Margot White Interview

Margot White releases her first single of 2020 and its left us Breathless

Before the abrupt intensity of Covid-19, at the very start of 2020, Margot White was busy absorbing new sounds and concepts, with a focus geared towards conquering a whole new frontier of music.

After working with producer Francesco Marseglia for two tracks on her EP released in October of 2019 and gaining experience with Ableton Live and modular synths she has been building in her home studio, White felt ready to record and produce her follow up single, 'Breathless'.

'I was listening to a lot of Prince and David Bowie, a lot of gospel albums, and I wanted to emulate the consuming, tangible passion of a really well-crafted love song. I noticed in reading his biography, 'The Beautiful Ones', Prince is unabashed about proclaiming his ability to write a great love song, and I really admired that confidence. However there is a particular quote from that book that set me to writing this song, and it is from a letter he wrote to a life-long flame of his.
He is basically wondering how it is possible someone as wonderful as her can exist, and I have definitely felt a similar feeling in a relationship. Just this overall sense of, feeling like the word 'love' doesn't even come close to describing the way I feel about someone. Also just wondering at how the Universe could create someone so perfect. So I suppose "The word 'love' doesn't even come close to describing the way I feel about someone" - Margot White

'Breathless' is just meant to be this really honest love song encapsulated and supported by a gospel progression going on with the organ playing. Also I really enjoyed being able to put really vulnerable, potentially terrifying feelings that happen in a relationship throughout the second verse. It's kind of like this secret with myself, because they are a little bit ambiguous, but also--I hope--universal in that sense.'

Interview with Margot White

Question: How would you describe your music?

Margot White : Poetry and rock and roll in 2020.


Question: Can you tell us about Breathless?

Margot White : 'Breathless' is the first track I wrote, recorded and produced myself. It's got a 1970s vibe with the Fender Rhodes doing a gospel thing, alongside pop vocals, and then the synths and some sound design bring it into 2020.


Question: What inspired Breathless?

Margot White : I was obsessing over 'Heroes' by Bowie and 'Purple Rain' by Prince while writing it. There's just a purity to the passion in both the love stories there. I love it, I love how it's such a physical, tangible thing, like something you would do heroic feats for if you're romantic or crazy enough. I can get really dramatic when it comes to music, so both of those songs literally leave me exhausted, or 'breathless' when I let myself go to that place listening to them, haha, which is, I guess, where I got the title from. Only just before Covid-19 I secretly cried on a plane flight because I loved the song I was listening to so much.

Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Margot White : Yeah, I hope it's a message for people to think for themselves, to really think about the choices they are making in their lives and what they want for themselves. And always believe in yourself, because anything is possible.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Margot White : Both. I'm both introverted and extroverted depending on the day, so both of those environments usually suits one of those moods.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Margot White : Bob Dylan….or Damon Albarn, or Brian May so I could talk to him about astrophysics.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Margot White : I was super lonely in high school, and music really was my best friend in a lot of ways. It answered things for me that nobody else could, so I guess it's just that sense of loyalty and connection, like I feel like I'm part of something bigger than myself when I write.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?
Margot White : Every musician I ever got into, every poster on my wall, sort of was always confirming what I always understood to be true, which was, for me, there was just no other way.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Margot White : Bob Dylan. Also, Caroline Polachek or Claire Boucher would be really cool, they're both wildly talented and have navigated some profound creative successes.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Margot White : Hm, I think pushing myself to always get better. I love it, but I can tend to get really frustrated easily and have really high expectations in most situations. But learning that about myself has made it easier to find compassion in those spaces and then just get on with it. It's like, when it comes to the actual process of creating, don't think about it too much, just do it. That's always just the best thing. The thinking can come when you're hiding out somewhere with a good book. Also, watching other females being really confident in music has been really cool, because it's easy to doubt yourself and talk yourself out of things (regardless of gender) but when you see someone doing something brave it's like, really exciting.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Margot White : I like to meditate. I'll usually write or read or play guitar and sing and see what I need to do to take some steps forward as a musician. I'm really into foraging herbs for tinctures right now so I like to go into the woods and find herbs and such. I also like to paint and see what other friends are creating and up to.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Margot White : Everything! Finding ways to give back to my parents with my successes, because they've believed in my vision of being a professional musician since I went out on my own. Also finding a circle of musicians in London that I really resonate with, and getting to work on music every day, whether through writing or performing is the best thing in the world.

Question: What's next, for you?

Margot White : I have two more song releases coming up going into summer" Tempest and Flute of Pan", and I am currently working on my second poetry book, Light in Different Dimensions, so I'm promoting both of those things during Covid-19. I'll be doing it online through Instagram and through my YouTube channel, with videos of me reciting my poetry in the nature around my home, as poetry is normally how I start off my live sets when I perform in London. Also I am presenting performances of songs that I am writing throughout the week in the same way "on the YouTube channel" between releases. Tempest will be out May 22 on all music platforms. I'm pretty excited about that one, my friend likened it to Pete Doherty and Grimes in ballad form, which was one of my favourite compliments I've ever received, but we'll see.


Question: Can you share your socials? (links please)

Margot White : Instagram

Youtube 

Facebook


Interview by Gwen van Montfort