We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Margo Harms a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Margo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have been blessed since moving out to LA to be parts of lots of projects, and it is impossible to say that there is any one that is particularly more meaningful than the rest: instead the best I can do is highlight a few projects in particular that feel special to me for various reasons.

On my graduation day I received an email from Boss Witch Productions inviting me to collaborate on any project of my choosing, which led to a massive collaboration between Boss Witch, Coaxial Arts Foundation, Human Resources, Music for Your Inbox, and myself. I was blessed with the opportunity to put on three interwoven projects surrounding the short story ‘Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose’ by Kelly Link. The first part was focused on world building in Coaxial and was presented as an installation, showcasing how I would depict characters via mannequin instruments, figuring out key components of my set design, and laying out the the sound world by co-composing textures with my friends to tell the story non-verbally. Part Two was a solo show in Human Resources where I did a dramatic retelling of the story with my mannequin instruments, a more fleshed out set, and a fuller backing track. The final part was a reflection sound film that was documented and premiered through Music For Your Inbox, where I got to respond Kelly Link’s story and how I related to it in a piece entitled “i realized then that you had been reduced to poetry”. This was a monster of a project that I will be forever grateful of, especially coming right out of school. I was so fortunate to be paid to do what I love for an entire year, with no restrictions and endless support from all of these amazing organizations.

The following summer I was invited by Micaela Tobin, also known as WHITE BOY SCREAM, to play in her latest opera: APOLAKI: Opera of the Scorched Earth. Again, this opportunity was shell-shocking–not only is Micaela someone I deeply admire, but opera is a huge passion of mine and to get to play in the ensemble for something so deeply intimate and profound was an absolute honor. This was my first time playing drumset in over a decade, and while I was terrified, I’m so glad it happened as it awakened a passion in me. Since the opera premiered in July, I have gotten to play a ton more with Micaela and am so thrilled to be friends and collaborators with such a fierce musician, activist, and human being. This project was everything I dreamed of and more when I moved out here and it has definitely lit a fire under my belly to play in more theater ensembles.

While there are countless other projects I could mention, I would be amiss not to conclude with the current project I am working on in collaboration with my band (placeHolder) and Freak Nature Puppets. On June 29th, we are putting on a puppet opera rendition of The Brothers Grimm’s “The Juniper Tree” at Stomping Ground in Alhambra. This project is being entirely written, produced, composed, and performed by our two groups and I am so proud of the show that we are putting on. It will be silly, devastating, trashy, and everything in between. I can’t speak on behalf of the others in this project, but I have never worked on anything harder in my life.

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.

I grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin, went to college in Whitewater, Wisconsin, and then came out to California for grad school. I’ve wanted to be a musician since I first joined middle school band, but it took me a lot longer to figure out where I fell into the world. Initially I wanted to be a middle school band director and settle down in Milwaukee, but found after my first few years of undergrad that this was not my path. I had a complicated time in school at that point and really struggled with my identity as a percussionist, so when I moved out to California my only goal was to heal that. Instead I went down a wild rabbit hole of exploring any and all creative pathways that seemed interesting to me. I started dabbling with instrument building by adhering strings to random mannequin pieces, creating giant rattles with torsos, and making wind-chimes from risiduals (primarily hands). I made zine text scores with friends, puppets of my teachers to do mock-masterclasses, made masks from doll faces to combat performance anxiety, joined a jazz band (You, Me, + The Whales Sextet), started making random video collages for projects, and even made a bad gimp suit for a theater piece my friend was part of. Initially my goal was exploring grief and ultra-intimacy but I think I am starting to grow past that and am working to more confidently explore joy, fictional story-telling, joint-perspective works, and meditative drone pieces.

I really struggle to say definitively what I do because I keep finding opportunities every day and feel like I am thriving and living out my wildest dreams. I would proudly call myself a professional amateur.

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.

I think I confuse a lot of my friends and family back in Wisconsin for some of the decisions I have made in my life. I have a masters degree but am working a day job as a barista and coffee roaster to pay my bills. While my ultimate goal is to live full time off of creative work, I am not upset with my current situation either. I am actively meeting my goals right now in that I am making fully realized, ambitious projects that are authentic to me and my friends. I am collaborating with dozens of people that I admire whole heartedly, and have at least two or three fulfilling performances I am part of every month. Because I think it is important to. be transparent, I am only averaging on making $500 or so every month from my art but I also recognize that part of that is because I make very niche works and am only involved in things that I truly believe in. I would argue that I am really fortunate to be making money every month doing what I love.

Both of my parents passed away very young–within months of turning 50. While they both had things that were fulfilling in their life, I also witnessed them worn down with so many regrets and not having enough time to follow through with things that they wished they had. I am determined to live my life with the understanding that I could be gone tomorrow, so I am going to do what I want while I can. All I care about is being part of a community that is aiming to mutually uplift one-another’s dreams and goals.

I was taught that it is shameful to have to be a service worker to support yourself, which is ridiculous for so many reasons. What I think is actually ridiculous is spending a short life unhappy and only focusing on what society thinks is appropriate for you.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Making art is how I have learned to listen to myself and process my feelings. Most of the things I make are completely intuitive, and results of following deep impulses. The smallest details of things hold so much significance for me, but while I am making them I cannot typically tell you why they matter. It’s not until things are done and I can finally step back from them that I really understand the significance of the work made. These projects are how I have processed all of my extreme grief, they are how I have worked through my depression and anxiety, and they are how I have come to terms with my identity as a human being. Most importantly, they have led me to communities that I don’t know I would have fallen into otherwise. I have found my chosen family through this work and am surrounded by some of the most amazing and brilliant people I know because of it. It gives me the opportunity to connect with others, with my past and current self, and to be in the moment.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phenomenologopolis/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLpwmPu5iS1RMwnJT7PGBLQ

Image Credits
1. Scarlet Phoenix 2. Eliot Burk 3. Clare Marie Nemanich 4. Oracle Egg 5. Michelle Sevilla 6. Mae Koo Photography 7. – 8. Music For Your Inbox