Margo & Co UDONTFKNCARE Interview

MARGO & CO. Releases Debut Single "UDONTFKNCARE"

Margo & Co. is a 18 year old singer, songwriter and producer from Adelaide, South Australia. Margo & Co. makes music in the realms of Dream Pop and Electronic. Margo's influences include: Clean Bandit, Avicii and Calvin Harris.

Her writing is aimed for the youth and those forming their own identities. Margo & Co's future goals include releasing an EP mid-2020, performing at Australian music festivals like Groovin' The Moo and Big Sound. Margo & Co. would also like to produce music for commercials and television.

"Udontfkncare" is a dream pop anthem that celebrates independence and the importance of selfvalidation, whilst simultaneously warning of the toxicity that can develop within an isolated mindset. Stark lyrics overlay a smooth jazz ambience, evolving into addictive yet disconcerting chord progressions as the track develops.

Interview with Margo & Co

Question: How would you describe your music?

Margo & Co: My music is pretty diverse, I'm very much in my experimental phase. Right now I'm working on different fusions of pop, branching into EDM, chill wave and synth wave.


Question: Can you tell us about Udontfkncare?

Margo & Co: Udontfkncare is a dream pop anthem that celebrates independence and the importance of self-validation, whilst simultaneously warning of the toxicity that can develop within an isolated mindset. With the music video, we wanted to show how prioritising oneself can be beneficial- but when left unchecked, it can so easily get to your head and ruin a person. It's a double edged sword. Udontkfkncare can either be an empowering statement, or one of mourning. It's up for the listener to decide.


Question: What inspired Udontfkncare?

Margo & Co: A lot of people ask me "who" inspired this song, and I can understand why. It does come off as a very strong "f-you!" type anthem. It can definitely be interpreted as that, but that's very surface level; at its core, the song itself was never about a person, but rather a way to convey an emotional experience I've had across all relationships- not just romantic, but platonic and familial too.

When you get into an emotional state that's just so apathetic and disconnected from the world, and feel yourself becoming numb and bitter towards even the people closest to you- that's what I really wanted to highlight. The sarcasm, the starkness, the irony and the pain are aspects of being hurt that I really wanted audiences to identify and resonate with.

Producing the track myself I definitely paid attention to how it evolved, making sure it played parallel to the message- a smooth lounge riff transitions to an uptight pizzicato, before completely shifting into a disconcerting minor key that'd out of place, yet strangely addictive. That shift in smooth to sass is definitely present not just in the production, but in the lyrics as well.

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

Margo & Co: I like to think of my music as little snapshots and collections of emotions and experiences. In this way, audiences can pick and choose which emotion or event they really resonate with, and can use it as a mechanism to help cope and drive themselves forward. I hope that through my music I can help listeners who are experiencing difficult circumstances to really get in touch with these emotions, feel what they want to feel, all at the same time preparing themselves to bounce back as a more resilient person.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Margo & Co: Definitely performing live. The energy and adrenaline is incredible. I also record in my car, which can get hot and uncomfortable very easily.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Margo & Co: Right now it's an unreleased track I'm hoping to put out in time for Pride Month. Not only is it a very emotional take on the hardships faced by the LGBTQ+ community, but something that anyone from any identity or background can relate and identify with- the struggles of loving yourself before loving others. It's definitely my favourite to perform because I know that people can relate to it. Also, it's a bop.


Question: What should we expect from your upcoming tour?

Margo & Co: No touring for me! I'm dedicating this year to my studies, singles and putting out an EP hopefully late 2020.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?
Margo & Co: This is difficult... probably Freddie from Queen. That man was incredible; I would have loved to meet him.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Margo & Co: When writing music, I'm always motivated by the necessity to explore myself and my emotions. I like to better understand myself and reflecting on my experiences, and convert that into something physical- well, audible. It's important not just so I can get in touch with my inner thoughts, but because I know so many young people can relate to the fact same issues that I'm facing. A conflict with identity, trying to find a sense of self, I know I can write about my struggles with those topics and that someone out there will truly resonate with that.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Margo & Co: Calvin Harris, all day every day. Recently I've started getting into FKA Twigs, who's an amazingly inspirational and vulnerable songwriter and producer.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Margo & Co: Music and songwriting really started as a therapeutic form of reflection, and over the years it's grown from there. I love the idea that every year I'll have a collection of songs that show a snippet of what I was feeling different points, and being able to see and hear how I have grown not only as an artist, but as a young woman getting through life.


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

Margo & Co: Oh, a difficult question, but probably FKA. The pure emotion you feel in her tracks is so raw, collaborating together would be incredible.

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

Margo & Co: A couple times it's been burnout. Other times, its people having ulterior motives. A difficulty I've also struggled with is the concept of writing about love. There's not enough appreciation for platonic and familial love, especially since romantic love is overly glorified. I've been often discouraged from writing about romantic because of double standards in the industry. If a guy sings about his feelings, he's vulnerable. If a girl sings about her feelings, she's emotional and weak. It's something I'm still attempting to navigate, and hope will change in the years to come.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Margo & Co: I work and attend university most days, so on my days off I really focus on my songwriting and planning for future projects. I never force myself in front of the piano when songwriting; usually I keep a notepad and voice recorder on me throughout the week, and any little one liners I'll write down/record. These days I'll take it out and begin arranging the beginnings of ideas, or developing a few earlier ones. If I'm not feeling it I never push myself, just to avoid burnout. The rest of the day I'll spend on my instruments, and I usually finish up with a bit of production on my my favourite program (DAW), Ableton.


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

Margo & Co: Being able to see the support from loved ones. Ironically, it was through this music project and the release of Udontfkncare that I've really come to see how much people truly do care.


Question: What's next, for you?

Margo & Co: 2020 will be a year of singles, live shows, and hopefully later in the year, an EP!


Question: Can you share your socials?

Margo & Co: Spotify
@margoand.co/
@margoand_co

For more of a lyrical analysis, check out the Genius write up: https://genius.com/Margo-and-coudontfkncare-explicit-lyrics


Interview by Brooke Hunter