Interview with Misao McGregor.
Interviewed by: Sarah Evangelista
Through storytelling and talking about personal details, Los Angeles based artist named Misao McGregor finds peace with her music, and hopes it could impact people’s lives. Being an openly gay, mixed-race Japanese American non-binary femme, her debut album is Kid in the Corner, it’s full of personal stories and experiences, and it’s released today. Read our interview with the artist below.
What’s your fondest musical memory?
I started singing in a children’s choir when I was ten, then got involved with two more choirs once I was in high school. So any real fond musical memory for me will always be about singing with others. While this memory isn’t particularly “fond,” it’s definitely one that stands out as incredibly significant in my life. A girl who had recently graduated and was in the high school choir previously passed away suddenly and left many of us in shock. Our choir director asked us if anyone wanted to say a few words about her or sing in her honor, and we all collectively decided to sing this one song called “Moments of Being” for her. It was incredibly emotional but still the most powerful musical moment I’ve ever experienced to this day.
You started music at a young age, what’s one thing you learnt along the way that you keep in mind everyday?
Just keep going! For performances as a kid, whether in piano or choir, I was told that if I made a mistake, just keep going and act like it didn’t happen. Most of the time, I was my harshest critic and still am. But I couldn’t let myself get bogged down by my own criticisms and take away from the audience’s experience. I guess translating that message to my endeavors now means to keep going even when I feel like I’m not good enough. I can’t envision my life without music and the only person stopping me from remaining on this path is myself. So I’ll just keep going and continue to find what makes me happy and inspired :)
You're releasing your debut album soon, how are you feeling?
I’m really excited!! And really nervous! It’s a strange thing to be releasing this album because I worked on it all on my own. Only a handful of people have listened to the album so far, but because I’ve been listening and/or ruminating on it for the last 2 years, I feel like it’s already out. I’m hoping that once the release date rolls around, it will start to feel real. I just hope that others can find something to connect with in it since the album is incredibly personal.
Kid in the Corner is packed with life stories, is there a story you were scared to write about, but you did anyway?
Oh, absolutely. Probably the hardest parts of the album for me to sing about or listen to at this point have to do with my relationship to my body. When I’m songwriting, most often the lyrics will just pour out so they’ll end up revealing things that I either only knew subconsciously or didn’t necessarily want to share publicly. But there are lyrics here and there that talk about how I’ve always felt insecure in my body or the things I’ve done to my body to try and fit an unattainable standard. Those are still the harder things for me to admit to myself. But I think so many go through this. By talking about it, it helps to strip away that power and reclaim it for ourselves.
This is probably a hard question, but what’s your favourite song from the project?
This is a hard question! But I’d probably have to go with “B Major,” the last song on the album. I’ve dedicated the last year and a half to learning how to produce my own music, which has been really rewarding and exciting. But my roots will always been singing at the piano. “B Major” is the only song on the album that’s stripped down like that and I got to record it live in my parent’s living room at the very same piano that I wrote my first song on. The recording itself isn’t the most polished thing in the world because there’s no soundproofing in that room, but I think it’s a perfect way to demonstrate that this is how I started and this is what I will always return to.
You’re the founder of sacrosanct, could you explain more about what the community blog aims to do? We love the idea!
Yes! Sacrosanct is a community blog that amplifies the voices and art of queer, trans, & non-binary BIPOC. I started this in June 2020 because I felt like there wasn’t a space that was specifically designed for individuals who are not only navigating a non-heteronormative or non-cisgender identity, but are also having to navigate their non-whiteness in this world. While I identify as a queer, non-binary person of color, I also realize that I can easily pass as a straight, cis, white girl, and this has been a remarkable privilege that I have benefitted from. And I wanted to use that privilege to provide a space for others who might not have the opportunity to in the first place. Sacrosanct gives marginalized folks a platform to voice their experiences and explore their identities as they are constantly shifting and evolving. And through this, I’ve managed to make connections with so many beautiful people. If anything, Sacrosanct is meant to be a space of safe exploration and to relate the sacred and diverse nature of the queer, trans, & non-binary BIPOC experience, because that experience is different to everybody.
Our website is all about up and coming artists, are there any you have your eyes on that you’d like to give a shoutout to?
Yes! Grace Kay, Mia Simone, nayl, Beau Dega, Juno Lee, Flight or Visibility, The Smallest Giant, torrestheWAV, and Soft Shelter. I’ve connected or re-connected with all of these folks while putting out my own music within the last two years, and it’s been amazing to see all that they are doing. They’ve also all supported me or provided me guidance when I reached out and have been invaluable sources of encouragement :)