Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maygen & the Birdwatcher. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Maygen, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
In our experience you never really overcome it entirely. No matter what heights you may achieve there’s always some new situation, or a new lease in which you’ll feel inadequate. What I’ve learned is, in those moments to tell myself that there is a reason that I am in the position I’m in even if I can’t see it right now, and that it’s okay if a situation highlights an area of growth. I have embraced the mindset that our next music will be better than our current music, our live experience will be better than this one. It’s not to diminish what we do in the now, but to be okay with the fact that we are always getting better. And getting better is part of it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
We’re Maygen & The Birdwatcher – a six piece band from Minnesota. Often been described as Americana folk, that adventurously blurs the sounds of country, bluegrass, folk, and blues. Lead singers Maygen Lacey, and Noah Neumann intentionally work to draw on their vastly different musical influences and vocal styles to bring a fresh and unexpected mix of songs to light. From beauty to grit, sadness to silliness, the common thread is that we love music, and playing it together, and it shows. Currently we’re working on releasing our upcoming full length album, ‘The Americana Dream’ (out October 10th). It’s a whirlwind to share new music with the world and we’re really excited about the new sounds we’re embracing.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Malleability. It’s good to have direction and expectation but the path you choose may not always lead you to where you think and that’s isn’t always a negative. So try to embrace being malleable and open to possibilities. 2. Finding the line between being assertive and being agreeable. In this business it’s always a good idea to have a positive attitude and impact on people but you can very easily get trampled under foot. Stand up for yourself and your artistry in a charitable manner.
3. Grind. Every inch we’ve gained in the business has been a battle. 1o million people want to do what we do. Nobody is going to give you your spot, you need to be able to develop the skill to keep grinding in every facet of your artistry.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
Number one obstacle is time. We are all full grown adults with families and mortgages and the like. So many of us have other full time jobs during the day and other obligations that make putting our fullest into music difficult. We try to get really strategic with how we use our time and getting bang for our buck. Summers are packed full as well as many travel weekends in the fall/spring. Especially being in an all digital age we have a multitude of ways to stay connected with fans so using those to the fullest is a must.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.maygenandthebirdwatcher.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maygenandthebirdwatcher/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaygenandtheBirdwatcher/
- Twitter: https://x.com/MaygentheBW/status/1725578950422786544
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ2-_mdHFJ5jezkm4s6thnA
Image Credits
Tim McG
Tom Smouse
Brandi Myhre
TM Phine
No Aesthetic
