Photo Credit: Daven Martinez

Despite writing most of her debut LP, ‘Thorns,’ in the first chapter of 2020, singer-songwriter Nicole Marxen notes how inspired she’s been by the current state of Top 40. More on the Chappell Roan of it all later though. Let’s start first with the self-realized flaws of this Dallas-based artist, how she embraced them, and spun them into fever dreams and lullabies on her 2024 release, due out everywhere on August 9th. 

Kendra: You’ve noted about rooting one’s self in their flaws, and that being a way you wanted to approach ‘Thorns,’ in this sort of imperfect way. Is this something that you’d done before with ‘Tether’ or even as part of Midnight Opera, or was this a new revelation of sorts that came about in recent years?

Nicole Marxen: It started with ‘Tether,’ which centered around my mother’s death. She passed when I was a young adult, and Midnight Opera was the first project I did after. Looking back now, I can see how it was an escape – I needed a creative outlet where I could try on different personas because it was too painful to be myself. It took me eight years before I was ready to fully grieve and write about it, but after ‘Tether’ I found that I wanted to keep writing from a more personal place, which meant showing up imperfectly.

Kendra: Something about writing your new album “amidst a crumbling, clawing patriarchy” made me think of a discussion I saw happening on X about “fun” music, and a lack thereof. Which, yes, artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift offer fun but overall I feel independent artists are grasping more to the reality of the abysmal landscape we’re living in and delivering music from a more grounded perspective. Do you think artists like yourself have always acted as the anchor of actuality in nightmarish times, the balance offered to the rose-colored ways of Top 40?

Nicole Marxen: I was actually having a conversation with my husband the other night about how awesome pop music is right now. The younger generation and the songs they’re writing are so unabashedly authentic. I love that artists like Chappell Roan and Holiday Sidewinder are crafting sincere, smart, and fun pop songs; it’s really inspiring. I certainly don’t think music of this time needs to sound dark to be credible, that’s just my particular flavor.

Kendra: Let’s talk about ‘Thorns’ now. Your sophomore release, but your first LP. The follow-up to the acclaimed ‘Tether’ EP. Being that you’re Dallas-based, is there a place in or around the city that you feel captures the overall essence of the record most, and if so, why? 

Nicole Marxen: I wrote most of the record during the first month of lockdown, so I think of springtime in Texas and my home studio when I remember this record beginning to crystalize. I would demo during the day and listen back on walks around my neighborhood.

Kendra: One of the songs off ‘Thorns’ is “Fever Dream.” That made me want to get some advice for any songwriters who might be listening…Do you recommend always having a piece of paper and a pen nearby, even perhaps by your bedside just in case you wake up from a dream and have a lyrical thought? Or are more people just utilizing the Notes app now? 

Nicole Marxen: I use a designated journal for songwriting, but yes, the old iPhone is a great tool for jotting down the ideas that roll in fast. I hear a lot of melodies and lyrics when I drive, so I’m a big fan of using voice memos and Siri to make notes.

Kendra: Time for a side note – With it being summer, I’d love to know – and for you to share – your favorite road trip song. Like, what’s the one song that has to be on your mix when you hit the road? 

Nicole Marxen: I love anything by Polo & Pan in the summer.

Kendra: Lastly, with ‘Thorns’ out on August 9th, what are your plans as we start to roll into the fall? 

Nicole Marxen: This fall, I’ll finally be playing shows with a full band!