Authors Note: After a brief hiatus, I am back for good :) Life has been super busy and a lot has changed in the past two months, which I’ll probably detail in another post. For now, I had the wonderful privilege to interview Marie and talk about music, media, and comfort zones. I hope you enjoy and I’ve missed you all so much! - Rach
Marie Dresselhuis is a singer/songwriter, musician, and creative based in Vancouver, BC. Her work is captivating, an immersive experience that encompasses themes like childhood, nostalgia, and seeing beauty in the mundane. Inspired by artists like Lizzy McAlpine and Noah Kahan, her music is dreamy yet grounded, melodic and balanced, paired with a story told in her lyrics.
I met Marie in a cafe on a calm February afternoon to chat about social media and the algorithm, the process of making and writing songs, and the power of narrative. As somebody who decided to pursue music full-time last fall, Marie has dedicated time to her craft, producing a sound that is fearlessly and uniquely her own.
You can find Marie on Instagram @mariedresselhuis and on TikTok @marie.dresselhuis
Her new EP, Conversation With The House, is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
R: When did you start songwriting/making your own music? Was it a step that progressed naturally or did it take a bigger leap? Was it out of your comfort zone?
MD: Music has always been part of my life. I grew up in a loud, large family as the youngest of five. I remember composing silly little songs on the piano as a kid to play for my siblings. It did not seem an option to take music as a career seriously until I graduated high school. I had written my first full song in senior year, and then went to university after. I feel because I am not going to school anymore due to making music, taking the plunge was pretty daunting at first. There is so much stigma surrounding committing to the creative arts as a job. It was out of my comfort zone, but also felt like the most natural thing in the world. I think this is what I was meant to do.
R: Were there any doubts or fears that came with that?
MD: The music industry sounded pretty intimidating, especially when it comes to the songwriting and producing aspect. I was definitely worried about exposing a vulnerable side of myself through music, and that also came with wanting to prove myself as an individual. In the beginning, I compared myself a lot to other artists, and thought that I had to “sound smart” or be a certain kind of person to make it. These thoughts still exist in my mind, but I know now that not every song has to have a super deep meaning or sound good right away. The so-called prospect of failing or not living up to others expectations does not scare me as much anymore.
R: Who or what inspires you?
MD: This might be cliche, but everything inspires me. I was walking the other day and saw this swing set at the playground moving in the wind. I thought it was a good metaphor for growing up and began to think of some lyrics. The people who inspire me are the fellow creative minds around me, whether in person or online. It feels much better to have others going through similar experiences as I am. It makes me feel less alone in this big world.
R: Your lyrics include a lot about yearning, nostalgia, and love. Do you write about the fear of growing up or coping with the passing of time and place? Listening to your music (especially I Miss July), there is an aspect of longing and comfort. Do these elements play a part in the songwriting or musical process?
MD: That is a good question. I believe that every person sees the world through different lenses. I write through the lenses of the life I have lived, and the changes I have witnessed myself, my family, or the world go through. Being an introvert and a self-proclaimed homebody has also impacted how I write, especially seeing how corporate culture and the internet affects us in this day and age.
R: Talk to me a bit about your creative process. Where do you start?
MD: Any song I write always starts with an idea of a story, maybe jotted down in my notes app, until I find an idea that I can grow on. The instruments I use, the chord progression, the melody line, they all reflect what the song is about and the narrative it is trying to accomplish. The musical aspect just accompanies the lyrics.
R: What is the best thing about making your own music, what is the most challenging thing?
MD: There is not one way to approach music, or a “right” way to do it. Anyone can make music. That’s the best thing. It’s freeing to realize that it is not required of me to follow a certain song structure when writing a song just because the algorithm wants me to, or that as an independent artist, I don’t have to sign to a label right away. That is also a double edged sword, as the most challenging part is that society and the music industry implement a lot of things on young artists, such as having a strict timeline to release songs and a formula to go viral and be successful.
R: How has social media affected you?
MD: Social media has been instrumental for connection, but also has been difficult not to associate streams or likes with the quality of the song I released. There is also this culture of instant gratification, especially with Tiktok, where people think they have the right to demand music from an artist right away. Music itself is an art, and it takes time to create, it does not appear in the snap of a finger. I am grateful that I have the privilege and resources to share my music with the world. When the thief of comparison comes, I say to myself “I have something, and I don’t need everything.”
R: How have you grown?
MD: I have learned to say no to things and go with my gut. In the beginning, I would say yes to every opportunity that would come up, but now, I’m more selective with where I play and who I collaborate with. With that said, making music and doing gigs, and putting myself out there was something that I had to really try at, and channeling my anxiety into anticipation of meeting people and establishing connections instead of fear took a lot of time.
R: What does the future (of music, yourself) look like for you?
MD: I hope that the future of music returns to the narrative, storytelling and gathering aspect, and I hope I can be part of that shift. I don’t think that people have to be online all the time to share their lives, it can happen in person. Music can be a shared human experience, a time of connection, emotion, and immersion.
R: Finally, any pieces of advice or words that come to mind for those who want to take the plunge in writing/producing/releasing their own music?
MD: Show up for your craft, keep consistent and pour your soul into it. As much as 80% or more might be stuff that you don’t like at first. Take your time with it, don’t feel the pressure to release or make music just to please the algorithm or audience, it’ll feel more natural if you actually like the song or process. People are always going to have unsolicited advice, and staying true to yourself is important.
Just go for it. You never know what can happen.
Words and Photography by Me
Featuring: Marie Dresselhuis