#14 Margo Marie Music – Margo Clothier

Amy (00:01) Welcome to Just a Thought with Amy Keys. We are here to inspire, educate, inform, and entertain. On today's episode, I am thrilled to welcome singer, songwriter, Margo Clothier. Welcome. Hi. So happy to have you, Marg. I I wanted to tell the audience how we we came to this podcast. And that is a sweet friend, Stacy Habs, called me a few weeks ago and she says, You need to get Margo on the show. And I thought,

That is awesome to have a just turned fifteen singer songwriter, like a legit singer songwriter, not like a sing in the shower songwriter like me, which I think I am, I think, when I do that, but on the show because you have such a great story. So I'm so excited and everybody needs to know that Margo is very busy between school and what else do you do?

Margo (00:55) I do theater, I go to school. I love cooking, baking, hanging out with all my friends, so just kind of in between everything. And

Amy (01:03) She's

really worked hard to work me in her busy schedule today. So so excited to have you. I I look back on when Marg, when you were little beauty, and I first met you, of course, when you're born. I've been friends with your mom forever, but in the hospital, I met you when you're born. But then our little friendship, because I think we both have kind of whimsical personalities. I remember you would find me at the Christian Brothers games and we would

hang out in the bleachers and you sit on my lap and we watch the game and shoot the breeze. And then and then next thing I know, you're writing songs. So we go back a long way and I feel kinda old, actually. Half thinking that I still see in the car seat. But I would just love to kick it off with tell us how and when did you get started singing and songwriting?

Margo (01:53) Yeah. so when I was I think it was the summer of ten to like eleven, I had written my first song at the beach. And it was like we had a beach house there for like a really long time. And it was just kind of one day I took my like pen and paper out to the water and I was like, let's just write a song. So I sat down and just wrote all my feelings out on that piece of piece of paper. And after I was like, I took it to my parents, I was like, look how cool this is, and they were like

That's super cool. And so then when I turned twelve, I had asked them for my birthday gift to go record it because I love theater and I love music and I just want see both sides of the perspective. So I think my parents wanted me to see that too. So that's kind of how that Yeah.

Amy (02:37) Help skipped ever. So

then you did that. What was the first song? By

Margo (02:43) Club by the water.

Amy (02:44) the water. And I know that is it, but I wanted you to tell everybody. But I've I've listened to it over it's really good. Thank you. For your first song ever. Like who just goes out? So you would have been out?

Margo (02:57) Think it was Tim.

Amy (02:57) Eleven. Okay. So you just walk out to the beach and you just are like, I'm gonna take pen and paper and write a song. Yeah. Wow. And then here you are.

Is it still your favorite song of all the song hatred?

Margo (03:08) actually think so anymore, only 'cause I sound really young in it. And it's I think it's a good thing that I sound young 'cause it's like age perspective in all of my songs. But think my like new favorite song is one of my other songs called 30 A.

Amy (03:21) Okay,

and I've heard that one too. And you just did you just put did you ripe it on the beach?

Margo (03:26) Actually no, I wrote that with my co writer here in Memphis.

Amy (03:31) Co writer.

Margo (03:34) Is Lauren. And she's also my vocal coach. She's also she's always in the room with me when I record. So she's just kind of like my partner in music. And she's super awesome. Her name's Lauren Moscato.

Amy (03:46) Yeah. And do you meet with her like multiple times a week?

Margo (03:50) Not multiple times a week. It like depends on if we have like a show coming up and we need to get ready for it or if we're just having a regular lesson.

Amy (03:58) That is awesome. So

Where do your songs come from? I know what they are centering about because you love thirty A and you love the beach and you pretty much screw up going there. Mm-hmm. I mean, I remember family pictures of the beach and then here you are writing songs about it. But like where like where do how do you just be like how do you just come up with that?

Margo (04:22) So it's like my songs now, so I'm working on my next album. my songs now are like from I think of them from different perspectives. So like if my friend is going through something, then I'll ask her to like tell me about it and I can start writing about it. Or my dad, big inspiration in my singer like my songwriting, he gives me so many different like song ideas and song titles and it's like, I'll sit down with you and we can play guitar and I'm like, okay, so we just kind of do that.

I think most of my ideas though, they're like I don't know, I just kind of like something pops in my head one day and I'm like, I gotta go write that down and I write it down and then somehow it forms this whole entire song. Well

Amy (05:03) get it. Being a different form of artist, being a a painting artist, I have that too. Sometimes at three o'clock in the morning I'll be like, I need to make that and then you have to sometimes sometimes I have to take notes or put it in my phone about like the ideas that I have or I'll forget. But I like cat I like how we both kinda come up with the same ideas. Does it take a long time to write the song?

Margo (05:25) Not really. It like sometimes the lyrics will just come naturally. It's like something that I thought of that day, I'm like, this is perfect. Now I can think of this lyric and this lyric. But then sometimes it's like I can't think of one for twenty minutes and all of a sudden one pops in my head and I'm like, Okay, so now we're gonna

Amy (05:42) break through a a creativity wall. Well what is harder to create? Like the actual lyric or the melody? Like how are you when you're writing a song, do you just write the words like you would a poem and then apply it to music? Or are you kind of like coming along and going along with it? How's that work?

Margo (06:00) So I used to see it as a poem 'cause I used to love writing poetry. Like it was like one of my favorite things. And I would just sit down and just start writing and rhyming. But now I think it's the lyrics that are the hardest because a melody, like one pops in my head, I'm like, okay. So I like this and I like the way it sounds and then I try to play it out on the piano but I'm not very great at piano yet. So I'm just like like hearing it in my head and I'm like, well this lyric would match with this and it kind of just goes together.

Amy (06:28) Okay. Well that it I that takes I think a special person. Especially especially at your age to have like the patience to be like, Well, I'm kind of hitting a wall on this, maybe come back to it. Yeah. Twenty minutes later. There there it is. What instruments do you play?

Margo (06:46) I used to play piano and I always took piano lessons. I'm still kind of working on piano but I've switched over now to guitar and I'm learning electric guitar right now. And then I also used to play ukulele, but I still know how to like pick it up sometimes, but then sometimes I'm like

Amy (07:03) Yeah. You're you're kinda doing a little bit of everything. Yeah. So why'd you leave P you know?

Margo (07:08) Well, my next album's gonna be country. That's the route we're going. So my like I'm gonna call her my manager, Lauren, same person. Okay. She was like, If you're gonna do country, then it might be a good move to learn guitar. I was like, Yeah, probably like especially acoustic. Yeah. I'm just learning on electric right now because it's easier to learn on. But she's like, I would pick up guitar if I were you, like that way we can get into certain venues and you can actually play instead of just having to sing to

tracks and I kinda like that idea, so

Amy (07:41) Is there anybody like musical in your else like parents, grandparents, anybody that you know of in your family this kinda comes from? Or is it just you? I

Margo (07:50) I think it's just me. I don't really think anyone in my family besides my little sister, 'cause she does like singing, but I don't really think anyone's like very musically inclined.

Amy (08:01) Very interesting how Yeah. You know, there are five kids in your family, which we'll have to get to a little bit, but I mean everybody does something so different. Yeah. Pilot.

Margo (08:13) Soccer players, cheerleader, gymnastics,

Amy (08:16) Reader.

Margo (08:17) yeah.

Amy (08:18) I think the parrots have covered every extracurricular possible. So you've written four songs? Is that right? Or four been released?

Margo (08:27) Four of them released.

So I have a few more that I've been working on. Like I said, next album. I think r our goal for that one's to have ten, which is really crazy. But that's our goal, ten to twelve. The ones I've written so far is I have my new one called Washed and I've sang that a few times. Like I sang it Lafayette's in May and I did a little competition. And then I'm actually singing it this Sunday at the Delta Fair.

Amy (08:55) wow. Yeah. Well they're lucky to get you.

Margo (08:59) I've written a few more. I've written some about my dad. Like I said, he's like one of my biggest inspirations. So I have one called My Best Friend. That one's

Amy (09:06) Wait, hold up. You wrote a song about your dad called My Best Friend. Mm-hmm. I don't even know what to do with that. Does he like cry when he hears it? Isn't he

Margo (09:15) He cried, it was very emotional that night. It was on his birthday. It was f his birthday gift. And I had Lauren help me put it to music. And so I got to play it off my phone and sing it for him. And

Amy (09:26) This

is not released yet. So I have to wait to hear this. I can't wait to hear this.

Margo (09:31) Yeah.

Amy (09:32) That is so amazing that you did that for your dad. That's so thoughtful. Maybe his favorite song from

Margo (09:38) I hope so. It's so fun. Like I just loved giving it to him and seeing his like expression on his face 'cause at first he was like, Is this about me? And I was like, Yeah, and he then he started fully like crying. But it was it was so fun just giving it to him.

Amy (09:51) Well, you know, I've known your dad since he was fifteen years old. Yeah. I've known him since I was a freshman in high school. And I think he was a year above me. So I've known him a long time. And I've seen your dad and your mom raise amazing kids. But what I mean, that's like all a parent can really ask for right there. Is I mean, I don't think my boys are ever gonna write a song about me. And if they did, it would be a funny song. But I can't imagine a better thing than to hear that

You wrote a song about your dad. Did your mom feel left out?

Margo (10:24) No, I mean it was kind of about her too. There was some things in there about her, but it was mainly for my dad's birthday gift.

Amy (10:31) Goodness. So writing a song. Wow. Okay. I can't wait to hear this. So there's there's there's four songs that have been released so far, but there's ten more that are coming. Yes. Can you sleep? Yes.

Margo (10:44) I mean late sometimes but yes, I do sleep.

Amy (10:46) Do you get stage frayed or do you get nervous when you perform? Like are you gonna be nervous at the Delta Fair or are you gonna are you kinda psyching yourself up for that or what's the scoop there?

Margo (10:55) So I definitely get nervous. That is something I feel that everyone usually does. For me, I only get nervous when I can see the audience. Okay. So whenever I'm performing in theater, I'm never nervous. I it's pitch black in front of me. I'm just dancing and having fun. But then like whenever I'm on a stage in Lafayette, I messed myself up because I was so nervous and I was in Wash. It's a duo with Lauren. And so I was the first person to sing and

I was like, my gosh, this is like so like like scary because it was just like, Whoa

Amy (11:29) Always easier when somebody else goes first.

Margo (11:31) Yes.

Amy (11:32) And it kind of feels good to get it out of the way and it's never as bad as you think it will be.

Margo (11:35) Yeah. I listened back to the video, I was like, I could have definitely done better. But I think it's 'cause all my family was there. I was staring directly at my cousin. She was staring right at me. I was like, my gosh, making faces at me. I think I started laughing at one point because she was like sticking her tongue out at me. I like, my gosh.

Amy (11:52) So when you're on stage at the Delve Fair, are you playing the guitar and singing or just singing? And

Margo (11:58) I'm just singing.

Amy (11:58) I don't mean it as in like, you're just singing. I meant like 'cause because I always look at artists like you guys and I'm like, how do y'all multitask playing the guitar and singing or playing whatever instrument? I'm always like, How did they like Taylor Swift for example?

Margo (12:14) Yeah.

Amy (12:15) Think how she does all these concerts constantly all the time. I mean I know she's got like

Very professional choreography and and everybody's very well polished, but it's like she's flawless when she performs. How does how does she do it every time perfectly? Yeah. How does she do that?

Margo (12:31) It's actually it's really easy. And people are thinking it's really hard. But I just started guitar, so in July. So it's like fairly new to me. But I taught myself how to play driver's license by Olivia Rodrigo on it. And I was like, Okay, okay, so let's just kinda like strum it out. So I was playing, playing around with it, and all of a sudden I just started singing with it and I'm like, that's really easy. Like it's a lot easier than I thought it was gonna be 'cause I was like thinking of the lyrics and thinking of the chords on the guitar and how to actually like play I was like, Wait, this is so easy.

Amy (12:59) But you kinda just get in your group.

Margo (13:01) Yeah.

Amy (13:02) Wow. So you're already able to do that and you just started guitar lessons? Yeah. Like what can you not do? Well, I'm curious, speaking of entertainers, like so I just brought up Taylor Swift, like what entertainers do you look up to the most and who do you listen to the most? Let's get into that.

Margo (13:18) Love Casey Musgraves. That's one of my favorite entertainers. I love a lot of her music and I learned to love her because of my mom. I think still is my mom's one of my mom's favorites, but I love her. And then another person I probably like look up to is Gracie Abrams. Right. She's awesome. I'm like I just love her.

Amy (13:38) Okay. H have you been to any really good concerts?

Margo (13:41) We're going to Gracie Abrams in February. really excited about that. We've been to Zach Bryan. Okay. In that was in New York a few Christmases ago. And then we've been to Taylor Swift and I went to Maddox Batson. Wow. I don't know if you do you know who that is?

Amy (13:57) I do not know who that is. I'm old.

Margo (13:58) he is sixteen now. Okay. And he has over a million followers. He's playing big venues. So it's it's crazy. But he's around my age and I went to go see him.

Amy (14:10) Okay. So what was like the first concert?

Margo (14:13) My very first concert, I think I remember seeing Pentatonics at the at the Grizzly Stadium of the Fed FedEx form. but I think that was probably the very first. The second was probably Taylor Swift in sixth grade, but

Amy (14:30) My first concert was Whitney Houston at the Mid South Coliseum in 1987. And I remember my friend Kim and I left with Light Up Roses, and we thought we were super cool.

But one of my most favorite concerts ever was Cody Johnson.

He is a wonderful entertainer. Saw him in Nashville and Carrie Underwood showed up for their duet. And I nobody knew that was gonna happen. And Lou Crone showed up. It was like I was like, all right. but he is an incredible entertainer. He is so polished and I like his music. So that was helpful too. But so well, so when you're not singing and you're I know we kind of touched on this, but

Like what is like a perfect day to you? What what do you so besides I know it's gonna require some kind of music. Mm-hmm.

Margo (15:20) So a perfect day for me. I love baking. Baking is something that I got from like my dad's mom. She loves to bake. So whenever she's comes in town, we would always bake together. It's just been something that's so fun to me and then I love ice skating. And that's something that's really interesting because I'm the only kid in our family who's a summer birthday and I always want to go ice skating for my birthday and everyone's like, No, you're getting a water slide. Only summer birthday.

I wanted to go ice skating this year and I told my sister that and she's like, Ew no, get a water slide I was like, Okay. So I ended up getting a water slide for my birthday, but again, but

Amy (15:59) Well

you know, do you ever go down to Olive Branch and give the

Margo (16:01) That's the one I wanted to do for my birthday.

Amy (16:04) Have you ever gone curling? No. Okay, it's an Olympic sport. Mm-hmm. And my friend's birthday was there a few years ago and is the craziest sport where you like smooth the ice and your partner has to like make this big looks like a big cheese wheel go across the ice. And that's the only time I've ever been in the Mid South Ice House. That's what it's called. That is a really cool thing. You should get your family to go because you can go on your birthday in the summer. It's inside and there's no water slides. No.

Margo (16:29) That's what I wanted to do. And Sophie was like, get a water slide I was like, Okay, so

Amy (16:33) She's probably saying that 'cause she shares a birthday with I Grayson. So she's got a share. But your mom and so your mom's always done a great job at celebrating them both. Yeah. But what are the odds of having five kids and two having the same exact birth?

Margo (16:45) Crazy.

Amy (16:46) Well, speaking of your siblings, do they like to hear you sing?

Margo (16:49) It depends. So like whenever I'm practicing at home, Sophie's like, Be quiet 'cause she's listening to music in her room. But then like sometimes she'll be like, you're in a lesson, so you can sing And Grayson and Grant don't live at home with us anymore so they don't care about that. And then Andy, whenever I start singing, she tries to join in but I'm like, Girl, this is my practice time

Amy (17:09) You are cutting in So for those that don't know, Margo is the fourth of five kids. Yeah. And I've seen how y'all have been raised and your parents have done a phenomenal Your parents have put out some pretty great kids into the world. But what is it like to be the fourth of five siblings? Two boys and then three girls.

Margo (17:31) I think it's super fun and a lot of people are gonna be like, too many kids in the house. But I think it's so fun to have three older siblings to look up to and a younger sister who looks up to you. Cause I like I love having Sophie to look up to. We share clothes, she takes me to school, everything. And then now I kind of will get to do that with Andy for maybe even I think it's just one year, but it's g it's I'm

Yeah. I just love all my siblings and Grant and Grayson are always super supportive. They came to our school's talent show. Yeah. So they both stood up in the crowd screaming after I performed and one of them said Margo Marie music and then the other one stood up and goes on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. And just starts like screaming. It was so

Amy (18:18) So nice. you know, I I I know I but with five of you, it's always been interesting to see you all grow up and Sophie looks like your dad. Yeah. That that is one of your through through. I feel like Grayson looks more like your dad than your mom. I feel like Grant is your mom. And I feel like you're like the perfect combo of both. But you're starting to favor your dad a little more. Yeah. And I think I think Andy Rose is your dad.

Margo (18:43) Yeah. A lot of people say I don't look like either of my parents and I'm like, I kinda see it, but like at the same time I'm like, I don't know, maybe. I

Amy (18:51) you have your mom's new rhythm. I I really think you'll have the same kind of what I'm talking about. But I think you're like the only one that's like literally looks like both of them. The others all look like one specific. Yeah. Especially Grant. Grant is all his mom. Yeah. In my opinion. But he's how old is he now? He

Margo (19:09) Twenty

is t about to be twenty. No, is twenty? Twenty

Amy (19:14) So many siblings she can't keep up with how old they are.

Margo (19:17) We

right. my gosh. I thought it was like never mind. He he's twenty. He's twenty.

Amy (19:22) Like

to keep up with. I don't know how your mom keeps up with everybody. And then and then Grayson just got married. Mm-hmm. So you have another quote unquote sister in the family. She now is awesome. Ailey is

Margo (19:32) My Love Bailey.

Amy (19:34) I can't wait to meet her at some point. Mm-hmm. And they're in Nashville. So if you let's talk about Nashville and you wanna go to school at Nashville. Yeah. Right? Yeah. Okay. You want to go to Belmont? Okay. That's like your is that the only one we want to go to?

Margo (19:49) wanna go to school also in New York. I just don't really know where yet, but I love the city. So that's like somewhere I'm like, no, I'm going to school in New York.

Amy (19:57) Okay, okay. So if but if you did since your brother does live near Nashville. Yeah. If you did, you could see him a little bit. True. And he's a pilot and they're hard to see. Because I've got a pilot in my family. We've got two because my son married a pilot. yeah. So yeah. But do you know what they did like two weeks ago? What? They don't see each other often because their schedules and they had three days off. So they flew to Paris. They just went to Paris for like forty eight hours and they flew back. That is and

Because of their flight benefits, they didn't have to they and they got to fly first class on the way back. Wow. And just so he had never been fed so well in his life. So well living the life living the life there. But that would be kinda cool if you lived near to him. You could see him all the he could come to your performances and behind you,

Margo (20:45) yes.

Amy (20:47) like

Margo (20:47) Definitely.

Yeah, like that's kind of something I'm trying to look forward to like in the future because we're going to we're trying to go to Nashville to actually record my next album. And it's we don't know who we're really gonna record it with yet, but that's like something we're working up to and we are gonna have live musicians there and it's gonna be super fun and I'm so excited for that. But that's kind of just like something that I would wanna have. So like if I ever had to perform anywhere, I'd want my own band.

Amy (21:16) You are so goal oriented, aren't you? You're always looking at that next step. Yes. Well, you have to be though. You can't just especially being a singer songwriter, you can't just sit there and be like, it's gonna come to me. You've gotta make it happen. Yeah. And I guess you realize that at a young age on the beach. Yeah. When you just said, I'm gonna write a song. Who does that? Like who's like ten or eleven and just literally goes and writes a song? And

Margo (21:38) I'm not sure.

Amy (21:39) then here you are, living your best life. But but but

The best part about it is all the support from your family.

Margo (21:47) And actually my first song doesn't sound like how it is now. Like whenever I first wrote it, it just it doesn't sound the same. 'Cause we have a video of it. I performed it at like this sort of voice thing that we did for voice students and I'm there and I'm so young and I sing it and my piano teacher helped me put it some music and it was so fun. And it just does not sound the same. And it's kinda like it's really crazy because now we have by the water.

And then we have the second by the water and the second by the water is definitely more modified, I'd say.

Amy (22:19) So your school probably wants you to do a lot there. Do they up do they have you like help in performances and different events? Are they

Margo (22:27) It depends. Like if they really need someone, then they'll ask me and they'll ask this junior now. Her name's Maria. She's so good. But they will ask me and her to sometimes like perform different things. So like there was it was think it was an alumni breakfast, maybe. And they had me and one of Andy's little friends and someone else. I can't remember who it was, but we all got to sing something. So it was

Amy (22:54) That's awesome. Yeah. Have you sang the national rhythm? Yes. I feel like I've seen you do this, but I didn't know if I dreamt it or I just thought it.

Margo (23:01) I sang it with a few girls I used to be on dance team at Hutchison, so I sang it with a few girls on dance team and then I sang it by myself and then I sang it at a soccer game and then I sang it at my parents' race, the Big Buffalo Fifty.

Amy (23:16) Okay. And for those who don't know, I should have probably put this in the intro, is that Margo is a sophomore at Hutcheson here in Memphis, Tennessee. Mm-hmm. And but I went to kindergarten at Hutchison. And they used to bring us really good little birthday cakes for our birthday. They still do that. It was like maybe it was like the size of a pancake. They were the best cakes ever. That's about all I remember, because that was like in nineteen seventy seven. But it's been a minute.

But the one time I've been back on that campus, it's exact it like look it reminds me so much of how it was when I was there. they're doing

Margo (23:48) actually redoing the campus right now. Really? Yeah.

Amy (23:51) a lot to U S too. Yeah.

Margo (23:52) they are building a whole new theater at MUS. So the show I'm in right now at MUS, last show that they're ever doing in that theater was just really fun to be a part of.

Amy (24:02) And MUS, for those that don't know, is the I guess brother school to Hutcheson. Yeah. Almost it almost feels like they're on the same campus, but they're just right next to each other. Well, if you could go back to twenty twenty when you wrote that first song, what would you tell yourself? What advice would you give yourself? what advice you give to anybody else who might be the version of you six years ago? So

Margo (24:25) So twenty twenty, I would probably say like my first song, I did not know it was gonna like take off and actually be able to record it. But if I do that again and I write more songs, then I would kind of want all of that to be released at the same time and not separately, because like for all of my singles, they were all just released, released, released, released, and then now it's all put into some big album. I think I'd want to release them all at the same time.

Okay. And then my advice what was sorry, what was the question?

Amy (24:58) Advice to someone who's maybe listening that's your age, mm-hmm, that is thinking about, you know, going out in their backyard or to the beach and writing the song, trying to do what you did. Yeah. What would you tell

Margo (25:08) Just do it. Like there's not really if there's nothing stopping you from doing it, then just go for it. Because I wouldn't be where I'm at today if I didn't sit down at the beach and start writing like random stuff down and then all of a sudden it turns into a song. So

Amy (25:24) Chase your dreams, right? Believe in yourself. Yeah. That's very important. And I think kids these days just kind of hard these days, it's kind of hard to do that sometimes because everybody's so busy. And phones and all these things and social media and all the stuff. But you've got a decent platform on social media. Like you've got a lot of followers.

Margo (25:41) On Instagram, yeah.

Amy (25:42) And you're gonna have a lot more after this podcast. so what is it like having your work talent be available to anybody on Instagram? It is

Margo (25:52) So cool. Like that. I have like looked at the people who have viewed my post before and it's like Belgium and it's Canada and it's France. And I'm just like, I don't even know any of these people. And I think it's just so cool that like the fact I don't know them and they just randomly were scrolling on social media one day and found me. And they're just like, I like this girl. Let's follow her. And it's just like like that's rewarding, isn't it? Yeah, that's like

Amy (26:17) It's like why stop

this podcast. When I hear when I think we're in six countries. I know we're in five, but I'm I'm told we've reached another one. But to me, that is super cool to think that someone in England is listening to me. In Downtown, Tennessee, I'm in my kitchen. Yeah. Like this is not some big operation here. Yeah. But it's very gratifying to know that someone actually is listening. Mm-hmm. Do you manage your social media or did you have a manager that does that?

Margo (26:46) So my parents used to, but now that I'm like at like old enough to be at the age and have Instagram on my phone, I manage it. And I've been not great at managing it recently 'cause school's started. But

Amy (27:00) Kind of cheap.

Margo (27:00) I need to I need to post some stuff and I probably will soon.

Amy (27:03) You you have a lot going on. Yeah. You're you're a busy beat. You're a busy beat. But with the d so when you are when you think about, you know, we just talked about five years, six years back, where do you see yourself in five to six years from here? Hope

Margo (27:22) Performing in like big places. Like I think there's a place in maybe it's Wyoming and it's like a big amphitheater somewhere. I'm just like it's like crazy, but it's in the middle of like just the forest. And I'm like, I want to go perform there is like all these different wild places and like Bridgestone Arena and like FedEx Form. Like these are all like just like something that it's like it's kinda like a dream. But the next thing

that I probably definitely want to do is go on Broadway. Like that is all also one of my dreams. And I'm just like, I still wanna chase that one.

Amy (27:58) Have you ever thought of going on like America's Got Talent or American Idol or any of the

Margo (28:02) So I actually just auditioned for American Idol. What?

Amy (28:04) Yeah. I just met chills.

Margo (28:07) Okay. Yes, I just sent him my video. We haven't heard back yet, but hopefully and I actually auditioned with Washed. Yeah.

Amy (28:15) Yeah.

Whoa. When do you find out?

Margo (28:18) We're not sure.

Amy (28:19) You just gotta wait. my god So if you do that if you audition for them then they get back to you and and you just go up there and get on the show or do you then you have to compete with other people, right? You don't just get right

Margo (28:34) Yeah, there's a lot of steps. And so the first one I got to sit in in a video audition. But then the next round, if I make it, is I have to meet with a like casting agent, like Zoom call. And I have to sing on Zoom call. And that's the scary part 'cause video Video you can redo it as many times as you want, but Zoom call, if you mess up, then it's interesting. Like it I don't really like know what they would say, but

Amy (29:02) You're gonna have to do that thing you do when you're in theater and you're gonna have to pretend that you can't see

Margo (29:07) See them, exactly.

Amy (29:08) zone out and nail it. Yeah. But I have every I mean, you're so well spoken and you know what you want. You know what you're doing. You're not gonna have you're gonna we're gonna have to get a follow up on this one. This is a big this is a big that's like big I feel like I'm need your autograph right now. Have you ever signed an autograph?

Margo (29:25) Yes. So when By the Water first released we had a little release party and I have posters and I was actually gonna bring one tonight, I forgot it. But we have posters and wristbands that say by the water on and we need to make the new album cover for like 'cause after I released all of my things then we came up with like a cute new cover. But now we need to print those and make posters and yeah, I did get to sign all the posters for all my friends who came to my release party, but it was it

Amy (29:53) Cool. By the water's gonna always be your your most special. It's gonna be like your anchor of your business. Of your whole business and and whole talent realm of everything you do, it's gonna always be

Margo (30:05) No, anyone listening to me in like ten years is gonna be like, I wonder what her first song was and Whoa, baby. Just in Baber. Yeah.

Amy (30:13) I mean, we all listened to him and he had that tiny I kinda I mean, I miss

Margo (30:15) I know.

Amy (30:19) that. Like I know he's got some other songs out, but like when I think of him, I think of that younger voice. But being a female, you're not gonna have a deep, deep voice by the time you're his age. So I think you'd have really good staying power with that.

Amy (30:34) Okay, so you're finished with the first audition round of American Idol. Yes. And I'm super pumped and cannot wait to hear how all this goes. But Rumor on the street is a I heard a little something about Carnegie Hall and some other things I wanna hear about.

Margo (30:50) Yeah, so I'm in a choir at my school called Vocal Point and we are taking a trip this s not well yes, this coming spring break and we are getting to perform at Carnegie Hall. And so one of my unreleased songs is a song that we're working on in Vocal Point and it's called Washed and we put it into a choral arrangement and so 'cause it's a spring selection, we are pretty sure going to be also performing that at Carnegie Hall, which is

Crazy because who would have thought that at 15 your song is being played in Carnegie Hall? Amazing. Like it's crazy. but yeah, another thing is American Idol, obviously. We just talked about that, but I also had want to do this camp last summer and it was for the American Songwriters Association. 4,000 people sent in applications, only 30 made it. I made it and I was so happy about it. And then

This it was like it's they didn't have an age limit on it, but after they found out what age I actually was, they couldn't have me there because I was a little young, like I was fourteen and turning fifteen. So it would have been there was older people there and I mean it r like ranged from ages I was fourteen, so like fourteen to sixty five. Like there's some there could be some really old people there.

It would have been a such like a fun experience though, and I'm really sad I didn't get to go, but hopefully in a few summers I might do it again. You can try that out again. Yeah. But

Amy (32:26) I mean four thousand people and thirty made it and you were one of them and then they decided that they

Margo (32:34) Yeah. they That's amazing. It was I was like I was so surprised. But they didn't like they didn't hear my voice, they didn't see my face. I just submitted my lyrics. Wow. And they were like, that's crazy.

Amy (32:48) Wow. Nobody can like take your lyrics, right? Mm mm. Like there's like

Margo (32:53) We have like a plagiarism thing on it, I'm pretty sure. Yeah.

Amy (32:57) 'cause I'm feeling territorial over people here reading your lyrics. Don't be taking market

Margo (33:02) Let me take this and go get into this camp.

Amy (33:05) hard.

And then you have a goal to maybe go to Grammy.

Margo (33:08) Yes, so that's gonna be set for next summer. That's something they do I'm pretty sure they do it at Belmont or it's I is it might be at Belmont, I'm pretty sure, but it's supposed to be super fun and I mean it just it seems like something I would want to do because a whole bunch of like young artists get to go and I just love collabing with people my age and that's super cool.

Amy (33:31) Wow, that's like a lot for your age. Again, you never sleep these.

Margo (33:37) No.

Amy (33:39) Well, I love it. That's super cool. And I'm glad to know that about you. And now the world can know about

Amy (33:46) So all right, well now we're

We're into the fact that I need to know, is there anything you want a listener to know about you? Is there anything you want to say about music, about life, school friendships? Sounds like you probably are I'm thinking pretty wise. I'm thinking you and and based on your social media, it looks like you've got a good, solid group of friends that you count on. Good

Margo (34:10) Love them, they're awesome.

Amy (34:11) girls who are solid friendships.

that you can count on that support you and are proud of you. Yeah. And that's important to have an adult life too.

Margo (34:21) They're awesome. They want to come to all my shows. And actually a lot of them are coming when I perform in Finding Neverland at MUS. They all are coming to the Delta Fair on Monday. It's on Monday. Yeah. They're all like, Yes, let's go. We need to all get tickets. Everyone in my friend group supports everyone. And so like, we'll go to one of my friends' soccer games. And then when lacrosse season starts, we're all gonna go to some of my other friends' lacrosse games. And it's it's like a good, like

Firm foundation.

Amy (34:51) Y'all have a good you're confident and you believe in each other. Yeah. And showing up for each other is sometimes hard to find new friends, especially at your age. So I'm glad that you have that. I'm glad they want and I'm they're probably gonna come out and have a big, you know, treat ice cream or what are those big waffles? What is the big thing with the

Margo (35:09) Okay.

Amy (35:10) yeah. Yeah. No, no, no. What's the thing? You know, where they put the powder sugar all over it.

that's fair food to me, but it's funnel cakes. yeah, funnel cakes.

Margo (35:18) But okay.

Amy (35:18) That's legit. Funnel cakes.

And all that. So do you know like what when when are you performing? I know this will this podcast will air after it, but when you're performing at the Delta Fair, like do you have a certain slot? Okay.

Margo (35:31) Yes. So

I'm not doing the competition this year. I just got like a time slot to be able to get up there and sing. It's at three on Monday. So

Amy (35:41) is amazing.

Margo (35:42) I'm super excited.

Amy (35:43) Well maybe I can put a post out on the page about when you're performing. Stop the show. Let's get that because people can see that now.

Margo (35:53) Yeah.

Amy (35:55) Okay. All right. Well, this gets us under rapid fire. Okay. And it won't be hard. Studio or live performance? Okay.

Margo (36:04) Still live.

Amy (36:06) We t we covered the best concert. I was singing to asking you that. Mm-hmm. What is your favorite song besides which you've written?

Margo (36:13) Hm. So nothing I've written.

Amy (36:15) Yeah, any like a big artist or, you know.

Margo (36:20) Like I like Audrey Ho Hobert. I don't know if you've ever heard of her. Hobert, I think is how you say your last name. I like all of her music. So like she has an album called Who's the Clown? Probably not the best thing to listen to, but I love her and like Gracie Abrams, anything by her.

Amy (36:35) Okay. Yeah. So a wide variety. Yeah. Not just one song. So we've talked about having five siblings, but what are a few words to describe that like just being in a family of seven, five siblings?

Margo (36:48) I'd say loud but fun and it can get annoying, but it's also like there's also a lot of joy in it because they're always there for you.

Amy (37:00) Yeah. And that means your mom and dad raised you all right. If you're all that's that's like the best thing. I thought you were gonna say like chaos, you know, but you

Margo (37:07) It can be.

It can be. But it's not what we usually are.

Amy (37:12) And you all were in your brother's wedding. Yeah. That would have been super cool.

Margo (37:16) Yes, it was so fun.

Amy (37:17) To be like in a wedding while you're still in high school.

Margo (37:21) Up there with his new feet whoa wife. Yeah. Her sisters were up there too and we love both of them, so crazy.

Amy (37:29) It's can you believe he's married? Well,

he got married three weeks after Christopher did. So yeah, and and Andrew was his best man. and so I was like, You have a wedding before you're out of college. Like out of high school. Like, wow. Like yeah. But our boys are almost six years apart, so we've got the age gap. Yeah. But super cool that I mean, I'm a boy mom, so now that he's married to Emily, I'm like, I've been like conviction.

Margo (37:53) Mm girl.

Amy (37:55) So I had to brace her I was like, Look, you know, just

go with it. I'm gonna buy you stuff. Buy

Margo (38:01) I'm gonna buy one.

Amy (38:02) you thing for. Who is an artist you'd love to collaborate with? Think I think I know your answer is after what you just said, but there could be another one.

Margo (38:12) So I'd love to like collab with Maddox Batson just 'cause with same like same age, like it'd be just awesome. I've met him once, no, twice now. He's super he's super fun and chill. That's what I like about him. But I'd also just like love to collab with anyone my age. Like that would just be super cool to me.

Amy (38:32) Yeah. That's super cool. Mm-hmm. A word to describe your music. I can use more than one word.

Margo (38:39) Yeah.

I'd say fun and outgoing because sometimes like people don't understand the meaning of the song until they actually fully listen to it. And it's it's super like I love like I love when people are like, What does this actually mean? I'm like, Well actually it means this this and this and they're like, That's crazy.

Amy (38:59) Well, full disclosure, when I've a thirty A, almost like walking out singing it. And and that means you've done a good job with the song. If someone is they say in acting, if you like really, really, really do not like a character like you don't like the person, that means they're a good actor because yeah, you don't like They're you know, their role is so is so they're playing their role so well, or if you you know, it's easy to love the character, but if you really, really don't like them, it says that

So I would say if you're fifteen years old and you've got a fifty three year old woman walking around singing your song, you're you're doing okay. You're doing pretty well. W in closing what finish this sentence. And you can finish it any way you want. One day I want to

Margo (39:46) Beyond Broadway.

Amy (39:47) Be on Broadway. What kind what kind of shows do you want to do at Broadway? There's so many kind Is there w is there a Broadway show you're like is the dream?

Margo (39:55) Right now my dream is sound of music. Just 'cause they are hosting like open call auditions. I'm like, that's something I just really want to do. I say wicked because my newer she's like my newer vocal coach. Her name is Jenna Claire and she was Glenda on Broadway. Okay. And so she's super cool. Or The Outsiders is another show I'd want to be in. Wow. I

Amy (40:21) And just so everybody knows, she did not know this question. I mean, she did not know and she she knew exactly what how to answer it, which is that's pretty convicting that you want you knew what you wanted to do. What was your first role in theater?

Margo (40:34) My very first role, mm, second grade, I was we were me and my sister were an Annie. Okay. Okay. Together, Sophie. I think was Sophie Daddy Warbucks. Sophie was Daddy Warbucks and Annie, and I was it's her n Lily Sinclair, maybe? Is that her name? I think. Rooster's girlfriend. very first role. It wasn't fully like

big like production production, but then after that I did Gene B. Jones and I got Lucille. Great. It was awesome.

Amy (41:08) And fifth awesome. Fifth grade.

Well, my first role ever was in fifth grade. And I will never let this down after the world can hear it, but I was a Twinkie. I was a Twinkie and had to do the tango with an MM bag. And then I stepped it up a bit. No, she can't stop laughing. And then I stepped it up into into junior high. And I was a goat in Billy Goat's gruff. That was really exciting. But then I got I got kind of crazy. And I was a wizard of Wizard of Oz.

That's kinda had

Margo (41:38) Awesome.

Amy (41:38) to be a l old man. But it was the most fun role ever because I was behind the curtain. Mm-hmm. And then I got to come outside the curtain and that was pretty cool. So

Margo (41:49) I think I've done including like so a few like theater summer camps and stuff, I've done around ten shows is what I would say. This is probably my eleventh, but I'm playing Wendy in Finding Neverland.

Amy (42:02) That's a good that's a big deal. When when is that gonna air? Gor or not air, but when is that show gonna happen

Margo (42:07) That

is either the first or second weekend in November. We're not sure.

Amy (42:12) Great because we can let everybody know about that and post about this and maybe they can buy tickets and come. I know. I think I want to go now. You should. That's a great

Margo (42:21) Wendy is like she mainly comes in in like closer to the end, but I am also an ensemble and it is so fun because I'm in the front for like every single dance and I I it's like dancing on stage, people do not understand how fun it is. It is so fun because you just get to be up there and be yourself and I'm like this

Amy (42:42) Awesome. Well, you've always been so outgoing that that's perfect for you. It's I have no doubt. I remember back at the Christian Brothers games when you would find me and you were super outgoing. You had no problem popping up in my lap just to watch you you still you're still that same outgoing person. Well, when you're doing all these things, what are a few things you're doing in your free time?

Margo (43:02) My free time, I I don't

Amy (43:04) think you have much free time, do you?

Margo (43:05) not a lot. It it depends on the night. So like last night I had so much free time. I was like, Whoa, this is awesome. But then like I go to football games with my friends every Friday night. We usually go to MUS. I watch T V obviously, 'cause you've gotta have some screen time. And I just I talk to all my friends. Like that's like something that's like mainly my free time. Sometimes I like to draw though. Like drawing is fun to me.

Amy (43:30) You make creative outlet. Yeah. And I I do understand you play a little mahjong. Mm-hmm. We do. Yeah. Yeah. All your do all of your family play? Okay.

Margo (43:37) Yes, we all learned.

Amy (43:40) Yeah, your mom and I have talked about the fact that we like Mahjong a lot. But do do the boy do the guys play too?

Margo (43:46) Yeah. Grayson Did your dad play? Yes. Wow. We taught all like my parents went to our neighbor's house, nine one bam, and they taught them how to play. And they were very anti Mahjong at first and then they learned and they loved it. So they came home and they taught me and Sophie and Andy and then we went on vacation with Grayson and Bailey and Grant and Ella and we taught all of them.

Amy (44:09) wait, there's an Ella?

Margo (44:10) Ella is Grant's girlfriend. I did not know about this.

Amy (44:14) Okay. All right. So there's there's a lot of people. Yeah.

Margo (44:18) Yeah.

Amy (44:19) Well, when do you beat your par do you beat your parents?

Margo (44:21) It depends. It depends on how like challenging my dad will play that night. 'Cause my dad my dad is very

Amy (44:27) Think your dad would be very competitive and strategic. Yes. And the game. Like he's not gonna show you any mercy. you're gonna you're not gonna

Margo (44:34) no. Once

he finds out what you're doing, he plays every single card against you, so you can't win. So it's like he usually will play on defense and not try to win for himself. He will literally prevent you from winning.

Amy (44:50) Wow. Wow. That it have you heard of the game Ticket to Ryan?

Margo (44:55) Yes.

Amy (44:55) Okay, we play that here and it's super competitive. Like I've gotten mad at my kids when we play that game because one will block my train route and I'm so mad. But that's how Andrew plays that game. Yeah. And if he knows he's not gonna win, his only goal is to sabotage his opponents.

Margo (45:09) yeah, that's that's my dad.

Once he realizes that all of his tiles that he needs are gone, it's like game over for all of us.

Amy (45:17) Actually a decent strategy, I think.

Margo (45:19) like diff defense almost.

Amy (45:21) Do that.

Amy (45:23) Well, before we close out on here, it did occur to me that, you know, we hear about your singing. Mm-hmm. So would you sing for us? Of course. Okay, so there's no studio, there's no background singers or foo foo stuff. We're we're literally at my house. Yeah. So she's gonna do this like off the cuff here with no headphones or all the fancy earpieces, equipment. She's literally just going for it. So

We'd love to hear you do a little sneak peek, a few snippets. Yeah. Not the whole song. We're gonna kinda do a teaser. Yeah. Right? Yes. Of what song? It's called My Friend.

Margo (45:58) best friend.

Amy (45:59) All right, my best friend. About her dad, Chris Clovier. Yeah. Let's go.

Margo (46:18) It was a bedtime story Tucking me in at night Making up another silly song Used to use the night light But you were my light in the dark Always holding me tight Didn't want you to leave Before kissing me goodnight In my eyes

You can do anything You never break But you know how to bend You're my best friend And someday I wanna be like you As brave and smart Do everything you do Walk a mile in your shoes

And just like that, I'm getting older too But I'll never stop loving you

Amy (47:27) Okay, so I chills, but I got to see her sing it. And the that came from your entire heart. Like and you kinda you kinda zoned out. You weren't looking at anybody or any you were looking at me. You were look you were totally focused on what you were doing. Yeah. And that right there, I mean, if that song, and I've heard the song before because she played it for me earlier, and I found myself

feeling familiar with the song and tapping my foot. And that's gotta be a good song. So well amazing. And thanks for giving us a little of course. A little treat. Yes. Awesome. Can't wait for this to be released and and all that good stuff for the world to hear. And and well done to your dad. Because that's pretty awesome to have a song about that. About him like that. Thank you for that treat. Of course.

Margo (48:19) Thank

Amy (48:20) So proud. Hope the world can hear about you through this podcast.

You motivate, you know, you're very inspiring. Not everybody can do what you can do. You're multitasking, you've got your head on your shoulders. You got a great family, great parents. You set a great example for girls coming up after you too. So maybe you'll

Maybe you'll just inspire one or two. I hope so. You do. Or maybe you'll inspire a hundred. You never know. But you kind of inspire me, and I'm a lot older. So everybody, you can find all the information about Margo Marie Music. I will have it all ready on on all of our streaming platforms and website for you when the episode is coming out. We will get the information about the Delta Fair out though on today. It won't matter when they hear this later, but we'll still do that.

they could find you and everybody I'm on Spotify, Apple Music, Audible, iHeartRadio, YouTube, and I don't even run nowhere else anymore. It keeps growing. If you would like to be on the podcast or know anybody who would would like to be, you can email me at Amy Keyspodcast at gmail.com. That is Amy Keyspodcast at gmail.com. Sometimes these emails go to my bulk mail. So if you don't hear back from me, it's because I did not see it.

But everybody, please enjoy finding more out about Margo and listening to her amazing music. And we're just so proud of you.

Margo (49:45) Thank you.

Amy (49:46) Till next time.