Today, we’d like to introduce you to Marisa McKaye.
Hi Marisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I have been singing since I can remember. It started with me memorizing lyrics from Disney movies and belting out songs I heard on the radio. I spent my earlier years in a small town called Jackson, Tennessee, about 2 hours from Nashville. I first performed on stage at a state fair in Jackson when I was 5 years old. There weren’t a whole lot of music opportunities for me there. I sang at many state fairs and singing competitions, but they weren’t really my cup of tea.
Nobody in my family is in music. However, my parents are both some of the biggest music lovers I know, and they have been so supportive of me throughout my entire career. When we were living in Jackson, my dad took me on a few trips up to Nashville to get to experience the music scene, and I fell in love with it. At age 7, I started getting up on stage with a few bands around Broadway to sing a couple of songs and to get the experience of playing with a live band. I sang at venues such as Tootsie’s, Honky Tonk Central, The Stage, Robert’s, Margaritaville, and a few others. My family decided to move to Franklin, Tennessee, when I was around 9, and I was thrilled because this meant I would be closer to Music City.
I started playing guitar at age 9, and I began writing songs and co-writing at age 11. My first co-write was with Anne Buckle; she helped guide me through songwriting. I auditioned to play regularly at The Bluebird Cafe when I was 11 years old. I started playing the Sunday night rounds, where I met so many talented writers. After playing there for a few years, The Bluebird invited me to host my own writer’s round when I was 15 years old; at the time, I was the youngest person to host their own round at The Bluebird. At age 11, I was invited by The Country Music Hall of Fame to participate in the Acoustic Guitar Project.
Age 12 was a busy year for me. I began singing a regular gig at Margaritaville with another talented musician named Adam Ricker, I played with him there almost every weekend for several years, and I still play with him from time to time. At age 12, I was invited to perform at Penn State’s THON as I had written a song for a friend battling cancer, and I went to perform it for her. I began hosting my own writer’s rounds at a Mexican restaurant in Franklin called Sopapillas at
age 12, which I did every week for two years. I first performed with the Song Suffragettes at age 12 at The Listening Room Cafe and still sing with them to this day. I was given the opportunity to audition for America’s Got Talent at age 12, and they aired a bit of my second performance, where I sang Martina McBride’s “A Broken Wing” in the middle rounds. Around that time at age 13, I was invited by hit songwriter, Ross Copperman, to be involved in a project called Homegrown Kids.
I started singing with a musician named Brett Taylor at CPC on Music Row and, later, West End Community Church every now and then. At around age 14, I was asked to sing at Big Machine Distillery, where I began to play a consistent gig there. When I was 16, I auditioned for season 19 of American Idol and made it to the duet rounds of Hollywood Week. However, my performances were not aired. Around age 16, I started getting involved with a group called Song House, a viral social media group of songwriters and artists, and have met so many talented individuals through it.
I have learned a lot over my years, and I have done it all independently, however, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance and support from my family and other musicians I have met along the way. I am currently 19 years old and working on writing and releasing new music. I currently have written over 400 songs in total, and I have released 33 original songs in total.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a very smooth road. Despite the amazing opportunities I have been given and the people that have helped guide me along the way, it has been hard. However, the joys are worth the struggles. Being an independent artist is very difficult. It is very similar to being an entrepreneur and having to take risks and investing a lot of time and money into yourself. An independent artist must play all the roles of an artist’s team. I have spent a lot of time trying to grow my social media, which can be frustrating and can take a toll on my mental health. I do enjoy making content, but it can be easy to get discouraged.
It can be easy to become obsessed with numbers, but I do my best not to focus on them to the extent that they affect me negatively. I have been trying to post consistently almost every single day, sometimes multiple times a day, for the past year in attempts to grow my fan base and promote myself and my music. Hate is
another thing that comes with a growing social media, and this can be very hard, however, I do my best to ignore it because I know I cannot make everyone happy. I am a perfectionist at heart, so it can be difficult not to pick myself apart.
Another thing that has been challenging is having to learn how to use money wisely. It can be disheartening when you’ve put a lot of time and money into a project, and it doesn’t get the reach that you were hoping it would. I have also experienced struggles in confidence and anxiety which has been a challenge to overcome.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an artist and a singer-songwriter. I love writing songs and performing; it is what brings me joy. I am currently enrolled in the Songwriting program at Belmont University, and I plan to keep writing and releasing more music.
I am most proud of the music I have made, the accomplishments I have made along the way especially at a young age, and I am proud of my ability to connect with others through my music. That’s really the most important bit: the connection music allows us to form with those we haven’t even met before. I think something that sets me apart from others is my vocal tone. I have been told that I have a unique voice, which I think is very important in being an artist so that listeners can recognize you when they listen to your music.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us? The most important lesson I have learned is to not be afraid to reach out to/introduce yourself to others because there is a lot you can learn from others in the music industry and relationships are so important.
I have also learned that it can be easy to feel discouraged, but it is important to never give up and to stay consistent, even when it feels like you aren’t seeing any success. Do not shy away from opportunities due to fear of failure because those failures will only make you stronger and will help build you into the person you want to become.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.marisamckaye.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marisamckaye/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marisamckaye1/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/marisamckaye?lang=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@marisamckaye
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0fHHqRhyzE4VquF6JrYGar?si=AITtxXSFQcuYUI0W93dpZw
Image Credits
James Wolf, Elise Ponder, and Greg Galdino
