The Joy and Struggle of Indie Music: Rebecca McCartney Gets Real About the Artist Life

Some artists write music. Rebecca McCartney channels it. Her voice is warm, her lyrics cut deep, and her songs feel like pages from the journal you’ve been afraid to open. In this episode, we dive into how she turned a childhood surrounded by classical music into a genre-fluid sound all her own. From processing grief and joy through melody to working with top-tier musicians in New York’s indie scene, Rebecca opens up about what it really takes to build a sustainable creative life, and why she writes, even on the days when it’s hard to keep going.

We Chat About:

• Letting go of complexity and writing a song that just feels good
• Growing up in a home where music was everywhere
• Her 7-year-old dream to be half of a new “Lennon & McCartney”
• Writing from voice memos, intuition, and a need to understand herself
• Collaborating with players from Doja Cat, Big Thief, and Lucy Dacus’ bands
• The emotional toll of building a career with no roadmap
• Her advice for young songwriters still figuring it out

About Rebecca McCarthy:

Widely beloved by the mothers of her childhood friends, Rebecca McCartney is an indie soul singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn. She writes music about the everyday feelings that take over your life, her buttery vocals pairing with endearing lyrics that feel as nostalgic as old soul and fresh as today's indie pop darlings. Born and raised in NYC, her music pulses with the energy and color of the city: bright, eclectic, curious, warm, occasionally weird. Her forthcoming 5-song EP featuring her new songs “In Our Own Way” and “Close to Me” takes the listener on a warm journey through all the emotions of a people-loving, often overwhelmed girl in her 20s.

Connect with Rebecca McCartney:

Instagram: @rebeccamccartneymusic

Spotify: Rebecca McCartney

TikTok: @rebeccamccartneymusic

Facebook: Rebecca McCartney Music

Website: www.rebeccamccartneymusic.com

SoundCloud: Rebecca McCartney

YouTube: Rebecca McCartney

Bandcamp: rebeccamccartney.bandcamp.com

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Connect with Julian:

Check out the “loves music” podcast website: https://www.podpage.com/loves-music/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julian.jones.9484

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianjones417/

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@julianjones417

Buy my book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6QYX6RL

Music Mentioned in this Episode:

Songs:

• “For Avery and June” – Rebecca McCartney
• “How You Feel” – Rebecca McCartney (EP title & lyric)
• “Close to Me” – Rebecca McCartney
• “Naturally” – Rebecca McCartney (upcoming single)
• “In Our Own Way” – Rebecca McCartney
• “Invincible” – Rebecca McCartney (childhood song, unreleased)
• “Giving Up” – Franklin Rankin

Artists & Bands:

• Rebecca McCartney
• Joni Mitchell
• Sade
• Maggie Rogers
• D’Angelo
• Dijon
• Sara Bareilles
• Ingrid Michaelson
• James Taylor
• Ella Fitzgerald
• Lena Horne
• Samara Joy
• Molly Parden
• MM Orchard
• Melt (band)
• Franklin Rankin
• Big Thief
• Lucy Dacus
• Doja Cat
• Kehlani
• Brandi Carlile
• Chris Stapleton
• Kane Brown
• Nessa Barrett