We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mackenzie Morrow. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mackenzie below.
Mackenzie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
When you’re a songwriter, every song is important to you because it’s like your baby. You created it. My first EP I released back in 2019 was pretty important to me because it was my first collective body of work.
That being said, my upcoming project that I’ve been working on for about two years is the most meaningful project for me so far. The past few years of life have been full of challenges and growth, and I’ve written about these experiences on the album. The overarching theme is mental health, which is a huge topic that needs to be discussed. And no matter how different our lives look, we all deal with some of the same struggles. My experience that’s encompassed in this album is struggling with anxiety and depression, leaving an emotionally abusive relationship, learning how to be in a healthy relationship, grief and loss, questioning God about things, but also leaning on Him to get me through them, healing, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, self acceptance, and more. A lot of these topics are things that all of us will go through at some point, because it’s part of the human experience. Even if it looks completely different for each person, it is still relatable and somehow connects us all.
I’m really stoked to have FINALLY released the first single, “Used to It,” on the album, which is about leaving an emotionally abusive relationship. It shows my thought process with questioning myself on how I even got in that situation to start with and why I stayed so long. Eventually, it ends on a positive note. I really hope this song can be an anthem for those who have dealt with or are dealing with this issue. That it can let them know they are stronger and that they are so worth being loved by someone who makes them feel secure and follows through with consistency, even if that means they are the ones loving themselves for a while. It’s much better to be your own partner than to be with someone terrible. Thankfully, I found a healthy relationship, but I’d honestly rather be alone forever than to ever go back to what I was dealing with before.
I’m also super excited to have released my second single, “Self,” along with the music video for that song. We have gotten great feedback since the video dropped May 22nd. I had an absolutely amazing team on this video, from my brother, Trey Morrow, as my director, Aaron Pate, who has directed my two previous music videos (It would not be a Mackenzie Morrow music video without Aaron involved) as the DP and Visual Effects Artist, my incredible Hair and Makeup Stylist, Megan Alexandra Grubbs and her assistant Raquel Fowler, our Set Designer, Andrew McElvery, Location Manager, Jonathan Baty, Stills Photographer, Ewelina Chmurska-Baty, Construction Assistant, Daniel Schertz, 2nd AC, Camden Mounts. Prior to shooting the video, my producer, Kenny McWilliams, did a great job producing the track and Dave Harris killed it on mastering.
Trey did a really great job coming up with the idea, and he and Aaron and the rest of the team did an awesome job bringing his vision to life. Shooting the video was a blast, and as Trey’s little sister, I have to say that I did really enjoy the fact that he wanted every strand of my hair in place that day. I really soaked that in hahaha. You can find the video on YouTube (linked below this article), and we’ve also got an interview on the making of the video with the filmmakers and myself, as well, posted there.
This song is the one I wrote first out of all of the songs on the album, and the meaning has changed so much for me over time. When I wrote it, I was in the pre-breakup phase in a really toxic and emotionally abusive relationship, but I was still trying to do whatever I could to hold on. Thankfully, something eventually just clicked, so I left and never looked back. Now, this song has a much different meaning. I think it just turned into a song I was proud of after recording it in the studio and getting ready for the video, but it was actually at the shoot that it took on a brand new meaning. I’ve been going through lots of growing pains over the last few years, and they’re not the kind where your mom rubs your legs and gives you Tylenol and they go away. Something they don’t tell you about being a business owner (I’m also an Online Body Confidence Coach) is all of the stuff it brings up for you that you have to deal with. So in that, along with moving past trauma, etc., it’s been a process. For the last shot of the video, my brother directed me to act as if I was leaving my old self and all my bullcrap behind. And that really got to me, because that’s what I think we’re all trying to do. We all have parts of ourselves that we don’t like. Those parts that we try to shed in order to become the best version of ourselves. It’s not an easy thing to do, and a lot of times it can look like outgrowing a tendency, then having it pop back up, then having to shed it again. And that’s okay. We are all human, so be patient with yourself and don’t put a timeline on your growth. Progress isn’t linear, but keep showing up every day and putting in the effort, and you’ll get there.
I hope this whole project can encourage people no matter what they’re dealing with.
Something else about this album that I’m proud of, too, is that it’s a lot more cohesive than my first EP was. I think I’m finally coming into my own on what my style is as an artist. I’m staying true to myself with writing mostly sad and deep lyrics, because music really is therapy for me (NF is my spirit animal), and it’s good to get what I’m going through out on paper and into a song. But the music is upbeat, and I do have a couple of songs that have happier lyrics, too. I can’t wait to release the entire project! Keep a watch out for a single each month, with the next one coming up June 16, until we drop the whole thing!
Lastly, I want to give a shoutout to my amazing producer, Kenny. He’s really seen me evolve from the songwriter I was when I walked into his studio as a college student in 2015 to the artist I am today. I appreciate his encouragement and I’m so glad to have him as the producer on this project. And shoutout to my man, Dave Harris, for mastering! He’s the best
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
If we’re starting from the BEGINNING beginning, I started out listening to Prince and Michael Jackson in my mom’s room with her. And Aaron Carter because I had the old CD of my brother’s. My older cousin loved Hanson and Spice Girls, and I would dance to “MMMBop” and “Wannabe” on repeat as a toddler.
My grandparents have had their upright piano my whole life, and I wanted to take piano lessons like my mom had when she was little, so eventually, I did. Piano was my instrument for years. In sixth grade, I picked up the cello, too, in orchestra. I also started writing songs in middle school, which weren’t very good at first, but I got better over time. I performed original songs in high school in the talent shows and the Miss SC Pageant (long story haha).
My older brother was in theater, which I really wanted to do, but never got to. He also played in bands, and I always looked up to him. He would do demos with his friends, but finally started recording with a producer, and that’s how I met Kenny!
At the time, I was studying Sport and Entertainment Management at USC. I had been a music composition major for one year at Converse, but fractured my pelvis, etc. in a pretty bad car accident after my first semester, and ended up transferring. I really wanted to learn about the music industry so no one could take advantage of me as an artist. I took classes on A&R, Tour Management, and more. I’ve gotten to be on the other side of things through working events such as the CMA Awards, and I also did internships with two artist management companies. I’m so grateful for these experiences and they were really cool, but further confirmed that I wanted to be on the creative side instead of behind the scenes.
Since then, I’ve kept writing songs, continued to play gigs, and have continued to record and build relationships. And I also started my own fitness business back in early 2020, and it’s funny how that happened. I basically have a whole other story when it comes to fitness that runs alongside the musical journey, but I won’t get too far into that. After the artist management stuff, I ended up working in gyms for years and eventually for a hockey team. I knew I wanted to do music and also help women get healthy and build their confidence (through balance and actually being healthy, instead of the aesthetic-focused stuff you see a lot in the fitness industry). My older brother had started a videography business about a year prior, and kept asking me why I didn’t just do what we both knew I wanted to do.
Finally, the last straw was when one of my music videos was selected for a film festival and my job didn’t let me off work to go to it. Music is way too important to me, so I vowed I’d never let someone else hold me back from going out and doing something I wanted to do regarding my music ever again. So I made the decision in my brother’s living room to put my notice in, prayed, and took a huge leap of faith to start what is now my Online Body Confidence Coaching business (Mackenzie Muscle, LLC) so that I could create a safe space for women around the world to get healthy in a balanced way for the right reasons. I also became my own boss so that I can play gigs, record, shoot music videos and go to film festivals, and see my family without having to ask for anyone’s permission.
I am absolutely so glad that I took the leap, and seeing the impact on women’s lives and health through online coaching has been insane. I’m able to show women that they don’t have to go to the extreme, and that they can eat more and still reach their weight loss goals. It’s really a cool feeling to be able to empower them to be confident with the woman they see in the mirror from the start, instead of further driving in the ideology that they have to look a certain way or be a certain weight before they deserve that confidence. If you’re reading this, you deserve the confidence right now! Don’t keep yourself from having it. Yes, making lifestyle changes to get healthier is amazing, but the right mindset is a huge part of it. If you put looking a certain way on a pedestal, you’ll never be happy. Trust me, I’ve been there. Instead, prioritize how you feel physically and take care of yourself instead of punishing yourself, and the rest will fall into place (if you have a strategy – the results won’t come from winging it).
And as far as music goes, I’m so thankful that I’m still doing it and for the opportunities I’ve had. I’m also proud of myself for taking constructive criticism and applying what I feel to be valuable and relevant, and leaving the rest. I think there’s a good balance between never being open to constructive criticism and letting everyone else’s opinions of your work completely change you as an artist. I think I’ve been able to harness some of that good advice to improve while still staying true to who I am as an artist. I’ll always write about what I feel, and I hope that raw authenticity helps people going through the same experiences.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
It might sound too straightforward, but creating is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist. I think most artists would agree that that’s the core of why we do what we do. For me as a songwriter, seeing the finished product of a song that people can listen to and be impacted by, and knowing what it took to get to that end result, is huge. It’s really cool to know that it didn’t exist before and now, because I chose to write it, it does. When you’re a songwriter, your songs are your babies.
Another thing that is super rewarding is when someone reaches out to you and tells you how much they relate to your song or if it has helped them in some way. Nothing beats it.
And the music videos. . . Filming my three music videos were probably three of the top ten days of my life so far. It is so fun!! From collaborating on ideas to meeting with the whole team the day of the shoot to do the thing!
Yes, it would be amazing to have music as my primary income and I’m putting some things into place to make that more of a reality. Yes, it would be amazing if things took off and my music got big. But I don’t ever want that to be the make or break of whether I continue to make music or whether I enjoy it. There are so many people who give up on music just because they didn’t “make it big,” and it’s really sad because these are very talented people.
At the same time, I think it’s a shame that so many artists are offered opportunities “for exposure” and not pay. Yes, exposure is good, but it’s like never getting out of the unpaid intern phase, which isn’t right in my opinion. The talent is valuable, and should be treated as such.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
There are many types of personalities in this world, which is what makes it beautiful. If we were all the same, it would be boring. There are a lot of people who think along the lines of “Why would you spend so much time and effort doing something that may or may not work out when you can just follow X career path and get from Point A to Point B making X amount of dollars and retire at X age.” And I get that. I’d be lying if I didn’t sometimes wish I was the type of person to want a normal career that has very laid out, structured steps to get where you want to go. But the reality is, I’m just not that person. That’s not the way God made me. I can appreciate that type of person. I’m in a relationship with one and I think he complements me very well and we make a good team. But he also respects and can accept that I’m not made that way and vice versa, which I think is important. We appreciate our differences.
It can be a big struggle to date dreamers, musicians, and entrepreneurs sometimes. We think out of the box and have visions of things that a lot of the time aren’t thought to be possible. I think that a lot of people would be extremely uncomfortable with doing something that doesn’t have a straight path. I also think there are a lot of people who feel that following a Point A to Point B kind of path would be easier in some ways because it’s more predictable and secure, but the tradeoff of feeling like a part of them is missing just isn’t worth it.
As an artist and a fitness business owner, there have definitely been times where I’ve questioned myself on why I’ve chosen to do things that are hard in different ways than a traditional job, but I come back to my core values. I know I wouldn’t be happy doing something I’m not passionate about. And the truth is, I don’t necessarily feel more secure working for someone else. Will the pay be more consistent? Probably. Will the pay be better? From what I’ve experienced, no. I can be fired at any time, but I know I’ll never fire myself. I know I’ll be able to do the things that matter to me, like spending time with loved ones and doing music. I don’t have to ask permission to do something that I greatly value in life. That is worth the trade of false security to me.
And as far as music, I’ve spent thousands on my music. Recording, music videos, etc. Yes, I’ve made money at gigs, but I’ve thrown a lot more into it than what I’ve made. Why? Because I love doing it. It’s my therapy. Creating is a part of me and I have to do it. The first two years of my fitness business, I didn’t really write or record. I was just “Coach Mackenzie” all the time and never “Artist Mackenzie.” And that part of it was horrible. I felt like I was missing a huge part of myself, because I was. I had pushed her into some deep, dark corner of my mind. This is probably why I ended up making a whole album right afterwards, because I was so sick of not writing and recording that I went a little crazy haha. But it just goes to show that this is such a big part of me that if I were to give it up, I’d feel very empty inside and I just wouldn’t feel like myself. So I guess that’s the short explanation for people who may not understand. Imagine drowning a part of you that you love and feeling empty inside if you don’t do a certain thing – and for some people, that thing is music, art, etc.
In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Just be willing to help with opportunities where you can and promote what artists you know are doing. It’s easy to share a song you like with your friends, and if everyone does that, it could have a huge impact for an artist.
If you run across a smaller artist that you like, use their sounds on your IG and TikTok reels. If you are an event planner, restaurant owner, brick and mortar business owner, etc. extend paid performance opportunities to local artists. Hosting an event? Get a local artist in there.
If you’re a brick and mortar business, you can also choose to play smaller and/or local artists on your playlists, which can help your customers discover those artists. You could even partner with artists and sell their merch!
If you resonate with someone’s music, reach out. You just might be the person to help keep them going.
We can all help in some way. 
In your view, what can society do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Just be willing to help with opportunities where you can and promote what artists you know are doing. It’s easy to share a song you like with your friends, and if everyone does that, it could have a huge impact for an artist.
If you run across a smaller artist that you like, use their sounds on your IG and TikTok reels. If you are an event planner, restaurant owner, brick and mortar business owner, etc. extend paid performance opportunities to local artists. Hosting an event? Get a local artist in there.
If you’re a brick and mortar business, you can also choose to play smaller and/or local artists on your playlists, which can help your customers discover those artists. You could even partner with artists and sell their merch!
If you resonate with someone’s music, reach out. You just might be the person to help keep them going.
We can all help in some way.
“Self” music video: https://youtu.be/Ngg-iI-_-xQ
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mackenziemorrow.com/video/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzie.morrow.music/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mackmorrowmusic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-morrow-019916137
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/dCbZFANX9G4
- Other: My Free Facebook Group for Women who want to build their body confidence: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bodyconfidenceandbalancewithcoachmackenzie/
Image Credits
Sarah Stiles, Desiree Jenschke, Jarod Phillips, Aaron Pate, Trey Morrow, Jonesy