Q&A: Matilda Marigolds on New Single "Mosquito" & More
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY JOY VILLANUEVA ☆
Credit: Ezra Septimus
Matilda Marigolds is redefining experimental-pop music on her own terms. Hailing from New York, the rising singer-songwriter is no stranger to raw storytelling, and her latest single, “Mosquito,” is proof of that. Set to drop on February 13, the track is a biting take on the feeling of someone draining you dry — emotionally, mentally, and maybe even artistically. With sharp lyrics and an eerie, intoxicating sound, “Mosquito” marks the beginning of a new era for Marigolds.
Known for her poetic songwriting and dreamy melodies, she’s stepping into something darker, bolder, and entirely her own. This isn’t just another indie track; it’s the start of a new sound she’s carving out for herself. If “Mosquito” is any sign of what’s to come, Marigolds is creating a sound that’s impossible to ignore.
Marigolds sat down with The Luna Collective to talk about the inspiration behind her new single, “Mosquito,” actual mosquitoes, and more. Read below.
Credit: Ezra Septimus
LUNA: I first discovered your music on TikTok in the spring of 2023. How has social media helped you build a fanbase and connect with your audience?
MARIGOLDS: Social media is an incredible tool. The fact that we can have zero budget and still touch people in such a real and authentic way—it’s definitely helped me a ton. The other day, somebody stopped me on the subway and was like, “I’m a huge fan of your music.” And I was like, huh? I am a small artist, a tiny little amoeba floating through the world, and I’m so happy with that. I’m not dogging on that in any way, but it’s just crazy to me because, without social media, that probably wouldn’t have happened, you know?
I just think it’s so wild that we have the ability to curate, and I think that’s beautiful. But honestly, I’m really interested to see how my relationship with social media continues to contribute to my artistry because I don’t think anybody really knows where social media is going, let alone how artists are going to use it. So I, for one, as a bystander, am hyped.
LUNA: Your debut EP, Union, was recorded during the pandemic and reflects on your childhood and emotional experiences. How did the isolation of that time influence your creative process and the themes of your music?
MARIGOLDS: Oh, my goodness. That was my first EP, I mean, those were the first songs I had ever written in my life. I grew up in New York City, but my mom and all my extended family on my mom’s side live in a tiny town in northern Maine, right on the Canadian border. During COVID, my mom was like, “We’re leaving the city.” And I was like, “Oh my God, please don’t do that.” I had no say in the matter because I’m an only child, and that was that.
So, I went up to Maine, and I was so mad. I was a broody teenager, as we all were. I was so angry. I was like, “How could you do this to me? I f*cking hate you! I’m gonna stay in my room all day and never speak to you again.” And that’s what I did. I ended up writing this EP.
I had just gone through the classic high school whirlwind summer romance, which was gut-wrenching for no reason. And like every burgeoning songwriter, I wrote my EP about my feelings about that. Even though I look back on it now and I’m admittedly so embarrassed by it, and I really wish it didn’t exist sometimes, it’s still a part of my journey as an artist.
I think that, at least for somebody on the outside looking in, you can really see the arc and progression. I learned so much about production, and I started producing my own music after that. It was a huge learning experience for me, is all I’ll say.
LUNA: A lot of your music gives me coming-of-age indie movie vibes. Do you have a specific atmosphere or visual aesthetic in mind when creating a record?
MARIGOLDS: I think there’s always consistency in each vibe that I try to go for, and that really just comes from my instincts and the capabilities I rely on as a songwriter and producer. I think a lot of artists have their staple thing, you know what I mean? I become very obsessed with sounds very easily, and I’m a consumer of music to the point where it’s kind of impossible not to be influenced and take little pieces from my inspirations. I would say that the way I approach my music is by deeply listening and understanding that less is more a lot of the time. We exist in such an oversaturated environment, with social media, commercials, advertisements, all the colors, everything. And I think that a lot of the time, I really rely on that “less is more” mindset.
With songwriting, I just need to be tapped into the cloud enough to know, like, okay, what is the song supposed to be? I need to listen for that inspiration, that moment, that motivation. It’s kind of meditative in a weird way. And I’m not particularly spiritual, but I would consider this my spiritual nature in some way. I feel like all my songs are already written. I just have to listen hard enough to understand what they’re meant to be in their truest form.
LUNA: Your music has been described as nostalgic yet refreshing, drawing comparisons to artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Fiona Apple. How do you balance paying homage to your influences while crafting your own unique sound?
MARIGOLDS: I would say, right now, my music doesn’t sound like anything Phoebe Bridgers or Fiona Apple. I’d say I’ve really left the folk vibe behind. This single I’m working on is very different from the music I’ve put out before, which is completely intentional.
My production sensibilities and the things I’m listening to have totally evolved — not in a bad way, though. I just think I’ve definitely moved away from the folk/Americana/country-ish roots I used to have and into a much more industrial, apathetic, but still emotionally connected space.
I feel like my inspirations and influences play a huge part in my process and my music. I mean, how could they not? There’s that quote about how everything in music has already been done; it’s just about who recycles it in the most innovative way.
I try to incorporate little pieces from all the music I’ve been ingesting. For example, “Mosquito” was super influenced by “Eusexua” by FKA Twigs. I was like, wow, this is so cool. I don’t even know where to begin with this. It feels so ethereal and out-of-this-world, almost alien. That was definitely the vibe I was going for with “Mosquito” as well. I think having the motivation and drive to not mimic but repackage things that I think are super cool is always going to be a huge part of my creative process.
Credit: Ezra Septimus
LUNA: You’ve taught yourself to play multiple instruments, from piano to drums. How does your multi-instrumentalism shape the way you approach songwriting and production?
MARIGOLDS: I kind of f*cked off during my time at Berklee. I don’t think I really pushed myself in terms of proficiency with instruments. I was really averse to the idea of becoming better at them. I think I was just afraid of over-intellectualizing music. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories about people not being able to tap into their creative and emotional side when they start overthinking their instrument playing. That said, I didn’t completely slack off when I was there. When it came to becoming the greatest guitar player in the world, I rejected that idea entirely. I didn’t want that at all. I really just wanted to focus on my artist project and hone in on that.
LUNA: Songs like “Time 2 Go” and “Jesus Christ” showcase your artistic growth. How would you say your sound has evolved since Union, and where do you see it heading next?
MARIGOLDS: I think the biggest moment of evolution from Union to those two songs was really being able to identify the sounds I wanted, and becoming a much more technically proficient producer. I learned how to engineer, how to click away at a computer on Ableton, and all that jazz. It was also heavily influenced by the people I was collaborating with and the environment I was surrounded by. Getting obsessed with production during the time I created those two songs was the biggest game changer for me. I was collaborating with different people, like my roommate, and also my childhood friend, Jasper Harris. He and I made “Jesus Christ” together, which took a while just because I wasn’t in New York all the time. But watching him work, I’d mentally note what he was doing so I could learn from it and apply it later. As for where I see my sound going, probably more experimental. I want to push the boundaries of traditional genres. Being a female producer is a big part of that, there are not very many of us, and I really hope that changes. But I definitely see my sound going in a more experimental direction while still staying true to my songwriting and nostalgic, childhood roots.
LUNA: Your music often explores deeply personal and emotional themes. How do you hope your listeners connect with or find meaning in your work?
MARIGOLDS: It could be anything. If you’re connecting because you’re thinking, “I hope Matilda’s okay,” that’s awesome. If you’re connecting because my song perfectly captures how you feel, that’s amazing. Art is so subjective. You’ll take away whatever you take away.
For me, once I release something, I’m done. I’ve done my part. It’s had its healing on me, and I feel complete with it. Putting it into the world means it’s open to other interpretations. Sometimes people interpret things in completely different ways, and that’s what excites me about releasing music; it’s like, “Wow, you took something away from this that meant something totally different to me. That’s so cool!”
People always ask me what my songs are about or who they’re about. I always tell them, “Why don’t you listen and tell me?” I’d rather hear how it resonates with you than give you a boring answer. It’s about connecting to your own feelings, your past, your truths, and that’s what makes it beautiful. Sometimes listeners walk away with something completely different than I intended, and that’s amazing.
LUNA: You’ve said online that your new song, “Mosquito,” is about sucking the life out of someone. What inspired you to write about this idea, and how did you translate that feeling into the sound and lyrics of the song?
MARIGOLDS: I decided to write this song when I first moved back to New York. I was coming out of a total writer’s block, and I had no idea where to begin. The first week I was back, it was still August or early September, and there were mosquitoes everywhere. I couldn’t sleep without being attacked by them. I’d wake up with five new bites and have to turn on my flashlight, waiting for them to come to the light so I could kill them. It felt like I was losing my mind.
So, I’m in this session with Ben Coleman who I was co-producing with for the first time, and I’m telling him how exhausted I am. He asks why, and I tell him, “I’ve been in a week-long battle with mosquitoes.” He thinks it’s crazy, and we start writing. I’m in the session, and I’m like, wait, I have all these words that I wrote about my feelings towards these fucking mosquitoes. And then I thought about it more, and I was like, this is actually how I feel about so many other things in my life.
As for the sound and lyrics of the song, I told Ben to give me a mosquito sound, like a buzzing noise. That’s at the beginning of the song. We used the OP-1 synthesizer for it. I’ve been really inspired by the glitchy, ear-candy sounds I’m just so obsessed with in my work, and “Mosquito” has more of that than “Jesus Christ” did.
The lyrics are about personal growth and realizing that I wasn’t holding myself or others to the standards I deserve. “Mosquito” was like a reckoning for me. It was a way to address how I wasn’t feeling good about certain relationships in my life, and how I needed to take space to be true to myself. It was a big part of shedding that old layer of myself.
I pull a lot of inspiration from my life when I write, and I cherry-pick pieces from my own experiences. No song is ever about just one person. I write about my perspective, my experiences, or even just something super meta. With “Mosquito,” it was a combination of writer’s block, anxiety, and a recent breakup.
Ben is a great friend and collaborator. We made “Mosquito” in the first session we ever did together. He’s one of my favorite people in NYC. I finished producing it with another favorite collaborator Christopher Normann who totally shaped the song with tiny production elements and an amazing mix that I couldn’t be happier with.
LUNA: Is there anything else you’d like to share with The Luna Collective?
MARIGOLDS: I think the only thing that I hope my listeners walk away with is just the fact that this is kind of a new era for me. It feels really exciting and super exhilarating, and I’m so stoked about the stuff that I’ve been making. And I'm itching to release it, which hasn’t happened in a really long time. I just feel really grateful.
