She told me not to tell you, but when I called her in Los Angeles, Bonnie McKee answered the phone while sunbathing by the pool and enjoying a slice of pumpkin pie for breakfast. I commended her for knowing how to live.
You may not think you donāt know Bonnie McKee, but you do. Sheās written for the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Jason Derulo, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears. āItās definitely a strange path, to have had so much global success on a writing level and be virtually unknown as an artist.ā But–like I said–you do know her. You probably even know all the words to one of her songs, like Katy Perryās platinum-certified hit, āRoarā. McKee is on the other side of six Grammy nods and dozens of BMI awards, but getting there didnāt come without trial, error, and trial again.
Jacket + Pant by Thii, Necklace by Attling, Fur by Colin LoCascio, Belt Vintage, Hat Stylistās Own
āI didnāt finish high school, I didnāt go to college, obviously, and I donāt really know how to do anything else. I always knew I was talented, I always knew I had a gift, and I really didnāt know what else to do to make money and survive. Also, there was nothing else I wanted to do. For me, thatās what I lived for, so there was really no other choice.āĀ That desire to really live is why she ran away from Seattle to Los Angeles at just 16 years old, her lyrical prowess and pop vocal sensibilities two engines driving her down the coast.Ā āI was a really troubled teen. I was heavily involved in drugs and alcohol and boys, you know, all of the fun stuff,ā Mckee laughed. āI really felt like my life was kinda falling apart. I got kicked out of high school and my parents were on the verge of kicking me out. They were in the middle of a divorce. I was coming from a broken home and I really had nothing left in Seattle. Through all of this, I turned to my music. I was just like– fuck it, why stay? I felt my destiny was calling me in Los Angeles.ā
Jacket by La Perla, Choker Vintage, Necklace byĀ Attling
She was quickly signed to Reprise Records, but they parted ways shortly after. āThe desire to be an artist never stopped. I got into songwriting out of necessity because Iād been dropped and felt like I was tainted. Even though most of the great icons in pop music have been signed and dropped and itās kind of a right of passage, I felt tainted and like nobody wanted me. I was broke, I was desperate, and people were showing interest in my songwriting. I had to follow the breadcrumbs that the universe was handing out to me. I got a record deal at Epic [Records] and put out āAmerican Girlā and that was another ill-fated major deal.ā
Pants by Topshop, Sweater + Jacket by Colin LoCascio, Choker Vintage, Shoes by Gucci
Now, McKee is selling out venues in the town she ran off to– one more piece of mounting evidence that sheās more than capable of separating herself from the artists for whom she writes. Leaning into her own voice and vulnerability serves her well, like in her recent single āThornsā where she explores aloof and prickly in relationships: āWarm heart, cold blood, soft touch, tough love / Burnt down, fucked up, just the way you like.ā When I asked her about the motivation for the song, she replied, āI can be a little cold, a little aloof, Iām an aquarius after all. Iām very logical and thereās not a lot of room for emotional stuff. Iām a big picture person, I donāt get caught up on the minutiae of everyday romantic spats, and for people who do, thatās very difficult.ā
Sunglasses by Gucci, Pants by Topshop, Sweater + Jacket by Colin LoCascio, Choker VintageĀ
Jumpsuit by Ph5, Visor by Ban.do, Fur byĀ Colin LoCascio
So what was it that drove her to the stage when she had so much success as a songwriter? āThereās something about being on stage and seeing peopleās faces and seeing them sing the songs and sing them back to you that is not like any other feeling, thereās a connection between the singer and the audience that you donāt get when itās just your words being sung by someone else. Thereās a vibration that goes through your body when itās coming out of you. I feel transcendent and brings me closer to God. Thereās a connection there that I donāt get being behind the scenes. Itās electrifying and addictive, and I canāt imagine my life without it.ā
CONNECT TO BONNIE:
INSTAGRAM Ā // TOUR DATES WITH KYGO //Ā Ā Ā FACEBOOK Ā // Ā TWITTER
SaveSave