EPISODE · Aug 14, 2026 · 19 MIN
Mackenzie Arromba’s songs may be sad, but she’s full of life
from The Heart & Hustle of Portugal · host Tony Gonçalves
Winning two IPMA awards back to back is reserved only for the best. Mackenzie Arromba has done it at only 25. Even more impressive, her first award was for the very first song she wrote: “hate myself for loving you”. Before the stage, before the photos, before the fame, was a young girl sitting on her bedroom floor turning pain into melody. Music has been a part of Mackenzie’s life since she was four years old. She recalls how a viewing of “The Phantom of the Opera” turned her into a child who sang everywhere: hockey rinks, grocery stores and, eventually, jazz speakeasies when she was only 7. Songwriting came much later, born after a series of mental health struggles and a relestless search for purpose after leaving university. A chance connection led her to meet Steve Molella, drumme for the canadian band Finger Eleven. At her core, Mackenzie writes to make people feel less alone — and it shows. She describes herself as a vessel when creating. With the instincts of a true artist and the honesty of someone who has lived through real darkness, Mackenzie Arromba is only getting started.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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What this episode covers
Mackenzie Arromba is a young artist from Ontario, Canada, that has won two IPMA awards. At 25, that is a feat most artists don’t even dream. She joins Tony Gonçalves for a conversation about mental healt and longing for community
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Mackenzie Arromba’s songs may be sad, but she’s full of life
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