Interview: Macarena
Amsterdam independent artist Macarena blends neo soul, chill R&B and alternative pop with a touch of latin and thoughtful lyrics. She discovered her love for music while listening to jazz with her dad and developed her writing skills by writing poems during her teen years. As Macarena evolved these skills she released her first track in 2017 called 'Mind' (Prod. by RINZ.). Macarena went on to release her debut EP 'Rebirth' in 2018 and followed it up with multiple single releases, of which 'Something New' (Prod. by Lady Groove) earned her her first spot on Spotify editorial playlists New Music Friday Latin, Are & Be Latin and Fresh Finds.
What led to you becoming an artist?
I think I never really thought about becoming an artist. Writing and creating melodies come quite organically to me. I discovered writing when I needed a tool to organize my mind and understand the world around me. So I think the urge to understand and the freedom I felt when feeling what I feel, is what led me to write songs and become an “artist”.
What inspires your music?
Lyricism is what inspires me the most. So artists like Erykah Badu, Mac Miller and J. Cole are heaving on the lyricism. But artists such as Snow tha Product and Sinead Harnett inspire me because they’re doing their thing independently. Other than that I’m also very much inspired by stories. So for example, when I go to a spoken word event, or read a book or watch a show. I really try to pay attention to what they’re saying and I relate it to my own life, which leaves me inspired sometimes.
Who are some of your influences?
I think musically the sound of jazz and soul are very big influences. I like the harmonies, the changes, the versitalities in it. I like to layer vocals and I think you hear that in jazz and soul a lot. It’s about layering instruments and melodies, to make the sounds very dynamic.
What are some of your favorite memories from your career?
I actually made a new favorite memory this month. I got to perform again in front of a crowd since COVID. It had been 3 years since I’ve done that and it felt so nice to share a new song I released. It felt good to be in a room with people who were excited to discover something new. Writing songs in my room and figuring out harmonies is very fun, and there’s a time and place for that for sure, but it's also nice to feel the energy of a crowd and present what you’ve been working on. I kinda forgot what that felt like.
What have been some of the greatest challenges of your career?
One of the biggest challenges is being okay with having a period of less writing. I don’t always feel as inspired and that makes me frustrated sometimes. It’s a process where I’m learning how to be in the moment instead of chasing after what I could be creating. There are times to experience and live, and there are times to process and write. Being okay with the balance between the two can be a challenge sometimes.
Which of your songs/eps or albums is your favorite? Why is it your favorite?
The new songs I got out/coming out are my favorite. During COVID I wrote maybe 10 songs. Of those ten songs, I’m releasing 4, one of them being Paradise. Which is super exciting. They show how much I’ve grown in my writing and sound. It’s actually the first time creating all of the vocal melodies on my own. Which was challenging, but also very rewarding. It makes me even prouder of my work.
Who are some of the collaborators who helped you create your favorite work?
So there are a couple of people that helped me a lot to get where I am today. I will list them below to give a clear overview:
RINZ - he was the very first person I collaborated with. He helped me create my first couple of singles and my first EP.
CRZE - he was the second or third producer I worked with. He helped me to make my latin roots a part of the songs I’ve put out.
Jeremiah and Jesse - these guys were the once that helped me capture my thoughts during the pandemic. Jeremiah is an allround super talented musician, so it was nice to experiment with live instruments in a track. I hadn’t done it to this capacity before yet. Aron also contributed to the project I made with them by recording the guitar on one of the tracks.
Jaleesa: she helped me experiment more with my sound and write on beats that were a bit different for me. She has also done most of the mixes and masters for my songs.
What are you most excited to bring to your fans in the next year?
I’m most excited about releasing the songs I have ready. So there’s three more to go. But I’m also working on a second EP right now. Im not sure it will be released in 2023, but in 2024 for sure. And I’m doing my best to create more video content for it as well. I’d like to release more music videos in the future.
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
For this next year, I would like to create more tracks and work on more visuals for the singles I’m going to put out. I’d like for this to continue into my second EP. I want to make more music videos so I can show the visuals that I have in mind for my music. I’d also love to perform more. To go across the country to sing at small and medium stages.
How can your fans best support you right now?
Just by streaming Paradise! I’d love for them to listen to the track and share it with their loved ones or on their social media. But also listen to my whole catalog. They’re a lot of different sounds and I think it'd be beautiful for them to hear my growth in it all.
Macarena’s Links: