Today singer/songwriter Mary McGuinness released a new song titled, “Gonna Feel It Again” accompanied by a visualizer. Press here to watch. When McGuinness sings that “better days are coming” in “Gonna Feel It Again,” the first post-pandemic track among five new songs she plans on releasing through the end of the year, her soaring vocals cut straight to the heart, assuring us everything is going to be alright.
After releasing her album Prodigal last year (press here to listen) followed by stand-alone covers of Kenny Rogers’ “The Gambler” and Bread’s “If” (press here to listen to both) when the lockdown hit, McGuiness returned to the studio, this time with producer Joel Shearer (Dido, Annie Lennox, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, Joe Cocker, Damien Rice, Michael Buble, Sarah McLachlan).
“Singing and songwriting is very healing for me,” McGuinness says. “I don’t know if I’d be here without music. Thankfully, I’ve always had that to keep me somewhat on the rails.”
McGuinness’ voice is a force of nature, at once combining Joni Mitchell’s multi-octave range, the warmth and heart of Karen Carpenter and the earthy purity of Emmylou Harris. Her vocals and music have been praised on DittyTV, The Bluegrass Situation, and Americana Highways which said, “an exhilarating vocal – sprung from and old-word seed.”
Born in Fort Hood, TX, to an Irish-Scottish Green Beret Father, and Korean Mother, McGuinness spent time in Korea and Texas, surviving a harrowing childhood, and grew up with her Grandparents in Long Island, NY. A high school music teacher took McGuinness under her wing and encouraged her to pursue singing. She studied classical voice at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music – which she put herself through with commercials, waitressing, and a stint on Broadway.
McGuinness has toured through the US and supported the likes of Train, Kenny Loggins, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Shawn Colvin, Counting Crows, and Gavin DeGraw. She has written chart topping singles on Billboard and released four studio albums under another project.
These upcoming new songs shine a light on her influences, everyone from The Eagles, Bill Withers, Fleetwood Mac, and Linda Ronstadt to Cat Stevens, Willie Nelson and The Beatles. Her eclectic musical tastes show in her cover material, which can range from Peter Gabriel (“Washing of the Water”) – (Press here to watch the video directed by McGuinness herself) to Kris Kristofferson (“Please Don’t Tell Me How the Story Ends”).
““Gonna Feel It Again” is what I told myself during the lockdown,” she says. “I just kept reminding myself, life is a cycle. Sometimes you have to push through the dark times, to get to the light on the other side. The good times always come back around. It’s how we choose to look through the lens, always looking for the beauty in the people and world around us. I did a lot of soul searching and introspection over the past year like a lot of people. I feel like I grew a great deal. And I’m really grateful for the positive things that came out of this time.”
Mary McGuinness’ music and songs being at the top of that list.
