McKenna Camille

Your music is known for its unfiltered honesty. When you look back at songs like Elton and Situationship, what personal truth do you feel you have learned about yourself through writing them?

I have definitely learned that I know how to make fun out of a tough situation and in general see the good side of things. I always say “at least it will make a good song”.

You just released a new single. How does this new song reflect where you are emotionally and creatively right now compared to your earlier work?

It’s fun, it’s silly and it’s unserious which is consistent with a lot of my music but I think it reflects the hard work I put into everything I do— it’s the first song I have out that has a full live band that we recorded in the studio which is a huge step for me.

You move fluidly between music, acting, and now producing films and plays. How do these different art forms feed into each other when you are creating something new?

I just love being creative and getting my hands dirty in everything I can. I find all art to be intriguing and fulfilling so they all just blend together for me so naturally.

Performing at New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week is not a typical path for a singer-songwriter. What do those live experiences mean to you as a performer and as a visual storyteller?

I love fashion so it felt like the right path for me. Fashion week is a space I had been in for a few seasons before I started performing at them so it felt comfortable.

You studied at NYU Tisch, a place known for shaping disciplined artists. What is one lesson from your time there that still guides the way you work today?

Not everyone is on the same path as you whether that be creatively, emotionally or whatever and it’s important to allow space for everyone to create their own space, even for yourself.

You are launching Micky Made, a planet-friendly fashion line that blends wearable art and fashion. What inspired you to step into fashion, and how does this brand express a different side of your identity?

It feels both surprising and expected that this would happen. I’ve never thought of myself as a visual artist really, I’ve always been more of a stage type of girl but for some reason launching MICKY MADE has been one of the most fulfilling things for me. I’ve made a few pieces of clothes but what really did it for me was a time where I was looking for a merch supplier and I kinda thought “hey why not design it myself!?”

Sustainability is a core part of Micky Made. How important is responsibility to the planet in your overall creative philosophy, beyond fashion?

This is a long winded answer but I’ll be brief, sustainability has always been important to me and of course I’m not at all perfect, not even close but I try to do what I can to be as sustainable as possible. Having an upcycling brand and making things out of already existing things makes total sense for me.

As a producer of music videos, plays, and short films, how does being behind the camera change the way you think about being in front of it?

I think more about the big picture but overall I wouldn’t say it changes drastically. I love thinking about where creative projects are headed whether that be my storyline as a character or the taxi cab on a denim patch.

Your fans often connect deeply with your lyrics. What do you hope they feel or understand about themselves when they listen to your music?

I hope they understand that it’s okay to feel things in a very big way and that it’s ok to express those feelings.

Outside of the spotlight, you were a professional water skier. How has that athletic background shaped your discipline, mindset, or confidence as an artist today?

Water skiing will always be what I enjoy most out of anything. It is the most fulfilling thing in the world. Water skiing takes a lot of energy from you and I’m constantly reminded by those around me that not much is harder than getting up on skis so why not try everything you can.