I am so excited to share this article with you because I had the very special honor of interviewing one of my favorite artists, McKayla Prew. She just released her first collection of music, a country pop piece of work that is quickly going to become everyone's favorite EP of 2022.
McKayla is a 19 year old singer-songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. Since a young age, she has been working very hard towards her goals and can be called singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, Miss USA competitor, advocate for food allergy awareness, philanthropist, musical theater performer, and the list can go on. So it comes as no surprise that when she released her first EP, it would absolutely be further proof that McKayla is dominating the fields she partakes in and that includes the country-pop genre of music.
This article I will be putting down here the interview I had with her about this EP. Really one of the my favorite things that have been released in 2022. This article is part of the July 2022 issue where McKayla is the cover star! So, when this all comes out in the beginning of July, make sure to check it out! I will also be releasing a podcast episode where I talk about her EP, my favorite parts of songs, and as well referencing our interview. She is such a kind soul so make sure you guys check her out. As always, if you like this content, make sure to subscribe to the emailing list to be notified whenever In the Know posts something! Let's get into the interview!
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself, McKayla. What inspires you to be so passionate about music? How would you say music has shaped your life?
A: Hello! My name is McKayla Prew and I am a nineteen year old singer/songwriter from Detroit, Michigan. Music has absolutely transformed my life and has made me into the person I am today. Ever since the age of four, I was always on the stage. Throughout my life I have taken part in a variety of musical outlets. Growing up I participated in musical theater where I have held lead roles in performances such as Elsa in Frozen Jr. and Sharpay Evans in High School Musical Jr. From these performances I started to expand, as I was a member of the Michigan Opera Theater Children’s Choir where I took part in mainstage performances of Tosca and H.M.S. Pinafore. I was a featured vocalist in Disney’s “Dream Big Princess” Campaign commercial which aired across the world on all of Disney’s stations. Because I am so passionate about music and the impact it can have on people’s lives, I wanted to use my voice for good. I raised $3,000 for the Children’s Miracle Network through Beaumont hospital in a singing contest here in Michigan. I am an active competitor in the Miss America and Miss USA organizations where I advocate Food Allergy Awareness and Education.
Q: I noticed that you play different instruments, such as the acoustic and bass guitar, piano, violin and drums. How long have you been building yourself up to be the artist you are today? Are there any other projects you’ve been involved in?
A: All throughout my life music has been a major aspect. Every single instrument I could get my hands on growing up I was determined to learn. Primarily the instruments that I focus on for my songwriting process are guitar and ukulele. I have been building myself up for the release of my debut EP since I was sixteen. Currently, I am the host of an internet music show called Hyped Up Live Sessions: Next Generation. It is run by T-Money (Edward Tony Green) who has played bass for Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre. The purpose of the show is to give young artists of Metro-Detroit a platform to showcase their talent as it is so hard to get your voice heard in the music industry.
Q: You write all your own lyrics for your songs, which is incredible. Songwriting is a trade you always have to practice. You must be very experienced, how long have you been writing music?
A: Thank you so much! Something about me is that I am constantly writing, it doesn’t matter the time or day, day or night. Sometimes the best ideas come when I am on the verge of falling asleep or in the shower! I started writing music when I was ten years old. Since then, I have filled three notebooks full of songs and lyrics that I have come up with. I am so excited to share them all super soon with everyone!!
Q: What is your songwriting process like? Do the lyrics or melody come first? Or maybe a bit of both?
A: Definitely a bit of both. Usually, it all starts when I come up with a hook that I find catchy. From there, I grab my guitar and I write the entire song based off of it.
Q: You release music in the country genre specifically, blending with pop which is in my top 3 favorite genres. I also noticed country music is what inspired you for your music. Do you enjoy writing in different styles or do you strictly stick to country?
A: I absolutely enjoy writing in all styles. At this point in my career, I don’t want to stick to a certain genre. Rather, I let the song pick which genre it would like to be.
My songs “Fake Friends” and “Mine” are pop with some rock influences. My debut EP, “YEE HAW!” which is completely country-pop, was something I have always wanted to do since I was little. Since it was the genre of music that helped me discover my voice and songwriting abilities, I told myself that the first collection of work I ever put out would be in that genre. I have more music coming out throughout the rest of 2022 that branches more into the pop genre and other genres such as EDM. I just want to experiment as much as I can with my sound and make music that people can resonate with.
Q: When listening to your album, I can definitely hear references to other artists, especially Taylor Swift’s Fearless and Speak Now albums. Who would you say is your biggest inspiration for songwriting?
A: Taylor Swift has definitely been a major inspiration for me as a performer and a songwriter. I also take great inspiration from Alec Benjamin and Vance Joy. All three of these artists are phenomenal writers and I look up to them greatly.
Q: Inspiration can strike from anywhere. What other artists do you find yourself listening to or what usually gets you in the songwriting “zone”?
A: When I want to write, I usually reflect on experiences that I have gone through that I feel other people can relate to. I love to read, A LOT! Especially poetry. So sometimes I write songs just based off of stories that I make up or the idea of a feeling or emotion.
Q: Your album has 6 songs on it, 4 of which were singles. Was there a reason you decided to release an EP with only two more unreleased songs rather than a full length album?
A: Right now, I am in the beginning stages of my career with around only 400 monthly listeners on Spotify. To grow my audience, I want to release as much music as possible to really promote myself as an artist.
Q: How did the songs that ended up on the EP become the ones you released? Was there other songs you considered putting on the album?
A: The songs I chose to be on my EP were specifically put on there because they all tell an interconnected story of going through the turmoils of young heartbreak. I also chose to put them together since they are in the same genre of country-pop.
I like to think of the order I placed the songs as chapters, really encapsulating the emotions you feel going through losing love. I considered mixing some of my unreleased pop songs on the EP, but felt that they did not fit and would be better released as singles throughout the year.
Q: Why did you choose the name Yee Haw for your EP?
A: Growing up in Michigan, I was told by many people in the industry I could not make this genre of music because I did not grow up in the South. That I was not, and never would be a “real’ country artist. Me, being the sarcastic person I am, basically took their criticism and ran with it comedically. I put on a flannel, overalls, and grabbed my fake horse on a stick I’ve had since I was a little kid to take my EP cover picture. I wanted to look as country as possible just to rub it in their faces. I picked the name “YEE HAW!” because it was the country phrase I could think of!
Q: “The Fool” is the opening track on your record. Why did you choose it to be the 1st song people would listen to?
A: “The Fool” is definitely one of my songs I am most proud of lyrically. For me, it is a combination of many experiences I have gone through in one. I picked different aspects of different situations and emotions I felt and put them into one big story. I picked it to start the EP because I feel it sets the scene with the beginning lyrics, “the story starts in July.”
Q:Why did you decide to close the album with the track “Gone”? Is there an emotional tie to the song?
A: “Gone” is the oddball, a heart wrenching oddball, of the EP. I chose “Gone” to be the closing song for my debut EP as it means the most to me emotionally. It took me a full year from when I wrote it to actually be able to sing and perform it without crying. I wrote this song for my friend’s mom whose ⅔ kids passed away in a tragic boating incident when they were only 6 and 11. My best friend suffered a traumatic brain injury, but has made a miraculous recovery over the years. She is the walking embodiment of a miracle. Her mom had a page on instagram where she would post emotions she felt throughout her grieving process. I went through the captions and decided to write a song for her. I played it for her in my car before I released it last year. We sat there, held hands and cried. She said to me, “you have no idea how long I have looked for a song that I could relate to, to help me mourn, I finally have one.”
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