Please tell our readers who you are and what you do?
Ms. Mags McCarthy is a lovely young vocalist, dancer and multi-instrumentalist raised on her family’s farm in County Cork, Ireland. Aside from fulltime teaching, farm chores as a rule include milking the cows, often morning and night! Her music education began at age 4 when she was first introduced to Irish dancing.
While growing up, Mags studied a variety of dance styles as well as musical instruments, eventually focusing on the violin. Taking a ‘timeout’ from college, Mags joined the world-renowned Irish dance troupe, Rhythm Of The Dance. During the next three years, she played for millions throughout 40 plus countries as a principal lead in this hit show, at one point even performing on stage with Ms. Dolly Parton at Dollywood in Tennessee.
One talent, unique to her alone, is being able to perform high speed, traditional Irish tap while playing fiddle at the same time. In addition to a strong interest in numerous charitable pursuits, over the years she has earned countless awards and accolades in all aspects of music, dance and even athletics as a Camogie player (similar to, but much rougher than hockey) plus as a champion runner.
After performing for President and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day in March 2009, Mags returned to Ireland, completing her university music degree with honours. With violin in hand, she then travelled to Los Angeles with her creative partner/producer-manager in order to pursue a long-standing dream of a pop career.
Always up for a challenge, one of two music videos shot in 2012, ‘Nothing Like A Friend’ found her working above and below the Santa Monica Pier and in the early hours of next morning, on a blistering 135ºF dry lakebed in the California desert. That same year she also accepted a gracious invitation from the town of Gilgandra, NSW, Australia to shoot a professional clip for another of her songs.
Following her time in Los Angeles, Mags earned a Masters in Ethnomusicology at University College Cork. As a result, she received her fully accredited, second level (high school) teaching certificate. She also holds the position of dance instructor at her Alma Mater, UCC in Cork. During this period, Mags continued developing her own fusion of Irish, contemporary and hip-hop dance styles,
Already an accomplished singer-songwriter, with her lovely but powerful pop-rock/country crossover voice, she captured her signature ‘Mags Sound’ in 16 new songs recorded in Nashville during late April, 2016. Once back in Ireland, a professional video was shot to accompany ‘Run’, one of the 16 tunes.
With customary generosity, Mags has spent her life doing for others, with a major emphasis on those less fortunate. While on tour with the dance company, she would often perform at hospitals, schools, retirement homes, etc., anywhere she felt could use a little cheering up. At 19, she self-produced an amazing performance DVD with all proceeds going to help build schools in Zimbabwe.
While still in L.A., she would often drop everything to play benefits for Cancer, Hepatitis C, etc. A little angel, more information on Mags, along with additional photos, can be found at https://www.facebook.com/mags.mccarthy.5 and on her fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/MagsMcCarthyMusic/?fref=ts Forever fun loving, with her own special charm, charisma and sparkling personality, Mags has always gone out of her way to try and spread a bit of joy and happiness. Touring the world with the dance company provided the perfect opportunity.
With a demographic spanning first awareness through all of life, we believe Mags will soon become everyone’s favourite star, every parent’s role model and every young person’s hero to cherish and emulate. ‘Cool’, one of a kind and yet totally down to Earth, Mags is beautiful inside and out. Unbelievably talented and totally dedicated to her art…but modest still.
Those who come to know and appreciate Mags soon get why her countless friends and those of us in management are so very proud of her. This is one young person who was born to be a superstar. It only remains now for the rest of the planet to catch up. From website (videos and songs available for consideration.) GoTo: wwwmagsmccarthy.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/MagsMcCarthyMusic/ FB Personal: https://www.facebook.com/mags.mccarthy.5
How would you describe your style and genre?
Somewhere between CountryPopRock and PopRock,…pretty much 'Crossover'. We call it the 'Mags Sound'.
Who are your biggest idols ever? Dead or alive, musician or non-musician.
For Mags, her fav has to be Elvis. However, she loves all kinds of music, rock, country, pop, Irish traditional…dance, etc…
What was the biggest mistake you made when you started making music and what would be the number one tip you could give to a newcomer musician?
Be careful who you trust. In today's age of the internet, it's easy to research almost anyone to establish legitimacy and a record of achievements. Paying people who deliver nothing on commitments and promises ia a huge issue…no matter what it is. There has to be a fair trade off on potential failure and success. No one can work in a vacuum, but still some actual upfront reassurances with a percentage of payment at the conclusion of whatever is going on can go along way towards making sure one doesn't get taken. We don't make that mistake anymore.
How do you get gigs? Can you share any tips?
Gigs come to us. Mags is extremely popular in Ireland and we are well on our way to making a recording contract breakthrough in the US along with other regions. We have brought in a powerhouse team from Nashville along with a social media effort out of S. California.
What has been your biggest challenge right now? Have you been able to overcome that challenge? If so, how?
The manager suffered accident on the job that slowed things down but did not stop the process. Mags stuck it out until those issues were behind us. The takeaway from that? If something is working really well, but then fate steps in to hang things up for awhile. No matter what it takes, loyalty and sticking it out as best as one can will deliver the sought after eventual rewards.
How do you promote yourself? Do you have any specific promotion tips for other musicians?
In this day and age, no opportunity to get 'out there' should be overlooked, but the most important effort must be social media in all it's many forms.
We meet again in one year. What has happened?
Mags is on her way to becoming a 'superstar'. All the signs at the moment are more than just promising. She has the best 'backline' of experienced music industry types anyone could wish for. Getting people like that on board is not an overnight deal. It first takes good music, a solid performance video and building up the social media. A good music attorney could be critical, but careful. Some have the gift of gab but are unlikely to deliver the goods. This is true of many folks an artist/s will come in contact with….so do the all important research!!
Website:
https://www.facebook.com/MagsMcCarthyMusic/
Soundcloud
http://www.magsmccarthy.com
https://www.facebook.com/MagsMcCarthyMusic/
Twitter
Tweets by mags_mccarthy
Other Website(s) and Social Media Profiles 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aWrbOWl17U
Other Website(s) and Social Media Profiles 2