My Love is the first track on Maggie‘s Rainbows & Monsters EP and it instantly takes you into her musical world with its powerful sound of emotional tunes, words, and her mesmerizing voice.
The Norwegian-Serbian singer-songwriter and self-taught producer just dropped her debut EP and it’s fire – impressively flawless with lots of powerful and emotive tracks. Rainbows & Monsters is out now via The Orchard Nordics, Sony
Maggie’s My Love, Circles, Necklace (feat. Slopes), Bad Habits and Super Big Powers (featured in the Norwegian TV show “Made in Oslo”) and the rest of the tracks of the EP, are all a testament to her impressive production and talents.
During these tough times brought about by the pandemic, Maggie was stuck alone in a tiny 16m² dorm in Lillehammer (Institute of Music Production and Industries) and decided to take matters into her own hands and teach herself music production. Maggie’s determination drove her to push through the tough times and, with the aid of Carl-Viktor Guttormsen as co-producer, she was able to bring the project to completion.
Maggie expressed her thoughts on the EP saying: “The title “Rainbows & Monsters” comes from an idea I had way back in 2020 when I started working on my own music full time. It is a result of how I function. When I’m good, I’m really good, when I’m not good, I go deep into the basement. This is also expressed in the songs – it becomes both heartfelt and dramatic at times. All 7 songs have their own story that describes thoughts and different emotions, good and bad. This is my very first EP which has taken over 2 years to complete and I am proud to have created my own little “musical landscape”.
Maggie grew up in Furuset, a ‘burb of Oslo. Her dad, who was also a musician, exposed her to the greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Sting, Prince and Frank Sinatra.
She used to doubt her own capabilities as a producer before. “I was surrounded by men. You know, 90% of the people I work with are men. And it’s not that they’re not good, but I realized I was limiting myself and not feeling fulfilled. So then I was like, ‘Fuck it’” – she says – “I just threw my fear out the window and started producing, writing and recording all on my own”.
After honing her skills for years, she’s finally ready to take the plunge and unleash her music on the world. “I started from nothing and I’m doing it by myself. I want people to take inspiration from that” she says. “They too can find their independence. It took me a long time to get to the stage I am at now, but I needed those years of experience. It has made my music what it is today and so much stronger”
We spoke to Maggie to enter her realm of sound even more…
Hey Maggie! How’s it going? What’s been on your mind lately?
Hey, I’m good! I’m in the process of rehearsing with my band for a tv show coming up, so all I’m thinking about these days is what to wear 🙂
Tell us everything we should know about your stunning ‘Rainbows & Monsters’ EP
The title came during the first lockdown when I started taking my music seriously and was working on my own music full time. Rainbows & Monsters is a result of how I function. A collection of songs where I express all kinds of emotions – It becomes both heartfelt and dramatic at times.
When you enrolled at the prestigious Lillehammer Institute of Music Production and Industries (LIMPI), When did you first realise you had the potential to become a music artist and producer?
I think I’ve always had it in me wanting to be more involved with my own music. Writing music has been a passion for a long time, but at LIMPI I became more aware of my own abilities and slowly figured out that I didn’t want to limit myself anymore by just singing the songs I wrote. When the pandemic hit I wanted to challenge myself and started experimenting with my own productions and sounds. It became much easier to show people the vibe and direction I wanted my music to go and made my creativity expand even more. When you create your own playground it often turns out more authentic.
As a female producer what challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?
It took a while for people to believe me when I said I produced my own music. Certain people felt the need to tell me what was “missing” in my productions. I didn’t however take it to heart in the beginning, nor did I claim that I was someone trying to become my own producer, but when I eventually found my soundscape and started putting out music, people started taking me seriously.
What is your musical guilty pleasure?
Spice Girls all the way. I was a huge fan growing up and Geri is my girl, period.
What is your favourite sound in the world?
I would go for the classic instrument, Piano.
If you could have a super power what would it be?
Being invincible
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
There are SO MANY….. Sam Fender with “Seventeen going under”. The songwriting is just so frighteningly real and authentic
