If You Like: girl in red, Cavetown, Clairo
On the broad spectrum that is pop music, the meaning and emotion behind it often leave listeners unfulfilled. In the realm that is indie/dream pop, it’s a tough scene to navigate. Many have tried to define the music genre. Slapping a label like “indie” on today’s biggest artists do so much disservice in the long run. In essence, the indie market is overrun with copy and paste. Singer-songwriter, Mackenzie, professionally known as MCKNZ, may be the shot of adrenaline indie/dream pop needs.
Based in Philadelphia, a breeding ground for distinguished indie music, MCKNZ paves her own way. Her music and overtones are dripping with pure raw emotion. The passion and hard work are easily found all throughout her projects. With gut-wrenching acoustic, MCKNZ takes you on a journey through the mind of the wanderlust. It’s the kind of honesty and passion you hear from acts such as girl in red and beabadoobee. At the end of the day, isn’t that what indie music is for?
MCKNZ released her debut single, “Closeted Love,” last year. It’s there the dreamy singer-songwriter showcased multi-talented skills, infusing piano with a repetitive catchy flow. On her next single “To The Water,” MCKNZ switches gears for a soft-spoken poetic guitar melody. Like the title, MCKNZ moves through the track on pace with the notes and then dips into a rhythm out of this world. This early into her career, Mackenzie is musically overqualified for the term of a local artist. Her ability to mold her voice into any realm of music isn’t something many can do.
Despite having an “aspiring producer” in her Spotify, MCKNZ rocks on her self-titled debut album, MCKNZ. Released this past August, MCKNZ bears it all on this dreamy bedroom pop project. The opening track, “Lalea,” is something out of a late 90s teen drama. You know, the song that plays right before the “will they, won’t they” couple finally embrace or go their separate ways. Most opening tracks on albums provide nothing of importance to the listeners, not MCKNZ. You would hardly know Mackenzie isn’t a well-known producer based on the production quality in the album. The album is eternally messy, raw, in-depth, and overall, ripped from the mind of MCKNZ and plastered for the world to enjoy. Then again, you wouldn’t want your music any other way.
