Hello, Mackenzie Roark

Hey Mackenzie, so softball question to start before we get to the tough stuff, where are you right now and what have you been up to today/what are you up to today?

Today, I am at my house in Richmond, Virginia, like I am most days. I had some work to get done this morning, but then took my dog on a walk, and now I’m sitting on the couch watching Kate Bush videos and working on this.

Introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Mackenzie Roark, and I’m a songwriter who lives and plays mostly in Virginia for now.

Tell us a bit about you, where’s your hometown, and what’s the best thing about it?

My family is all from Maryland, which is where I lived when I was little. But I’ve been in Richmond for most of my life, and consider it my hometown. I really love living here personally, because it feels big enough to where there’s always something cool going on, but small enough to still be manageable. And everyone is so connected with each other here, so it almost feels like everyone is one degree of separation from each other. At least in the art/music corner of the city. Best thing about Richmond is the music. There’s a ton of amazing talent around this town.

Tell me about Rollin’ High, Feelin’ Low?

So we did my album last summer and released it in October. It’s a collection of songs that span the past five years of my life. Most of them were written last spring, but ‘Drunk Again’, ‘Little Pills’, and ‘Flowers in the Rain’ are older than that. I’m real happy with how it turned out, and thrilled about the incredible musicians I got to play on it. It was recorded/engineered by Allen Bergendahl and produced by Trey Hall at a studio here in town.

Love ‘Swamp Bait Town’, what’s the story to that song?

It’s funny that you zeroed in on this one, and I’ve found there are a lot of people that dig this one for whatever reason. I wrote it more for the vibe because I knew it would be fun to play onstage, and it is a lot of fun with the full band. It was just kind of a random song I wrote after getting home from a nine or ten-day tour through the Northeast with my man at the time. I felt real road-worn, even though we stayed in some nice places and definitely didn’t sleep in any cars or on anybody’s floor [laughs], and was just thinking about all the shitty places we stopped through, and somehow ‘Swamp Bait Town’ was born.

‘Drunk Again’ is another of my favourites from the record, how did you approach writing it?

This is a song that took me a while to finish. There were a lot of versions before the final one really took. But I wrote it back in 2017 when I was going through my first divorce. My first husband liked to drink a lot and I just got sick of it. He would get wasted and obnoxious and we would fight and he would piss the bed, and I would just look at him being a hot mess and think, “What the hell did I just sign up for?” But there was something weirdly intoxicating about the way he moved through the world, and it was ultimately really hard for me to quit him for good. So I guess we all have our strange addictions.

What was the last song that you chose for the record?

I think it was ‘Rollin’ High, Feelin’ Low’ which is kinda funny I guess because it ended up being the title track.

Which song from the record are you most excited about playing live, and why?

I guess it would be ‘Highway I’ve Been On’, just because it’s fun and people kinda know some of the words to it, so it’s good energy. Plus I get to say “shit.”

What can you tell us about your 2023, what’s coming up this year?

A lot is happening this year! I’m doing two major festivals here in Virginia which is kind of a huge deal, at least it is for me. I’m doing a little solo run tour in March, playing with my full band at least once a month, and trying to figure out what I can record next. I’ve been working on new songs, and I think I might do an A-side/B-side double single release or something this summer.

Where has been your favourite place to play live so far?

I’ve played some cool spots for sure, but my hometown venue, The Camel here in Richmond, will probably always be my favorite. It’s homey.

Any plans to visit the UK for shows?

I wish. Somebody give me a show, and I’ll be there.

What can you tell me about Vocal Rest Records?

Vocal Rest is the bomb. I owe a lot to this record label, and honestly, the album wouldn’t be what it is without Vocal Rest. My producer/friend/collaborator/bandmate, Trey Hall, who is the founder of Vocal Rest, has been such a huge help to me. He helped me with the arrangements for a lot of the songs, and just oversaw the whole record-making process. But anyways, being on the label that he started, alongside such talented friends and labelmates, has been a real confidence boost for me. Being recognized as good enough to be grouped in with this expansive well of talent that is the Vocal Rest roster has been a real honor.

With the $ from streaming being quite low, what’s the best way to support you as an artist?

Venmo me, baby! Just kidding. (But I mean, if you want to…) No, but just listening to the album and sharing it with other people who might like it is the best way to support from afar. If you want to follow me on the social medias, I won’t stop you. If you’re close, obviously come to a show and buy a t-shirt or something.

What's the best bit of merchandise you have available?

I sell bolo ties that I make myself, but those are only available at my shows. I also have a pretty sick t-shirt design that a friend/local artist did for me.

Who’s an artist I need to check out?

Julianna Riolino. She’s phenomenal. 

We’re called Campfire Tales, tell us your best story.

I gave myself a full week to come up to an answer to this, and I got nothin. I have SO many stories, and I love telling them, but I can’t choose a “best.” You have to narrow it down for me or give me a topic or theme.

Haha, we’ll save that for the next time we chat. Finally, you can ask me any question you like, what is it?

I get to ask you a question? Hot damn. Ok. As a Brit, in your opinion, what is the grossest thing that Americans do?

That’s a great question. I should start by saying I love the US and have visited many times. But one of the things that I’ve never been able to get my head around is that weird liquid cheese stuff, I’m more of a cheese purist.

To find out more about Mackenzie you can visit her website, and check out what she’s up to on Facebook and Instagram. her record, Rollin’ High, Feelin’ Low is out now and streaming everywhere.