ArtistRack is thrilled to sit down with the incredibly talented pop singer and songwriter, McKenna Camille, for an exclusive interview. Based in New York, McKenna is known for her deeply personal and emotionally raw music, drawing inspiration from her own experiences with anxiety, depression, and love. Her latest single, SITUATIONSHIP, released on February 14th, is her favorite yet, capturing the complexities of modern relationships with heartfelt lyricism and captivating melodies. Beyond music, McKenna is a world-traveling performer who has graced stages in Los Angeles, New York, and even Paris Fashion Week. When she’s not creating music, she’s making waves—literally—as a professional water skier, having competed across the globe. We caught up with McKenna to talk about her journey, her inspirations, and what’s next on the horizon.
Where are you from?
Oregon!
How long have you been making music?
Since I was teeny tiny!
How many songs /albums have you released to date?
I have released about 10 or 12 songs.
Can you tell us about your latest release and the background and inspirations behind it?
SITUATIONSHIP is a silly and self-aware bop that hopefully makes every listener giggle.
It’s my painfully relatable take on modern dating.
How did you first get into music, and what inspired you to pursue a career in it?
Hannah Montana has forever been my inspiration. I saw her, pointed to the TV and said “dad I’m going to be her” when I was 6 and that was that.
What do you think of the present music industry?
This is a heavy question. I think TikTok and social media in general have both made it hard to produce good quality music. 2-minute songs aren’t my favorite thing, I wish everything was 5 minutes.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences and how have they impacted your music?
Elton John, The Bee Gees, The Beach Boys, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus. I’m obsessed with 70s rock, and I hope to bring it to my music more.
What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a musician and how have you overcome them?
Working with people who don’t listen to me or value my opinion. It’s hard to sit in a room and be the only girl, especially when you’re young. Not many people want to hear from you, even if you’re the target audience. It’s something I work on every day.
How has your music evolved over the course of your career, and where do you see it going in the future?
I started out making bubblegum pop and I see myself drifting away from this, I would really like to bring back 70s rock, and disco.
Who have you collaborated with so far in your career?
I work with many different people, but my favorite collaboration was with a friend who did a rap verse on my first ever release.
Can you describe your creative process and what goes into making a song or album?
I’m all over the place when creating. I normally dump ideas into my notes app or my song book and bring them to the studio and we go from there.
Dead or alive, who would be your dream collaboration?
My dream collaboration would be Elton John, Sabrina Carpenter and Dolly Parton.
What was the first album you bought?
Every Hannah Montana album was downloaded on my iPod. And The Fame by Lady Gaga.
What’s your favorite song at the moment?
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”.
If you had to sell your music collection tomorrow, what album would you leave in your draw?
I wouldn’t sell I’m way too attached.
What is your favourite saying?
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light”.
What other hobbies or interests do you have?
I’m a water skier! This is my biggest passion in life besides art.
Tell us more about your upcoming project or this new project?
I have the SITUATIONSHIP music video releasing next week (Feb 24) which is uber exciting.
What’s in the pipeline after this project?
Lots of more music!
Thank you for your time and may you carry on making great, fresh music.
Thank you for the interview!
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