London-based singer/songwriter Marigo Bay embraces the highs, lows, angst, and self-discovery of coming of age on her debut album ‘Racecars & Rockstars,’ a full-throttle pop-rock statement rooted in nostalgia, resilience, and personal reinvention.

‘Racecars & Rockstars’ – Marigo Bay

Marigo Bay’s debut album, Racecars & Rockstars, is a roadmap of her life – a personal collection of experiences and life lessons that read like a diary.

Years in the making, the record spans what the singer/songwriter identifies as her “youth”; through loss, journeys of self-love, friendships, and relationships. Racecars and Rockstars defines itself immediately with its forward-looking themes and sonic nostalgia, symbolic in its conception and unapologetic in its execution.

Embracing the ebbs and flows of self-discovery, Racecars & Rockstars mirrors this trajectory. Sometimes it feels like the sonic assertions in “Give In,” other times it feels like the angst in “Seatbelt.” An all-encapsulating rush of crashing cymbals, driving rock guitars, and dynamic vocals – Bay arrives with no hesitation.

Having written songs both for herself and for other artists, the London-based singer/songwriter is no stranger to the scene. Her debut album is the culmination of an extensive process of uninhibited experimentation and generous self-exploration. Drawing from every experience that held meaning for her, she turns each emotion into its own anthem, fronting playfulness and joy at every turn. It’s electrifying to hop on to her train, and you never want to get off.

Titular track “Racecars & Rockstars” opens the album, beckoning you into the world and immediately establishing the record’s message: That, like racecars and rockstars, life is best lived at full throttle.

From the explosive rock guitars in “Dirty Mind” to layered textual productions in “Empire State,” Bay’s sharp lyricism maintains throughout. Flowing through timeless tracks like “Sabrina” and the slower, introspective “You Got What You Wanted,” the record reads like an early 2000s pop-rock nostalgia, peppered with a modern twist. Racecars & Rockstars is a dynamic statement of Bay’s artistry moving forward; one that says she is in constant transition, and she will never shy away from that chase.

Atwood Magazine recently sat down with Marigo Bay to chat about her journey so far, the inspirations behind her debut album, and all of her influences – past, present and future.

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:: stream/purchase Racecars & Rockstars here ::

:: connect with Marigo Bay here ::

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A CONVERSATION WITH MARIGO BAY

Marigo Bay: Thank you so much! It’s definitely been a journey. Releasing an album this personal feels incredibly intimate. Even though most of the songs are upbeat and rooted in pop rock, a lot of the stories behind them come from very raw moments in my life.

It’s so special to finally share those stories with the world and hear from people who connect with them. Seeing listeners relate their own experiences back to the music has been one of the most rewarding parts of releasing the album.

Marigo Bay: I actually wrote an early version of “You Got What You Wanted” back in 2017, right after graduating high school, almost ten years ago now. At the time, I was mostly releasing upbeat dance music, so it never really found its place as a release. But even then, it was always a favourite among my friends and family. Their enthusiasm for the song inspired me to revisit it and eventually work it into the album, where it ended up fitting perfectly.

The album itself was written between Belgium and the US, and recorded in Geel with my very good friend and incredibly talented producer, Jérémie Vrielynck. I’ve only recently started doing writing sessions in London, so this really feels like the beginning of a new chapter creatively. There’s a lot more music coming that’s been written over the past few months, so definitely follow the journey on socials @marigobay to stay up to date.

Marigo Bay: I’m so glad you picked up on that, because that feeling was very intentional. I wanted the album to feel like a coming-of-age film soundtrack, something that could transport listeners back to the version of themselves that felt most lost, searching, hopeful, or uncertain.

While recording and producing this album, I changed so much as a person. It genuinely felt like cutting the umbilical cord between adolescence and adulthood. Revisiting older stories and past versions of myself while simultaneously growing into a more confident and grounded person was incredibly cathartic. In many ways, the process was healing.

The album explores themes of heartbreak, love and loss, nostalgia, identity crises, friendship, self-exploration, career frustration, and the fear of choosing the wrong path or questioning purpose. I hope listeners can hear the honesty and care poured into every lyric and every note, and maybe find pieces of themselves within the music.

What I love most is that these themes are timeless. The people in our lives may change, but stories about love, loss, friendship, and self-discovery keep repeating themselves throughout different phases of life. I wanted to create an album people could return to years later and still find meaning in.

And honestly, I can so vividly imagine some of these songs in a coming-of-age film. I picture “Empire State” playing during one of those classic cinematic morning routines – the alarm getting snoozed, rushed moments in the bathroom mirror, grabbing breakfast on the way out the door – and then the chorus kicks in as the main character cycles through the city on their way to a job they secretly dream of leaving behind to follow their dreams. I’m clearly very invested in this imaginary film already. Maybe I should seriously look into sync licensing!

Marigo Bay: I did! I’m definitely still an amateur, but learning guitar opened up a completely new way of writing for me. I love experimenting with different sounds and instruments, and since I already hear a lot of arrangements in my head naturally, adding guitar into the mix gave me another creative tool to play with.

“Fiona” was actually written before I even properly knew the chords I was playing. I still couldn’t confidently tell you what they are. I literally had to take pictures of my fingers and save them in my notes app so I could remember how to play the song again. Hahaha

A lot of the album was actually written while driving. For some reason, inspiration hits me hardest in the car. I’d open the voice notes app, set my phone down in the cupholder, and just start singing ideas. Sometimes I’d arrive at my destination with an entire song recorded in fragments.

Then I’d bring those demos to my producer, who helped transform them into the pop rock anthems they became. And honestly, most of the music coming after this album has been written on guitar, so there’s a lot more to come sonically.

Marigo Bay: Definitely “Grow Up,” the outro and final track on the album. That song came out of me very naturally, almost like stream-of-consciousness writing. It felt less like I was carefully crafting lyrics and more like the story had already been sitting inside me, waiting to be released.

At its core, it’s about learning how to grow up while still protecting and nurturing your inner child. When I first wrote it, I don’t think I had fully grown into the message yet. But now, two years later, I genuinely agree with every word. It’s become something I return to whenever I need perspective or self-reflection.

And the piano outro on that track still gives me chills every single time. It feels nostalgic and final, but also strangely open-ended, like the closing scene of a film where you know the story isn’t really over yet. An empty page waiting to be written.

Marigo Bay: “You Got What You Wanted” probably feels most connected to my past self, simply because it was written so long ago about a heartbreak that now feels very distant. It’s still a beautiful song to me, but I can happily say I’m very much over that chapter of my life now. Hahahah

As for the future, I’d say “Grow Up” and “Empire State” represent where I’m heading the most. Both songs explore independence, letting go of things that no longer serve you, and choosing passion and fulfillment over purely money-driven goals. They hold this balance between realism and dreaming big – grounded, but still just delusional enough to believe your dreams can become reality.

Marigo Bay: So many things. Making an album is an incredibly introspective experience because you revisit the highs and lows of your life under a magnifying glass. At times it can be overwhelming, but it’s also deeply therapeutic.

Songwriting has become my version of journaling. Even though I don’t keep a diary, writing songs allows me to process my thoughts, frustrations, doubts, and experiences in a way that helps me step back and see the bigger picture more clearly.

One major thing I learned is how often I allow myself to be driven by societal expectations, even though my heart has always belonged to music and creativity. I also realised I desperately need to learn how to say no. Not every opportunity deserves your energy, and not every person or collaboration is meant for you.

A lot of the lyrics on this album reflect that constant internal tug-of-war… wanting to please everyone while feeling pulled in opposite directions. But I’ve slowly learned that not everyone is going to like me, and that’s okay. The important thing is learning to respect and trust myself first.

I also discovered that while I initially thought I wanted to focus solely on ghostwriting, I genuinely love performing and releasing my own music too much to let it go. So this definitely isn’t a “one and done” project. There’s so much more coming, both as a songwriter for others and as an artist myself.

Most importantly, I learned I need to slow down. I have a tendency to move through life at full speed, constantly chasing the next thing. But some of the most meaningful moments happen in stillness. Learning how to create space for peace, reflection, and presence has probably been one of the most beautiful lessons this album gave me.

Marigo Bay: I hope people find comfort in the humanity of it all, the messiness, the imperfections, the beauty, the contradictions. Even when a song isn’t directly based on my own experience, it’s inspired by real people and real emotions.

I want listeners who are questioning their career path, grieving a relationship or a former version of themselves, falling in love, or simply trying to figure life out to feel less alone while listening to this album.

At its core, I hope the music inspires people emotionally while also giving them energy – something they can cry to, heal to, dance to, and grow with.

Marigo Bay: It feels like the very first step. Like a flower finally finding the right soil to grow in. This album represents me finding a sense of safety and belonging within my music and, through that, within myself. And just like flowers, I think artists constantly evolve. Certain versions of ourselves die off, new ones bloom, and every season leaves behind something that helps nourish the next chapter. I’m excited to see what future projects grow from the foundation this album created.

Marigo Bay: Other artists, honestly. I absolutely love discovering new music. I recently went to a Molly Donnery concert with a friend, and it genuinely inspired me so much that I immediately wanted to write an entirely different kind of album afterward. The new Noah Kahn album has also speared my heart and has left behind many ideas for future songs.

That’s what I love about music… one performance, one lyric, one moment can completely shift your creative perspective. As long as artists keep creating and life keeps offering new experiences, I don’t think I’ll ever stop being curious. I’ll always want to write, explore, and tell stories through music.

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:: stream/purchase Racecars & Rockstars here ::

:: connect with Marigo Bay here ::

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 © Fien Vonk

Racecars & Rockstars

an album by Marigo Bay