Following the release of her latest single ‘your love is real’ LOCK caught up with Canadian alt-pop artist magenta to discuss the single along with future plans.
“Your Love Is Real” marks a significant moment in your personal life and career. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the song and what it was like to capture the feeling of love for the first time in your music?
Writing “your love is real” was really therapeutic in a way. I didn’t really know how I was feeling initially, but once I started to write, it just sort of all came out. I find that happens with most of my songs – I’m feeling a sort of way that I can’t really describe till I give myself the opportunity to put chords and melody to it. “Your love is real” was the first of many love songs I have written and there was a point in my early career where I felt I could only write about my depression or other melancholy experiences. This song really showed me that I had more to give and more to express.
You wrote this song just one month into dating your girlfriend. How did those early emotions influence your writing process, and how do you think they shaped the final sound and lyrics of “Your Love Is Real”?
Because it was so early on in the relationship, the feelings were so bold and passionate that I wrote probably 4-5 other love songs around that time, some of which will be on the full EP. I hadn’t ever really been able to write about relationships before this – at least not in a positive way – so this was a really nice experience. The boldness of my emotions also contrasted really well with the minor key I was playing in. It resulted in this really powerful and deep song that I feel really conveys my feelings during those early moments.
“Your Love Is Real” showcases a new chapter in your music. How do you feel your sound has evolved from your earlier work, and what can fans expect from this new era?
I definitely feel that I have grown as a songwriter and have also developed my skills as a singer. My producer, Josh and I really honed in on this project and both feel that we upped our game. Fans can expect some more sonic experimentation and depth in these next few songs into the EP.
Your music combines dreamy alt-pop soundscapes with deeply personal stories. How do you strike a balance between creating atmospheric, ethereal music and conveying raw, emotional experiences?
Josh and I have been working together for a while now and we just have such a strong vision together. I wrote everything on acoustic guitar but with the attention of the songs developing into something bigger. We used a lot of synths and pads to make the songs more “dream-like” with the intention of allowing the listener to get lost in the songs. The core of the songs are also so emotional, making it pretty easy to play around with that through production as well.
“Weighing Me Down” earned a spot on Spotify’s Fresh Finds Canada Playlist. How did that recognition impact your career, and what did it mean to you as an emerging artist?
It definitely felt like a bit of a pat on the back for my last EP. It also just really helped to reassure me that I was actually going somewhere with this. Editorial playlists are pretty hard to land especially as an independent artist, so the recognition did mean quite a bit to me. I’m hoping with this next project, I can see more of those editorial placements as I’m really putting in a lot of work to promote the EP because of how proud I am of it.
How do you approach writing songs that are personal yet universally relatable, and what do you hope your listeners take away from “Your Love Is Real”?
I don’t really have a solid approach. I write when I feel the need to and that is often in times of high emotions. Writing songs is really like journaling for me so they end up being extremely honest and vulnerable. People always tell me how they relate even if I’m singing about something particular to me and I think that’s so beautiful. In terms of “your love is real”, I just hope listeners can resonate with it and maybe feel seen by it as well; that’s always my goal.
Your upcoming EP and the single were funded by a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. How has this support impacted your ability to create and push your music forward?
Getting funding from Canada Council and also more recently from FACTOR, it has allowed me to really push promotion and marketing of the project. In the past where I didn’t have a budget, I had to do all the promo myself which could only get me so far. Getting the funding was also really reassuring as it is a huge amount of support and makes me feel that my music and aspirations are worth something.
“Your Love Is Real” explores your experience of love within a same-sex relationship. How do you feel about representing LGBTQ+ themes in your music, and what message do you hope to convey to listeners who might relate to your experiences?
Being queer is just one aspect of my identity and I love when I can share it through music. I’ve played at a couple pride and queer events and it’s always the best atmosphere. Again, I just hope that listeners can feel heard and seen in my music in ways they might not have before.
With “Your Love Is Real” serving as the first taste of your upcoming EP, what can fans expect from the rest of the project in terms of sound, themes, and emotional depth?
The project as a whole is about love. It’s a collection of songs that describe falling in love, being afraid to lose that love, wanting to protect that love and also touches on aspects of doing long-distance. This project feels like I’m telling a story and I hope that shines through to listeners. I used a lot of raw voice notes as well in this project which I feel added a lot of vulnerability and depth to the sound so I’m interested to see how it is received.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an emerging artist, and how have those challenges shaped your music or career trajectory?
Creating the right connections at the right time is a tricky game. I’ve done a lot of programs from SOCAN and am now doing RBC’s first up program where I’ve learned so much industry knowledge. It’s just so hard to break into the “inner circle” of the industry especially in Canada where I swear everyone knows everyone. For a while, it’s felt like I’ve just been on the outside and I’ve just been having these little successes here and there but I’m really trying to break in now as I am writing my debut album.