marigolden (Mel O’Neill): Songwriting, Creativity, and a Journey from Classical Voice to Jazz School to Indie-Rock

To kick off the podcast for 2025, the first episode of the year is with special guest marigolden (aka Mel O’Neill).Consistent with Scout’s love of snuggling with guests, this week’s guest marigolden got comfortable with the pup whilst sharing her thoughts on music, some of her creative processes, and the journey through classical voice training and jazz school, to creating the music of Marigolden, an authentic and raw indie-rock-folk act.We laughed, reflected, and listened deeply as Mel shared her experiences and perspectives as a musician. She spoke about the importance of listening and how it shapes her artistry, the challenges and joys of releasing albums, and the evolution of her voice over time. Mel reflected on the elitism often found in classical and jazz music and how she navigated these environments to ultimately find and embrace her own voice.As a self-identified songwriter, Mel discussed the balance between striving for technical perfection and prioritizing the heart of songwriting. She shared insights from taking Adrianne Lenker’s songwriting course and her experience with The School of Song, which provided fresh perspectives on music creation. We also touched on the institutionalization of music education, with Mel humorously imagining legends like Miles Davis saying, “Okay, I’m off to jazz school!”A special shoutout goes to producer Natasha Newling, who has worked closely with Mel to bring her music to life. This episode dives into the authenticity and vulnerability of Mel’s music and offers a heartfelt exploration of her creative journey.