Behind the Beat: Interview with Margeaux
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EVER CD?
My first ever CD that I bought with my own money was Beyoncé’s debut solo studio album, Dangerously in Love. I think I must’ve been in the first or second grade. I have two older brothers, and they’d always go shopping for physical music growing up, but I bought Dangerously in Love the first time I went into a music store by myself. It was Tower Records in New Orleans, Louisiana (where I’m from), and I remember looking at the cover and thinking that Beyoncé was THE most beautiful woman in the world. She looked absolutely amazing on the cover. My mind was blown as a little girl, haha.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SONG AS A CHILD?
It’s hard to pick one childhood song since I enjoyed lots of different music growing up. At age five, Hilary Duff’s “Why Not.” At seven, Usher’s “U Remind Me.” Around nine, probably Hannah Montana songs like “Just Like You” or “I Got Nerve.” At eleven, I’d say Paramore’s “Pressure” or “crushcrushcrush.” At twelve, I discovered indie music like Vampire Weekend, Arctic Monkeys, and MGMT. My older brother also introduced my family and me to Ariel Pink and Interpol around this time. In the car, my mom played a lot of ’80s and ’90s music, and I remember being really drawn to “One Day” by Björk
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSICAL TASTE?
I’d say that I try to be open to just about everything. At my core, I do have a strong affinity for indie rock, alternative, dream pop, jangle pop and post-punk-post punk, since those genres made up the foundation of my taste when coming into my own as a music listener during my formative years (although I’d say that I’m still in my formative years when it comes to music!). Lots of people tend to describe my taste as “eclectic,” which I also think is quite fitting.
DID YOUR MUSIC TASTE CHANGE OVER TIME?
I feel like I’ve been through just about every musical phase there is – an emo phase, a weird pop phase (that’s never ended), a ska phase, I listened to tons of rap and trap music in high school – but I wouldn’t necessarily say that my music taste has changed, but rather expanded and developed upon. There’s not much music from my past that I completely don’t like anymore. I might’ve used to like a lot of music from specific genres or by certain artists that I don’t really listen to much anymore, but my old favorite music will forever be nostalgic for me, and I’ll revisit old favorites from time to time and still very much enjoy it for that reason.
BEST CONCERT YOU EVER ATTENDED?
Choosing my favorite concert is tough since I’ve been to so many. I’ve been lucky to see most of my favorite artists live, like Aphex Twin, Radiohead, and more. But the best one that most recently comes to mind is Björk’s show in Berlin in June 2022. My boyfriend surprised me with tickets, and she performed with a full symphonic orchestra, in an amphitheater, playing songs from her entire discography. When she started with “Stonemilker,” I couldn’t stop crying throughout the entire set. It was truly unforgettable.
WHICH MUSICIAN WOULD YOU LOVE TO MEET IN PERSON? AND WHY?
Björk! Haha. Her forward-thinking approach to music, boundless curiosity, and connection to the natural world makes her so special to me. She’s unafraid to create unconventional music, prioritizing self-expression over commercial appeal. She expresses emotional depth and vulnerability in her art in a way that makes her even stronger. Her music has a childlike wonder that reminds me to nurture curiosity and vulnerability within myself. I admire how she’s maintained this throughout her career, especially in the public eye. I’d love to talk with her about all of this.
IF MAX BROWN WAS AN ALBUM OR SONG PERSONIFIED, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
The hotel (or at least the one I stayed in – Max Brown Museum Square) gives off a very warm and cozy vibe, almost autumnal. Somehow rustic and modern at the same time, and also very full of life. A song that gives off a similar feeling is a song that I’ve gone back to over the years, one that never gets old: Mundo Cão by Erasmo Carlos. I also put this song on my playlist!
IF YOU COULD LISTEN TO JUST ONE SONG FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHICH ONE WOULD IT BE?
It’s extremely hard to pick a single song, even a single album, but right now, I guess I’d say this song called “Promise You’ll Haunt Me” by Auscultation. It’s a pretty chill and atmospheric house track, but I could listen to it when winding down or when wanting to pump myself up, early in the morning or late at night, when I’m feeling happy or sad, by myself or with friends. It’s just one of those universal tracks to me.
