For Jackie Marchal, music has always been an essential part of life. At home, and elsewhere. Early on, she began finding in it not only a means to express herself but also to process whatever she encounters in life. “When I was about 8 years old, I wrote a song called What Happens When You Die,” she recalls with a chuckle, over video chat, at the age of 22.
Today, the New York-based musician still sings about things that matter to her (her family, mostly) or that she’s figuring out. Honest, poetic, Marchal’s words take on a life of their own, set to a sound infused with a variety of influences—from Beach House to Alabama Shakes, with what remains of years of classical violin and choir singing.
Juniper is the first body of work the singer-songwriter (and computer science student) puts out into the world. Although it feels too short, it leaves us with a sweet aftertaste, longing for more. Its last track, Rhubarb Fields, is our Song of the Week. We met virtually with Jackie Marchal to talk about the story behind it, and ended up chatting about grief, family matters and personal growth.
Check out the official video for Rhubarb Fields, followed down below with the interview:
