Hi Caroline McQuaig! Great to speak with you today!
You as well! Thank you so much for having me.
You are getting ready to release new music! Will you tell us about the song?
Yes! Main Character is a single all about empowerment and harnessing the “main character energy” we all have waiting to break through. It was born from a melody my fiance and guitarist, Ian Morel, wrote and then I took to Instagram stories and let my followers help write the song through polls and questions. From there, my band in New York (Brooke Trumm, Jason Liebson, Quenton Ellis, Jeffrey Penton Jr., and the aforementioned guitarist/ fiance), and my producer in Nashville (Wilson Harwood from Elevated Music) really helped shape the sound and structure of the song. It has been a really collaborative effort and I’m so proud of it!
What has been one of the moments of your career that stands out to you?
I’m in the middle of a really exciting time in my career, and every new opportunity throws me for a loop in the best possible way. Since 2018 I’ve been producing a concert series called Siren Songs to showcase marginalized people in the arts, and this summer we have signed on to a residency at Heaven Can Wait in NYC! It’s so fulfilling to be able to lift up other upcoming artists and get the opportunity to work with artists I admire, so being able to do that on a monthly basis now is incredible.
Do you have any specific goals or aspirations for your music/work this year?
Slowly but surely I’m going to be releasing more music, but right now I’ve been blessed with a new partner in growing Siren Songs! Natalie Livingston and I are focused on creating a celebratory space for musicians through our podcast, Instagram community, live shows in multiple cities, and even more! Definitely check out our Instagram @sirensongsnyc if you’d like to get involved!
If you could open a show for any artist, who would it be?
I’m sure this is a cliche answer, but Taylor Swift. She has been such an inspiration to me throughout my musical journey, and she’s why I started writing music. If Loverfest is ever revived, my music would certainly fit into that vibe. I’m right here waiting, Taylor!
What are some recent victories in your career that you are celebrating?
This release! I haven’t released any new solo projects since my EP in 2020, so it has been really great to see that folks are still listening.
What significance/ role do you feel music plays in culture?
I think music is one of the most meaningful measures of society that we have. Culture is shaped and informed by it and vice versa. It’s impossible to escape. Even if you aren’t a “music person,” you certainly have your favorite artists and songs, and memories associated with specific tunes, life benchmarks scored by whatever is in the top 40. Movies and television don’t really work without it, sports don’t even function the same without music! Music exists to hold us wherever we are and call us to action and motivate and comfort and elicit something. I think it plays many roles, but mostly it meets us in cultural moments and helps us wade through.
Please let everyone know where to keep up with you!
You can find me on Instagram and TikTok @carolinemcquaig and stream “Main Character” wherever you listen to music!
End of Interview