Q&A: Talking Angel Numbers, Personal Journeys, and More With Alaina Margaret
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY DANY MIRELES ☆
“ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FEELS LIKE A SIGN THAT EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE OKAY” – Folk pop indie singer Alaina Margaret just released her single “42 (It Wouldn’t Mean A Thing)” which showcases her ability to capture emotions in a song perfectly. Tying it to the experience of seeing angel numbers in everyday life, Alaina’s songwriting is vulnerable and sincere.
The Luna Collective had an opportunity to chat with her about moving to a new city, new personal journeys, spiritual beliefs, and more.
LUNA: You have a background of growing up in a small town in North Dakota. What inspired you to blend folk-pop and indie with a country flair in your music?
MARGARET: I think I truly write from a place of, “This is what I have listened to and this is what I know.” I listened to a lot of country music growing up. I used to hate country music - I love it now - but I used to resent it. I didn't want to live in that small town. Growing up and having it always on and always around, it's influenced everything and everything has a little sprinkle of that in it. I also like to listen to a lot of pop. Pop is what I seek out, and I feel like the country is what I was raised with.
LUNA: That’s so interesting, talking more about your background, how did this environment shape your songwriting and artistic vision?
MARGARET: I think the biggest thing that growing up in a small town [gave] me was the community. They are so supportive and encouraging, and that inspires me to continue this dream and chase it. Another thing it did for me was create a safe environment that inspired me to be myself. It allowed me to be okay just marching to the beat of my drum. And even to this day, a lot of people will come to see me perform or reach out to me. I love that so much.
LUNA: I bet that support feels amazing, and that’s so great that it inspires you to reach for your dreams. So, talking more about your song “42 (It Wouldn't Mean a Thing) “, how did the concept of angel numbers resonate with your personal experiences?
MARGARET: I honestly really didn’t discover angel numbers until later in my life. When I got to college I felt like everyone started to get into zodiac signs and all that stuff., and [angel numbers] were something that resonated with me. I used to share them with all the special people in my life. I come from a spiritual background; I grew up going to church and believing in God. And I think as I’ve grown older, I’m more of the belief that spirituality is a personal journey. And I just say that I am a spiritual person. So that concept came to be because I think angel numbers helped me get in touch with my spirituality. And when you have someone else to share them with, it makes these moments even more special. All of a sudden it feels like a sign that everything’s going to be okay.
LUNA: Thank you so much for sharing that, angel numbers are truly everywhere. You worked with Tucker Bickell at Short Stack Studios for this song, what was that experience like?
MARGARET: It was so great. I didn’t go in there with a plan, I just showed him the song and he said how raw and emotional it was so he suggested we do a live acoustic [recording]. I thought it was perfect. He’s just so smart about finding the arc of the song and finding the dynamics of it. We did maybe 13 or 14 takes, and after that, he suggested I make parts a little softer and I just found the true colors of the song. I think all of the fine-tuning made the final product ultimately the best that it could be. He’s so smart about finding the most important parts of songs and emphasizing them. So it was wonderful.
LUNA: As you said, the lyrics of this song were raw and emotional. Your lyrics often touch on these themes, how do you channel those feelings into all of your songs?
MARGARET: I’m also an actress, which I have been doing in New York right now, and I think acting training has helped me get in touch more with my emotions. I can translate that into the [live] performances of my songs. One of my friends described my songwriting process as a kind of journaling, and I agree. I feel like I am always trying to write from an emotional place. I try not to, but then I get too heady about it or overthink it. I think it’s a great way of working through your emotions when you can.
LUNA: I agree! Journaling or music writing is a great way to feel your emotions. Now that you’ve mentioned New York, how has moving from a small town to New York changed your creativity and outlook?
MARGARET: When I first moved here I found myself having a lot of time between auditions and things. I was like, I have this thing which is songwriting that I love, but right now it’s just me in my bedroom and it is not going anywhere. And I wanted to see if I could make this something more and just share more of it. There are so many people around here who are chasing after their dreams and that energy…it just can’t help but get to you. That’s kind of like the New York energy, the “let’s make it happen” energy. So that’s how I got started doing all of this, just constantly being inspired by this city. There are so many people, and there are so many connections that I feel like it’s impossible to not be inspired.
LUNA: Talking more about your shows, can you share a memorable experience from one of them?
MARGARET: The first show I ever did was the best thing in the world. I had so many of my friends come and be supportive and honestly, I do all of this because I feel like my audience are my friends. Most of the songs I write are for my age group. But on my first show ever, my boyfriend came and like, on a whim, I threw a song I wrote about him [into the set]. I threw it to him and that was very memorable, I was looking at his face the whole time and he was so in shock. I said to myself, am I going to do a show in New York City and not have a romantic moment? Please let me romanticize my life right now!
LUNA: That is truly a peak rom-com moment. What is your favorite lyric you’ve ever written and why?
MARGARET: Honestly, it is probably in “42 (It Wouldn’t Mean A Thing)” because the first verse talks about the angel numbers and how I see them all the time, I also love how in the second verse when I talk about saying I love you, the chorus changes to “I hear it all the time from everyone except for you and it wouldn't mean a thing if you weren't the first person I said it to.” I just think it was clever and just added an extra twist at that moment.
