INTERVIEW: Verna Margaret Finds Community In Returning to Country Music

Verna Margaret doesn't like to blend in. She's got a traditional approach to country music, sure, but her delivery evokes Laurel Canyon influences. While her lyrics have an edge, such as in her new song about infidelity "Paper Cut," there is also a comforting warmth there. In our interview, Margaret tells us how she turned to psychedelia and back to country – and how embracing her passions have helped her find community.

Name a perfect song and tell us why you feel that way.

“Drag Queens in Limousines” by Mary Gauthier is an absolutely perfect country song. What she manages in a 5:39 runtime is miraculous. She manages to tell an authentic, relatable, and moving story about growing up queer in the south, not fitting in, and making your own community. This song is obviously relatable to me as I grew up as an outsider. Single mom, noticeably lower class than my peers, queer, chip on my shoulder from all of the above. This song reminds me of those feelings, but also reminds me of my close community that I found of fellow outsiders and just how important all of them are to me. Try not tearing up when she sings “sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, and pray that the people you love will catch up to you.”

What would you like to say to people who are currently questioning their identities?

I would say not to worry about labels or pinning down exactly what you’re feeling so soon. Not everything has to fit in a specific category, especially while you’re currently figuring yourself out. Try to tune out the noise and outside influence and focus on how you feel within your own body and self as opposed to trying to fit into others’ defined boxes. If you have trusted friends you feel safe around, talk to them about your feelings because one thing I discovered is that queer people of all ages tend to find each other. Even if they don’t even know it yet. You will always find community. Even if you’re currently in a place that doesn’t have much in the way of support, once you venture out, you’ll find your family.

How have you healed or grown your relationship to country music/Americana?

I grew up in Virginia absolutely obsessed with country music. Not just singing and playing along to the music I heard on CMT. I also wanted to know every bit of trivia I could, and really learn about the lives of all the people who made my favorite music. But as I grew up, I felt like there was less and less of a place for me in the country world. Country music evolved from the conservative backlash post-9/11 era to the famous bro country period, and I just couldn’t relate to any of it and lost interest. I ended up performing a lot of rock, jam, and psychedelic style music throughout high school and college, and I learned a lot and had a great time. But I eventually felt unfulfilled and couldn’t quite place where the hole was coming from. I took a lot of time off from writing and performing. One weekend, I ended up bringing my guitars out to Joshua Tree and just starting writing again. Songs about grief, growing up, making mistakes. As I built up the vocal stylings and instrumentation, I realized I was back to the genre I’ve always loved, regardless of whether it ever loved me back.

But I felt more empowered knowing outcasts have always been an important part of country music and they always will be. And there are so many current artists I admire and am inspired by. Artists like S.G. Goodman, Margo Price, Sturgill Simpson, Jaime Wyatt, River Shook, Tyler Childers, Sierra Ferrell, Brennen Leigh, Nick Shoulders. They all show that there’s a lot of room in country music these days for people who don’t fit the SEC glam Nashville Sound mold most associated with country music. They make me believe there’s still a place for someone like me.

What 5 albums are you going to make your kid listen to and why?

• The Flying Burrito Brothers, The Gilded Palace of Sin. I don’t know if they’re really going to listen to this as much as they’ll never really know life without it. It is far and away my most spun vinyl and one of my all-time favorite albums. Mix of Gram Parsons’ songwriting with some California country spins on classics like “Dark End of the Street.” This album is a rough-around-the-edges zero skip classic as far as I’m concerned.
• Jeff Rosentsock, Worry. Sorry, not a country pick, but I think Jeff Rosenstock is one of the best active songwriters. This album perfectly encapsulates the year 2016. This was the soundtrack to a tumultuous and rapidly changing period of my life during a year anchored by nationwide anxiety. This album covers so many things front of mind in that year like police brutality, cities changing out from under you, financial insecurity, and reading too much into romantic encounters. But it never ceases on the hooks thanks to Rosenstock’s infectious songwriting.
• Asteroid City Soundtrack. Ok ok, this may be a bit of a cheat, but what better way to introduce your kids to some foundational 50s country than a compilation that includes Les Paul, Tex Ritter, Slim Whitman, and Bob Wills singing staples like “Streets of Laredo” and “Sixteen Tons.” Alexandre Desplat’s dreamy score provides the perfect interlude to the compilation.
• Talking Heads, Talking Heads: 77. Not only is it a perfect album, but I think it’s something that kids would enjoy because it’s fun, bouncy, and something that they can dance along to, exactly like David Byrne. It’ll get them started young on more daring adventurous music. It’s always crazy to me that this came out in 1977. Incredibly ahead of its time.
• Dolly Parton, Coat of Many Colors. As beloved as Dolly Parton is, I still feel like she is somehow underrated. People know her for her singing, personality, and activism in the Smoky Mountains. But I don’t think most people grasp how prolific a songwriter and musician she truly is. This record, written primarily by Dolly Parton (with some songs by Porter Wagoner), is such a showcase of her songwriting. From autobiographical songs like “Coat of Many Colors,” (with a message every could do well to learn) to fun romps like “Traveling Man,” and the triumphant declarations of “Here I Am.” It’s a beautiful showcase for a one-of-a-kind artist.

Is there a professional “bucket list” item you would love to check off?

At the end of the day, I’m still a country music super nerd and would love nothing more than to get the honor of playing at the Grand Ole Opry.

Verna Margaret – Instagram / Spotify