While February is still filled with the grey wintery skies and a chill in the air, it’s also filled with a hopeful glow of the coming spring and The Zone @ 91-3’s next Band of the Month.
Nicky Mackenzie has been turning heads in the music scene for the past few years and, with her soulful new EP MORALS (and its debut single, Comfortable, on the horizon), it seems only right that she takes her residency as February 2024’s Band of the Month. Having grown up on Salt Spring Island, the 23-year-old songstress now calls Victoria, British Columbia her home. Garnering critical praise for her live performances at Phillips Backyard and Rifflandia music festivals, Nicky Mackenzie is an act to keep your ears out for.
After jumping on the couch and pulling her best blue steel, Nicky Mackenzie chatted with Tyson Elder about releasing new music, the secrets of the Gulf Islands, and what’s next for her.
Make sure to check out the Behind the Scenes video from Rocktographers’ partner in crime, Adam Lee (VictoriaMusicScene) at the end of our interview.
Tyson Elder: It’s exciting to finally have you as The Zone’s Band of the Month this year. I feel like it’s been in the cards for a while. Congratulations!
Nicky Mackenzie: Thank you so much! It’s a very exciting time. I’ve been working hard on my new music for a while and I feel so fresh in the industry, so making these connections and having this opportunity is so huge for me.
TE: I feel like we only ever get a chance to chat in passing at music festivals and gigs. It’s nice to finally get to chat without music in the background.
Nicky: It is definitely crazy how many people work in the entertainment industry here. Victoria is still somewhat small, but I feel like you meet and work with so many people doing festivals, events, shows, etc. that it’s hard to keep track of everyone. It is pretty cool meeting people from so many different corners in the industry though.
TE: Recently, I learned that you grew up on Salt Spring Island but now call Victoria home. I can see Salt Spring Island from where I live and work but have only been there twice since I moved out to the coast. I remember seeing a Zamboni in someone’s yard on the way to camp at Ruckle Park. Is there something a tourist like me shouldn’t miss? What’s your go-to spot when you go home?
Nicky: Salt Spring is definitely full of mysteries and weird little characteristics like that, but that’s what makes it special. If you live in Victoria, it’s like this little patch of paradise that you don’t want to miss out on in the summer. Although it is absolutely overrun with tourists. Ruckle Park is probably the most beautiful spot, Salt Spring Cidery is my personal favourite spot for a drink, one of my childhood best friends works there too. Moby’s is the central main pub for the locals, where my other childhood best friend happens to work, always a good rowdy time with bingo nights and live music. Also Treehouse Café, probably Salt Spring’s most famous restaurant, is a really great spot and they always feature live music. I try to go back and play there once a summer or so.
TE: I wanted to share a little inside baseball about the photography side of Rocktographers. It goes without saying we are always excited to share our work from our Band of the Months photoshoots, and I think speak for webmeister Bud and myself, but this might be our favourite batch of photos we’ve ever done. It’s not often we go over our allotted time and are gushing about the photos this much before we leave. I hope you had as much fun as we did.
Nicky: I had the absolute BEST time. Rocktographers are so easy to vibe with and when you have the right energy in the room, the product is extra special. I was so excited to work with you guys and so full of energy that day I felt like I had the zoomies… and everyone just met it right away so we had lots of fun.
TE: Your new single, Comfortable, is not only your Zone @ 91-3 Band of the Month feature song but it is also coming out on February 1st. How exciting is it to finally be able to release this new music into the world?
Nicky: It’s hard to describe with words how exciting it is. I’ve been working on this new project for over a year now, and getting everything aligned has been lots of work, but I have big goals in mind. It’s the first time in my career I’ve worked with a management team, and they are just my absolute rocks. I genuinely couldn’t have asked for a better team to work with; I’m just so grateful. They’ve put their blood, sweat, and tears into their work, and I’m really stoked for the outcome of that. Also being able to release a new song that happens to be extra personal to me and my self-development is such a freeing feeling. Makes me feel like I’m really in the right place.
TE: I was able to get a sneaky listen to your single, Comfortable, before its release and frankly, it’s perfection. I found the song very cinematic, moody and full of soul. I’m curious about the songwriting process for Comfortable.
Nicky: Comfortable was sort of this weird puzzle where all the pieces came from different directions during the writing process. It started with a melody I kept singing in my head (which is now the first verse melody), and a chord progression I had recorded into my phone, and also the first verse’s lyrics that I had written as a poem with no melody. The three components sort of merged together and the song kind of wrote itself. The songwriting process is always different, but I find the best ones write themselves and can surprise you with what comes out. Comfortable is very cathartic for me, as its about understanding the anxiety and stress you have in your life and deciding to walk away to find something better, not forcing yourself to find comfort in things that don’t interest you.
TE: Can we expect more new music from you in the near future?
Nicky: Absolutely. This first single is just the sneak peak of what’s to come. It’s gonna be a big year full of new releases and I truly can’t wait to show the world what I’ve been working on.
TE: Thank you for hanging out with us and jumping on some couches during our photo shoot. We can’t wait to hear you on The Zone’s airwaves this month.
Nicky: Thank you guys so much for having me. Having grown up listening to The Zone this has been a huge full circle moment for me, and we’re just getting started. Such a dream come true working with all of you.
Nicky Mackenzie is The Zone @ 91-3’s Band of the Month for the month of February 2024. You can find out more about Nicky, her music, upcoming concerts and download her single, Comfortable on her Band of the Month microsite.
Rocktographers is a proud supporting sponsor of The Zone’s Band of the Month program.