautiful.
Thank you so much Mackenzie for this interview. You are an amazing.
“Stuck in the Wrong Movie” is available worldwide :)
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
My name is Mackenzie Day and I’m a 22-year-old singer/songwriter about to finish Berklee College of Music. I grew up in San Diego, California, and music has always been a part of me and my life. I grew up with a dad who was into rock and roll and played in bands, so my house was always filled with some sort of music. I started writing songs as a 5-6-year-old little girl - stupid songs with purely my voice. Around 11, I was writing acapella love songs about my middle school crushes. It wasn’t until 13 that my dad taught me how to play the guitar. From that point on, I was unstoppable.
When I began 8th grade my family dynamic began to change, with secrets in the household and my parents beginning their 4-year process of divorce. A year later, my dad got cancer and had to go through chemotherapy my freshman year of high school. All of this chaos led to music being the only outlet I truly felt like I had. Most of the songs I was writing were about my struggles and lost feelings that came with all the family chaos. Being the oldest sibling, it was the only way I could put together pieces of my understanding and how I was feeling within it all.
What did you grow up listening to?
I grew up listening to a variety of music. My dad was always in bands when I was growing up, so I was constantly hearing live music as well - Green Day, Van Halen, Foo Fighters, etc. Meanwhile, my mom was always playing old Maroon 5 and Five for Fighting. I was mostly brought up with rock and roll, and that’s a big piece of where I am heading. Lots of Supertramp, Amy Winehouse, Queen etc.
When did you start writing songs?
Ever since I was a little girl, I was always singing something. I made up little tunes for Valentine’s Day as a 5-6-year-old, and I constantly put on shows for my family. When I was 13, troubles began at home with my parents, I picked up a guitar and learned how to accompany myself. This was crucial, and I look back at all the years I just wrote based on melody. Once I learned how to play guitar, the songs never stopped. It really became my therapeutic outlet when my family life was impacting me deeply, and when my dad had cancer and was going through chemotherapy.
When did you know you could sing?
Around when I was in 4th grade, a parent or teacher had made a comment on how nice my voice was. I was always singing and doing theater but to hear someone else outside of all of that notice my voice and enjoy it felt huge. I never really had consistent vocal training/lessons due to how expensive they were to keep up, so when I got to Berklee I finally was able to focus on voice lessons. I think due to the voice lessons and conformity my voice stands in a place of uniqueness, which is a compliment I've gotten ever since I've been at Berklee.
Growing up, what were your favorite records to sing along to?
American Idiot - Green Day with my dad. Maroon 5 - Songs about Jane. Queen's biggest hits. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black. Wicked - Broadway musical
What gave you the confidence to be an artist and release your original music?
To release music was never even a question - it was just a matter of waiting until I had enough music to put out. I technically released my first album when I was 14, my freshman year of high school, but it’s secretly hidden away now. I think confidence is such a mental game. It's just getting to a place within yourself where all you need is your own validation, because at the end of the day nobody else's really matters. It’s always been my outlet, so putting it out for other people to listen to and having some part of my story told has been such a blessing.
"Stuck In The Wrong Movie" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
I wrote this song during the depths of the pandemic in November 2020 during a time when I was trying to write 10 songs a month. I had a chalkboard in my room that I used to keep myself accountable because for the first time in my life, I never felt less motivated to create. It was also my first time being in therapy for a couple of months at the time, so a lot of self-reflection and realization was going on, which influenced the creation of this song.
This song started with a whole different perspective, and "I hate having hard conversations" was the first line I wrote. I was trying to write this song that the anxiety I felt in my healthy relationship, but I soon realized it was a reflection of the last toxic/unhealthy one I was in. Then I realized, I don’t hate hard conversations - it was more the person who made me feel invalid, who made conversations hard in the first place. Once I made that realization, I was writing a completely different song.
Writing this song taught me I’ve had the power within myself the whole time, I just had to find it. It was one of those songs that you write and it feels right. I immediately sent it to my producer. I had such a feeling it would be a special one.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it?
I had been in contact with a new producer, Noah Hubbell, who caught my ear in an album I heard from another artist he produced for. He had these very cool production elements that felt very story-telling. He was in LA while I was in Boston, during the thick of the pandemic. I had been sending him a bunch of songs I was working on but when I wrote “Stuck In The Wrong Movie,” I immediately knew I needed to send it to him, as It felt truly special.
It took over a year to truly get this song to the place it is today. This is why I believe it's so important to be patient with art and take your time when you know what the song truly deserves. Noah and I would call and always try to plan zoom meetings as we weren’t in the same state and on completely different sides of the country. We both knew we needed drastic strings and very dark ambient sounds for this song. I also knew how important it was to convey the story of the story not just through my lyrics but through the production as well. I also hit up my favorite string player, Noah Leong, an arranger and player, and just let him do his magic with this song. Without any notes, Noah knew exactly what to do and he killed it. He truly helped make the song feel cinematic and explosive with emotion.
A year into making the song, Noah was still working in LA, and it was time to bring on another producer in the same city as me. I met Travis Heidelman through a class at Berklee and immediately felt connected to him in a mental and musical way. I sent him the song demo that Noah and I had started, and he immediately wanted to be a part of the team. From there, we added a couple more elements to the production, recorded live piano and new vocals, and it started to truly come alive.
What's your favorite thing about this song?
My favorite thing is the realization and reflection I was able to do while creating this song. I truly feel like it isn’t only a reflection of the relationship I initially wrote about but also a lot of different terrible relationships I've had with family members, friends, and lovers. It feels like my taking my power back type of song, and it's so special to me as an individual who no longer allows people to treat me the way I've once been treated. Besides that, I would have to say the strings because they truly make this song exceptional. I feel so fortunate to know Noah Leong and for him to truly bring his gifts into my art.
What made you want to release "Stuck In The Wrong Movie" as a single?
This song felt like it didn’t belong in a bigger project - it itself feels like a project. It's the first song I've released in over a year, and there couldn’t be a more perfect song to step back into the music world and into my own power.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
I think the hardest part is doing it all by myself - finding my producers, having my own vision, and wanting that to be heard alongside theirs. Also, putting myself out there on social media and with marketing, and having to do all this without a team can definitely start to feel overwhelming.
The best part would be getting to release my emotions for the world to hear. My stories and real experiences are captured in writing and art. Moreover, I also love the collaboration factor when you’re able to incorporate different people with their own flare, whether that’s instrumentation or cover art.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I would put more emphasis on the importance of taking time on a project or in music in general. Everyone’s just trying to release it. The point of music is and how helps heal our world is dying when people just release music to make more money. People aren’t taking their time on projects, and everyone wants a 2-minute song. On my next EP project, I have a couple 4–5- minute songs because it's what felt right.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Through finding who you are and what makes you happy, you find what you’re meant to be doing with your life. By creating what authentically feels true to you, you will attract people who love your sound and the music you create. There’s no need to become anyone else who you are as an individual and what you bring to the table is so unique.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
The world would be a better place if we rebuilt our social justice system and society, teaching people they can love whomever they want, and to just be and love. I think people need to stop caring so much about what other people do with their lives and just focus on their own. Equality and justice for all.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
You can achieve anything you want as long as you don’t give up. You must believe in yourself before anyone can believe in you, and if you believe in yourself nothing can stop your dreams from becoming reality. People’s reactions and responses have nothing to do with you, and everything to do with them.
Connect with Mackenzie: