MacKinley Bourne Visits Section 36 Music!

Section 36 Music is thrilled to have another visitor! MacKinley Bourne is an outstanding artist with a recent single you'll want to stream as often as possible. I was so excited she was willing to visit with us and discuss her music, her goals, and a bit more. I'm sure you'll love what she had to say.

So, let's see what happens when MacKinley Bourne visits Section 36 Music!

I adore your recent song, “UGLY”. What can you tell me about it?

Thank you, I’m really glad you liked the song! With UGLY, MACKEN and I wanted to dive into the raw, unfiltered side of relationships—the side where things get messy and emotions clash. Breakups aren’t clean or tidy, and the song embraces that chaos. It’s about finding honesty in those imperfect moments. Sonically, it’s also a departure from my usual style — I really pushed myself to experiment with new sounds and textures. It definitely feels like the start of a new era for me, and I’m really excited to keep exploring this direction. 

Do you see more studio work in your future?

100% yes. I definitely see more studio work in my future. Right now I’m really focused on building up my catalog and creating as much as I can. I actually have two new projects coming out soon that I’m really excited to share. I’ve always leaned naturally into the ‘sad-girl breakup’ lane — and I think that’ll always be a part of me, haha — but lately I’ve been really inspired by more playful, fun sounds and different ways to express hurt and hard feelings. It’s been refreshing to explore that and push myself in new directions.

What do you enjoy most about performing live in front of an audience?

What I enjoy most about performing live is getting to truly connect with people and seeing the direct impact music can have on an audience. With social media and the pressure of being a smaller artist, it’s so easy to get caught up in the importance of an online persona and the constant grind of self-marketing. And while that definitely matters, live performance is where everything feels real again. That’s ultimately what I want to do — I want to grow to a point where I can sell out venues and have people connect with my music in a way that makes them feel heard and healed.

I also have to say, playing with my guitarist, Zach Saunders, has been a huge part of that joy. He’s really pushed me to become a better live musician, and he constantly reminds me why live music is so important. There’s just nothing like that energy and connection you can only get in a room full of people experiencing the same moment together.

Who or what would you say are your biggest musical influences?

Ever since I was young, my mom would put me to bed with the CD player running. Artists like Stevie Nicks, The Beatles, and Queen were always on repeat, and I think growing up with music like that really shaped the depth and emotion I try to bring into my own writing. Those early influences taught me how powerful storytelling and feeling can be in a song.

The artist I look up to most, both musically and in terms of songwriting, is Olivia Rodrigo. The honesty and depth in her lyrics is something I’ll always admire. If I had the power to write my life like a book, opening for Olivia one day would be the ultimate goal — like a real ‘I made it’ moment, haha.

If you could cover any Disney song, which one would you choose? Why?

Honestly, I’d choose anything from Hannah Montana, High School Musical, or Camp Rock. Those were the soundtracks that shaped my childhood. I was that kid who’d grab the TV remote, pretend it was a microphone, and jump around the living room giving full concerts while absolutely torturing my family, haha. I had such a big imagination, and those shows had this narrative about how important the arts are and how possible your dreams can be if you chase them. Covering a song from any of those productions would feel like a full-circle moment for little me.

What are your immediate musical goals?

Right now, I’m putting everything I have into fulfilling my musical goals. I really want to grow my following and reach more people with my music. Another big goal for me is playing more live shows and hopefully opening for touring artists. As a small artist, it can definitely feel overwhelming trying to figure out the ‘right’ next step, especially when you’re working with a tiny team — or no team at all — to help guide you through the industry. But for me, the focus is simple: keep growing, keep learning, and keep pushing myself. Every song, every show, every opportunity is a step forward.

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Let's see if we can help that following grow!

As always, I want to thank MacKinley for visiting with us, and for sending along the pictures to accompany the interview. 

I'm sure you’ll all want to follow her and see what she has going on. I would follow her on Instagram and Spotify to make sure you don't miss a thing. 

Thanks again, MacKinley, and good luck reaching your goals!