Monarch Artist Feature: Maggie Halfman

By Kelsey Knott Photos By Matt Johnson 

Meet Maggie Halfman, an indie-folk artist showing the softer side of Louisville’s music scene. 

Although she took piano lessons as a kid, it wasn’t until her college roommates, classical guitar and percussion majors, taught her “Blackbird” that she knew music would be a lifelong love of hers. After leaving the University of Maine and meeting musicians along her travels, she found her way to Louisville rather than returning home to Wisconsin. “I came to visit, and everyone I met was in a band. That’s what drew me to move here. It’s not a huge city, but for a small scene, there’s a huge percentage of people who play or get into music. It’s a welcoming scene, and you can make a big impact.” Louisville’s beloved hometown band, My Morning Jacket, recently welcomed her to play One Big Holiday Festival in Florida, and she also opened for them at The Louisville Palace in April. “I’m such a small artist. It was crazy for them to have asked me! It’s something I’ll remember forever–the biggest shows I’ve ever played, with laid-back, down-to-earth people who made me feel really comfortable.” 

As a confessional songwriter, Halfman strives to keep authenticity at the forefront: “I’m inspired by people being themselves, writing from an honest place, and not being afraid to open up about real life and emotions. The trying-to-be-cool aspect of music exhausts me.” We talked about fleeting moments that can live forever in art and the way that projects denote certain times in your life, like “a little catalog of memories and experiences. It’s funny how you come back to art, and it feels the changes to you over time.” Moments of extremes often fuel her writing, and she finds it therapeutic to deal with her problems in real time through music instead of letting things build up. “Saying these things in songwriting form might encourage me, or give me the courage to say what I need to in real life.” Halfman hopes listeners feel some solace, connection, and perhaps even bravery to open up or express themselves. 

Overall, Halfman wants people to enjoy her music and states her goal to shift away from the suffering in her songs. “I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky, easy-going person, who’s day-to-day not so tormented, but I think the confessional aspect creates a tendency to write about the bad.” She reminds us that simply going to shows makes a big difference for musicians, not only financially, but also for self-esteem. “There’s a level of having to get over what everyone else thinks about you. Taste is so specific, and music is subjective. So just do it–don’t be afraid, or think it’s stupid, or second-guess it. If you like it, that matters more than if anyone else does. You can’t pick your target audience or control who’s consuming it. The less you can care about the industry, the better you’ll do. Be honest with yourself about how far you want to go with it.” 

Don’t miss Maggie Halfman at Waterfront Wednesday in September, and stream her debut album, Wasteland, now!