With soulful heartfelt lyrics and a true love for life, singer/songwriter Maree McRae is back and stronger than ever.
Maree McRae stepped into the music scene as lead singer and multi-instrumentalist for one of the Rocky Mountain region’s most sought after acts, Cadillac Ranch. After some time, she began to think about going solo. McRae’s solo career began with the release of her successful debut project “I Won’t Settle for Less.” Her debut quickly made its mark on the reputable National Gavin’s Top 40 Americana Radio Chart, gaining her acclaim and top awards as an insightful and melodic artist. Due to all of her new found success, McRae was approached with an offer to go on the road and tour. Unfortunately, at the same time her son became ill, and she was unable to commit to a traveling tour. McRae then decided to take some time off to stay with her son.
Luckily, after some time, McRae was able to get back in the studio, to work on her highly anticipated sophomore release, “Urgency,” after multi-platinum producer, Wyatt Easterling (head of A&R for Atlantic Records) heard McRae’s new writing, and offered her the opportunity to record in Nashville with triple Grammy award-winning engineer, Mark Capps. Her new album’s 12 original tracks maintain the truthful resonance that echoes a variety of styles from Americana/Folk Pop to Adult Contemporary. McRae self-composed all tracks, and the album is filled with her trademark, memorable melodies and lyrics from the soul.
“Urgency” is her most intimate work yet, with the title cut examining the preciousness of each moment in life and the poignant universal theme of immortality. This soulful collection of work holds McRae’s heartfelt voice front and center. Because of the poignant universal message she creates in this feature song and title cut, “Urgency,” McRae was offered and accepted the role of International Music Ambassador for the Colon Cancer Awareness Foundation.
Maree McRae's latest record, Urgency.
Now, McRae is ready to share her story, along with her new album, “Urgency,” with the LA’s the Place and the world.
LA’s The Place: You have gone through a good amount to get to where you are today. Can you tell us a bit about the obstacles you have faced in regards to your music and the struggle of your son’s illness?
Maree McRae: I remember after releasing my first album “I Won’t Settle For Less,” I got the cover story for Performance Magazine. That was a big deal at the time. We were playing the Crossroads Showcase in Memphis, and I was touring to the World Music Fest in Sweden. Then I was told that in order to get signed I had to commit to touring nine months out of the year. I remember crying thinking, “I have a sick child, how can I possibly tour?”
I realized then that I had a choice to make. Although I knew that my music’s exposure would suffer, my son came before it all. It really was an easy decision. I walked away from the dream to care for Stephen.
LATP: What did you take from the experience?
MM: I grew stronger out of necessity. I mean, you either sink or swim. You make a decision every day for hope or gloom.
LATP: You bring such feeling and emotion to your lyrics. Has being able to do so helped you to get through the challenges life brings?
MM: Because I can put my emotions into words, writing music is so healing and because I share this with others who can benefit, it’s been very therapeutic. I remember even as a little kid, I’d go sit on the piano stool and pluck away at the keys and totally disappear from this world. So I would say music is a total release for me.
LATP: Let’s talk about your single (and album name). How did you decide on the name, “Urgency”?
MM: About 2 years ago, on the day my son was finally diagnosed, I wrote “Urgency” walking out of Natl. Jewish Hospital. It was that overwhelming sense, as I stated in my album liner notes, that there was no time to wait. “It could be you, it could be me next, but what a gift it is to finally know how to spend our days.”
LATP: How about the rest of your album? Tell us a little bit about the tracks and what they mean to you.
MM: Honestly, nearly every track on this album is special to me. People email me daily telling me how a song has changed their life. “Do It For Love”, “Speak your Mind”, “Urgency”, “Let Go”, these are all the deeper songs, but I don’t think I have much “fluff” on this album anyway. I am proud of every song on this new release. Maybe “It’s a Shame” is more of the fun one, and even “Until I Met You.” The last song “Who Knows” of course, is very dear to my heart and it is still hard to get through it sometimes. “Who Knows” was mixed on this 100K system, just my voice, my keyboard and the beautiful cello. The sounds were so gorgeous, but on top of that, it being a song for my sick child…that was tough. I had Stephen’s picture with me in the vocal booth cutting it, and had to keep telling my engineer to give me extra time to get through this one! The song is about illness, it’s about doing anything to change it for our loved ones, to want to put ourselves where they are so they don’t suffer.
“Urgency” is available via CD Baby online and McRae’s successful single “Breeze” can be heard on the radio. Please visit her at: www.mareemcrae.com.
