Songspace Q&A: Maggie Eckford

Maggie Eckford has had quite a meandering journey.  She moved to Australia a few years ago where she met her Canadian producer. Now she’s getting Japanese TV placements while living in Nashville. We don’t get the logic, but we’re sure glad she found her way to American Songspace. Check out her music on Songspace here.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a songwriter?

A couple of years ago, I was playing piano and killing time while waiting for some friends to finish up their band rehearsal. I was in this auditorium, just going to town on this song I wrote. Little did I know that one of my music icons (I won’t name names) walked in behind me and was listening the entire time. When I finished, he came up to me and told me how blown away he was by the song. I had been writing songs for years, but I remember feeling so encouraged that day to really pursue and develop my songwriting. I have been ever since.

What led to your moving to Australia? How does the music scene in Sydney compare to what you’ve seen Stateside?

This is going to sound funny, but I distinctly remember doing a report in junior high about Australia. We had to choose a country, and that was my pick. I fell in love with the idea of living there; so I guess you could say I was fulfilling a life-long dream. I honestly didn’t know how long I’d be there (I ended up staying for almost three years), or if I’d ever move back to the States. I just kind of went with the flow. Now I live in Nashville. I miss Australia, but I know I’m right where I need to be right now. I definitely think the music scene differs in Sydney. I’m from a small town in Mississippi, so Sydney was practically another world for me. The music scene is so eclectic there, and I was so inspired by that. I got into a lot of genres I never thought I’d get into.

I read that you met a Canadian producer who helped you record your first album. How did that come about?

I actually met him in Sydney through a mutual friend he was visiting. We started talking music, and I showed him some of my songs. He felt they had a lot of potential, and I knew he really understood the direction I wanted to go in. He ended up calling his partner back in Canada, and they agreed to do a record for me. I was beside myself, mainly because I knew he could interpret the songs even better than I could. After he got back to Canada, we started working Postal Service style. I sent him raw tracks, and he started laying the ground work/instrumentation. I couldn’t believe how incredible the instrumentation sounded. It was almost comical to me how insane our chemistry was musically. He nailed it every time. I remember listening to the first instrumental track he sent me and thinking, “This is my sound. This is exactly it.” We went back and forth for several months before I came back to the States for the holidays and eventually flew up to Canada to lay down the vocals.

You’ve recently landed some television placements with your new album? How did that come about?

I’ve had a few placements here and there since the album was released, which has been so surprising since we released the record independently and with little-to-no marketing/promo. My producer and I somehow licensed a song with Apple for an iPad commercial in Japan last year, which was very exciting. I still don’t even know how they heard “For What It’s Worth”… I just remember getting a Facebook message from the music supervisor at Apple saying he was sorry to contact me via Facebook, but couldn’t find my manager’s info. This was funny to me, because I didn’t have any representation.

They asked for “For What It’s Worth” and said they wanted to keep it in mind for future projects. Six months later I got a call from them asking if I would be interested in licensing a song for an iPad commercial. Of course I said “yes.” Soon after that, I signed with a placement company out of Canada and have been working with them ever since. We have landed a few placements since I signed with them. Some include a few songs on a Canadian TV series called HeartLand, Felicity, and my most recent placement on Degrassi. Fun stuff!

Your music is very danceable. Is that intentional? Of your influences, what is the most “dancy”?

It is definitely intentional. I’ve always loved quirky female artists like Feist, Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and Lykke Li. I think every artist is inspired and influenced in some way by what they listen to the most.

Can you tell us anything about your next record?

I can tell you that I have never been more excited to release music in my life! As a whole, the record is more aggressive and upbeat than the last, but it still has that common thread of folk in there too. I really think we have created something that can’t be compared to anything else, but also something that anyone and everyone can latch onto. My main goal as an artist is to always be developing as a songwriter, and I think we’ve really got something to show for the work we’ve put in on this album.

I heard you recorded your last record in the Canadian countryside in January. My theory is that you were dancing to stay warm the whole time, and that’s why your record is so great to dance to.

You are dead on with that one! I’m from Mississippi, so cold weather and I don’t mix well. Of course both records were recorded in the dead of winter, and by that I mean I literally thought I might die every time I stepped out of the car! Ha! But I pushed through, with the help of my Canadian friends piling on lots of layers and providing lots of tea and coffee.

Who are your top three influences? Do you think you sound like them at all?

That is a tough question, but I’d have to say the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ray Lamontagne, and Arcade Fire. They are all so different, but I’ve probably subconsciously taken little bits and pieces from each. They are all legends in my book, and I have probably listened to their records a hundred times over. It would be impossible to not be somewhat influenced by them.

What was your first CD purchase?

Ace of Base! Gotta love ’em.

Since you spent some time in Australia, is it safe to assume that you prefer The Rescuers Down Under over the original, The Rescuers?

Yes it would. Well said!

How has Nashville been treating you so far? Any favorite spots?

I’m loving Nashville so far! I love the music community here; it’s so inspiring. It’s the perfect mix of city and Southern for me. I love coffee, so you can often find me at the Frothy Monkey. I also love Zumi (sushi) and Burger Up, which is an awesome little gourmet burger joint. I’m a big foodie, so I’m loving all the great restaurants here.

Finally, what is your favorite line from your record For What It’s Worth?

Hmm … I’d have to say the first line: “Saw you on a train, except it wasn’t you again.” Mainly because it reminds me of Sydney (I took the train everywhere), and that feeling of always “almost” seeing someone but never actually seeing them. They’re on your mind, so other people tend to look like them often. You want to see them, but you don’t. I was trying to put that concept into words, and that’s what came out.