Kailan McGee
By the time Kailan McGee released her debut album, The Songstress’ Empire, she had already made it clear that conventional expectations weren’t going to shape her career. The Cobourg, Ontario-born singer-songwriter introduced herself with a 21-song collection that moved confidently between genres, earning an audience across Canada and the United States as 13 tracks landed on the charts. The album brought award nominations and a 2026 New Music Award for Country Artist of the Year, but it also marked the beginning of a much larger creative trajectory. While many artists spend their early releases defining a sound, McGee was already thinking beyond songs alone, gravitating toward storytelling, mythology, visual art, and the idea that an album could function as a complete world with its own history, characters, and internal mythology. That instinct has become the defining thread running through her work, pushing each project further than the last.
That philosophy reaches its fullest expression on Lady of the Moon, an immersive concept album that transforms myth, folklore, and the eight phases of the moon into a richly detailed musical universe. Set in Germany’s legendary Black Forest and populated exclusively by female characters, the record is the product of more than 70 pages of world-building, poetry, character development, and story mapping. Part gothic folk tale, part rock opera, and part literary fantasy, Lady of the Moon marks a bold creative evolution for McGee—one that establishes her not only as a songwriter, but as a storyteller whose imagination extends far beyond the boundaries of a traditional album. In this conversation, she reflects on her artistic journey, the making of Lady of the Moon, and why creating worlds has become central to her identity as an artist.
You’re originally from Cobourg, Ontario. How has your hometown shaped your identity as an artist and storyteller?
My hometown has shaped who I am as an artist in a lot of ways! My public school, Terry Fox Public School, has an amazing music program and my music teacher really inspired me to shine!
Any place that welcomes and encourages the arts is bound to have artists flourish- and what a beautiful thing!
When did you first realize that music was something you wanted to dedicate your life to?
I feel like, for me personally, music and artisty has always been such a natural extension of me, that it is hard to seperate art from my naturally occurring existence. In some ways, it feels like every road I’ve ever ventured down in my entire life has lead me here.
It is that soul fulfillment and that indescribable feeling of accomplishment upon completion of songs and albums that makes me note that this is the path for me.
Your debut record was a 21-song, genre-spanning project. What inspired you to make such an expansive introduction to your world as an artist?
This album was merely something that was crying to come out of me. I had so much music built-up within my soul that I just couldn’t stop writing. I have joked that the title of the album should have been, “A Head Full Of Songs” instead of the “The Songstress’ Empire”- this album, when I go back and listen now, is everything that I needed to come out of my soul. And while my writing has taken a dark and imaginative turn since my debut’s release, I still know that this album is what shaped me.
I do realize now though, that I have a much easier time writing and creating imaginative worlds and expansive lore than I do drawing on personal experiences. In my first album I took the music-as-therapy approach to songwriting and it was a helpful tool to close chapters from the past- however, it also made me realize that reliving a moment of struggle or trauma because of a song is a difficult and vulnerable place to put yourself in. And so, I decided, at least for a while, to take songwriting from another angle and find a different way to express the artistry within.
Looking back on that first major release, what was the most unexpected response you received from listeners?
Well, so many songs from that album charted on various charts in Canada and the US, that all of this news was very unexpected. My goal was to have people sit and resonate with my songs, and upon my first release, I had seemingly succeeded! Add on top of that the award nominations, an award recieved, and so many interviews that I simply cannot calculate- and I felt as though my introduction to releasing my debut album had already done what I wanted it to do! And so, the only logical thing to me, was to expand my abilities by pushing my boundaries to find out what I am really capable of. Exploring new facets of myself, my songwriting, and my introduction to storytelling was the next stop.
Thirteen songs from your debut album charted in Canada and the US. What did that recognition mean to you after putting so much work into the project?
Like I said, it was a very unexpected surprise! It only fueled me to keep going, to keep pushing myself, and to keep creating.
You received multiple award nominations and later won Country Artist of the Year at the 2026 New Music Awards. How has that recognition influenced your confidence and creative direction?
I believe it is human nature to want to be recognized for a job well done, so of course this gave me a confidence boost! It is a slippery slope when we start writing for mere recognition, though… We can begin to produce formulaic and inauthentic art when we begin to create for others… And so, I really strive to check myself when I create to make sure what I am creating is first and foremost for myself.
Your music blends elements from multiple genres. What draws you to creating outside traditional genre boundaries?
Honestly, it has never really made sense to me to put artists into a box of genre. Because when artists are put inside of a box with closed doors and sides, we tend to (metaphorically) paint the sides, and make the box into something different… Placing genre restrictions onto an artist is kind of like saying we can only stay in the shallow end of a pool. We are there, we are comfortable, but then we can never really explore what deeper waters feel like… And so, blending has always just felt like the more natural extension of me as an artist. I write what I feel like, and I create to impress myself and explore my capabilities- I just want to be me.
After completing your debut record, you shifted into creating a concept album. What inspired the idea behind Lady of the Moon?
Well, actually… The title track “Lady of the Moon” was written before my debut record “The Songstress’ Empire” was even released! On my debut record, track 7, titled “Long Live the Night” was a standout track to me. It is dark and spooky, and reminiscent of a spooky fall evening walking in the woods, lit only by moonlight… And so, my goal was already to try and write another single that was similar. When Lady of the Moon was written, I was reading a lot of spooky German folk tales, and it kind of hit me in a moment that Lady of the Moon was bigger than just a single.
Once Lady of the Moon was a fully formed song and character, serving as the tour guide through this larger idea I had now formed, I then locked myself away and continued to write and write and write and write and write…
In a twist of fate, a student in a former class of mine asked me if I had ever heard of “The Legend of the Wild Moon” and I immediately perked up and asked this student to share this story with me. And so, then, the next song from “Lady of the Moon” was born, titled, “The Legend of the Wild Moon”
I also just adore how artists can take the things that they love and are inspired by and mash them all up into a ball and create something new. So, this album was a mix of everything I love, including inspiration by:
Tusk era Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks’ debut solo record Bella Donna, Seventh Son of a Seventh Son era Iron Maiden, the Practical Magic novel series by Alice Hoffman, and those spooky German folktales that I was speaking about earlier in this question.
The album follows eight phases of the moon, with each phase represented by a song. How did that structure shape the way you approached writing and arranging the record?
The sequencing was an idea I came up with as I was revolving the concept around the moon. Waxing and waning over the plot and characters felt like the pièce de résistance.
Why did you choose the Black Forest of Southwestern Germany as the setting for this mythology-inspired story?
Like I said earlier in this interview, I was reading a lot of spooky German folktales about ghostly sightings. Within these stories, the Black Forest was mentioned multiple times, and so I began to look at photographs of the Black Forest to set the tone for my imagination. Within these imaginative parameters, the Black Forest became the ideal destination for Lady of the Moon.
You created over 70 pages of notes detailing plot, characters, and poetry before completing the album. How did this fictional world develop?
This world developed so quickly. These mind-maps and notes were the foundation of this world. These ideas were coming to me so quickly. I looked like a mad scientist sitting on my livingroom floor with notes all around me in a semi-circle, connecting the dots, and building the cohesive universe. It was honestly the most fun I have ever had in songwriting!
The album features only female characters, inspired by the connection between the moon and femininity. What did exploring those perspectives allow you to express?
Having only female characters was very intentional. The moon representing femininity was a part of the whole universe I wanted to create. I desired these tragic characters stories to be told through femenine light.
There are such strong parallels with some of these characters to what women experience in every day life. Sure, these characters are fictional and mythological and their stories span over centuries- but, for example: Bellflower, perhaps the most tragic character on the album, has to navigate heartbreak after becoming pregnant with the child of a man who no longer loves her. She must adapt and cry out when she needs. She must do what she needs to do to survive. Most women experience heartbreak in that capacity at some point in their lives, and so Bellflower became sympathetic and relatable, though her choices may have been questionable.
Who is the “Lady of the Moon,” and what does she represent within the story?
Lady of the Moon is your tour guide through the Black Forest. You skeptically follow her, while entranced in a moonlit daze, to be introduced to the rest of the characters on the album.
Each song represents a different moon phase. Did each phase carry a specific emotional meaning or theme while you were creating the album?
I can just tell you a bit about why the sequencing for each song was chosen in this way:
🌑 The Black Forest (represented by the new moon) is ironically the brightest song on the album. This song introduces the mythological creatures that will follow on the album as well as the introduction of the landscapes and mythological lore.
🌒 Lady of the Moon (represent by the waxing crescent) is the title track of the record. Introducing the character that leads you through the mystical realm only lit by moonlight.
🌓 Song of Phaedora (represented by the first quarter) introduces the siren character who’s soul is centuries old. And though she longs for love, instead she must lure men to their death to maintain her immortal life.
🌔 Hellfire Tonight (represented by the waxing gibbous) introduces “hellfire” which is something that I created within the realm. Later in the album, we will be introduced to a character called Eryndor who uses “hellfire fury” to trap the souls of her victims so that she may trap enough souls so that she will
be resurrected. Hellfire Tonight is what Eryndor’s victims experience as their souls cross over.
🌕 The Legend of the Wild Moon (represented by the full moon) represents what happens in the Black Forest on the blood moon. The sightings of the witches happen on the eve of the blood moon and no one lives to tell the tale of the sinister and harrowing alchemy that is certain to follow.
🌖 Ghost of Eryndor (represented by the waning gibbous) introduces Eryndor, the character who uses hellfire fury to trap the souls of her victims so that she may be resurrected. Her character is seen in a white dress, carrying nothing but a candle, on the new moon in the Black Forest, which she turns into
hellfire fury to trap her victims. It is said that if you light a candle on the new moon for protection that
your soul will be safe from Eryndor.
🌗 Bellflower (represented by the last quarter) introduces maybe the most tragic character on the album. Bellflower is a beautiful woman born at Bog Mountain in the Black Forest. Once she finds love and becomes pregnant, the man she was set to marry has second thoughts, and embarrassed, he ends up banishing her to foreign lands. This story is her navigating life in these foreign lands. She grows so bitter in seeking revenge, that she sells her child to the witches of the Black Forest in exchange for eternal youth and magic powers. After a century without aging, she grows so tired of men pursuing her
hand and being in awe of her endless beauty, that she casts a spell on herself to age herself. Once aged, she realizes that she will still remain immortal, just now in the body of an old woman. This is a be careful what you wish for type of story. This song does not include a chorus and is very much a storytelling song.
🌘 Clairvoyance (represented by the waning crescent) is about what happens to Bellflower as she begins to attain the power of Clairvoyance.
What do you hope listeners discover when they experience Lady of the Moon from beginning to end?
This is always a tough question for me to answer, as art is subjective, so I like listeners to take what they will. I always say that, to me, music is the closest thing that we can experience to time travel- in that, a sound, note, or phrasing, can transport us back to a certain place in time.
I really wanted to create this universe as an escape from reality. So, I hope listeners are able to transport themselves to the moonlit realm and drift away while they listen.
What was the biggest creative challenge in building such a detailed story through music?
The challenge is the fun part for me. Really testing myself is the fun part for me.
I grew up on such imaginative worlds through storytelling, and so I wanted to try my hand at one!
This whole process was a challenge, but it was an incredibly fun one!
You’ve described Lady of the Moon as the accomplishment you’re most proud of to date. What makes this project so meaningful to you?
What we’ve spoken about already in this interview! Testing myself to build this world. Working hard at plot, character development, and building a cohesive world! The effort alone is what makes it the most meaningful to me. As well as the fact that it shaped who I want to be as an artist and storyteller.
Your songwriting combines storytelling, poetry, and music. Where do you usually begin when creating a song?
This is a tough one because there is no specific answer. There is no one way, ever!
For Lady of the Moon the mind-maps started after the character Lady of the Moon was already developed. But, there was no specific way other than that.
Sometimes the idea for a melody strikes first. Sometimes the poetry strikes first. Sometimes the chords come first. There is really no rhyme or reason here.
What was the collaboration process like with Darrell Wallace, Kevin Comeau, Graham Shaw, and Jacob McGee-Gauthier in bringing this album to life?
Oh wow, well, they’re all wizards! They’re all some of the most incredible musicians I have ever met! And that I get to work with them makes my heart soar!
They are just absolutely brilliant. Some of my least favourite songs, structurally, ended up being my favourite after they got their hands on them. They really transformed my work into something that exceeded every expectation I had for making this album.
Kevin Comeau produced, mixed, and mastered the record. How did that partnership help shape the final sound of Lady of the Moon?
He is also a wizard. And what a fun life to have a wizard husband! He is single-handedly the most talented person I have ever met in my whole life. His whole approach to music, his vast knowledge and talented ear never cease to amaze me. He knows exactly what I want before I even say it. And that is a pretty special relationship in music, and especially our marriage. He’s truly my best friend, and making music with him has deepened our relationship. Seeing people create, in every aspect, including the frustrations, builds an unexplainable bond. I feel incredibly lucky.
How did recording at Chalet Studio in Claremont, Ontario contribute to the atmosphere and feeling of the album?
Oh my gosh, this place is unreal. It feels like a second home at this point. A magical creativity catalyst with the most wonderful and warm people. I married my husband at Chalet Studio and so it is a very special place to us for many reasons.
Were there any songs on the record that evolved into something different than what you originally imagined?
Clairvoyance, the last track (represented by the waning crescent moon phase), started as something I saw to be an atmospheric closer… I knew I wanted the magic to be there, but with my playing alone, I couldn’t quite get it where I wanted it to be. The magic of Clairvoyance, revolves around an Em scale. But that wasn’t doing it for me… I wanted it to sound even more haunting and spectral. As soon as I gave it to Darrell Wallace, who did the guitars on this album, he changed it into the magic I was hoping for! I will never ever forget hearing it for the first time with his work added to the track. My mind has never been blown so hard with someone understanding the assignment!
How do you decide what genre, instrumentation, or sound best serves a particular story?
This album was dark spooky folk rock, and I wanted it to ge cohesive in that nature. So, that was sort of the flow that we followed when we got these tunes into the studio. The first track, (represented by the new moon phase), The Black Forest, was the only song that I didn’t want to fit directly into the album. I wanted to start on a light note, introducing the characters and landscapes to be expected on the rest of the album. I wanted an anthemic almost battle cry-like chorus and topped with unusual wording, and a lot of syllables, The Black Forest was, to me, the perfect way to open the album.
You created the album artwork yourself. How important was it for you to visually represent the world of Lady of the Moon?
I loved doing my own artwork. Doing the artwork really sparked inspiration to create visual art for all of my works. And so, each track on Lady of the Moon, also has a corresponding visual painting.
How do you translate such an imaginative and detailed concept into a live performance?
Dark and spooky comes quite easily to me and so it translates quite effortlessly- especially, combined with the talented musicians in my band.
Do you approach performing songs from Lady of the Moon differently than songs from your debut record?
Definitely. I want the dark and spooky vibe to translate more into the visuals and sound I have moved in the direction of.
If someone could step into the world of Lady of the Moon for one night, what would that experience look and feel like?
Oooh cool question! Well, I would recommend that they light a protection candle on their journey, as survival in this realm isn’t very likely. All of these characters are trying to take souls to maintain their own life, and so, if you find yourself within the realm of Lady of the Moon at night, “find yourself a safe haven, or your fate’s paved in stone”
Your journey has moved from a genre-blending debut album into a fully immersive concept record. How would you describe your evolution as an artist?
I hope to be ever-evolving! I don’t think that on this journey of life that any of us will be able to stop evolving and stop trying to be better versions of ourselves… And so, I want this to reflect in my art. I want to always explore new facets of myself and my creativity, and grow and expand in all of the ways that I can.
What have you learned about yourself creatively through making these two very different projects?
I have learned so much about myself! I think every experience we should be learning. And so to write, as well as to teach myself on this journey, makes me feel like the luckiest gal in the world. To express myself with art already means everything to me, and to have my art recieved means all that much more to me. They say, “to teach is to learn twice” and so when you when you get to teach yourself about yourself while expressing yourself, I think that is the ultimate win!
Do you see storytelling and world-building becoming a continuing part of your artistic identity?
100¹⁰⁰% yes.
What kinds of stories, characters, or worlds do you hope to explore in future projects?
Well, my next album is currently in pre-pro. So, I can tell you about this new world! It is another concept album, but in a very different way…
Lady of the Moon was imaginative, this new album (title: TBA) is stories from Greek Mythology that have been translated and passed down through centuries as existing stories of these “villians”, “monsters”, and “troublemakers” and looking at them through a sympathetic lens. Asking the question about why and how they became that way. So it is very much storytelling as well, but in a different way. My imagination was needed in different areas for the writing of my next album and so I continue to exercise my abilities!
What does success look like for you now beyond awards, charts, and recognition?
Success to me is existing as an artist. Like I have said previously in this interview, when I get to learn about myself, from expressing myself, I’ve won. That is true success, to me. Obviously it feels great when people resonate with that you’re doing, but that isn’t why we do it, or why we should do it– music and art are rhe highest and most pure forms of power that we carry with us in the way our world today. When we use these things to grow, and learn, we begin to address issues and solve problems for ourselves! If everyone in the world made art tomorrow (in some way shape or form: I’m talking creating something from nothing with your skill set, or hands,) then every person would have a more fulfilling day– leading to higher frequency energy, leading to a higher frequency world. That is the ultimate form of success that we are capable of giving ourselves.
What do you hope listeners feel when they reach the final song of Lady of the Moon?
I hope they have experienced a journey that has been able to pull them briefly from reality. Fantasy is so healing in that.
Describe Lady of the Moon in three words.
Eerie. Imaginative. Otherworldly.
Is there a hidden detail or piece of the story in the album that you hope fans discover over time?
I mean, yes and no. When I explained earlier what the songs mean in the context of sequencing and story parallels, I hope people are able to note the work I put in to make this a cohesive story. From the introduction, to the tour guide, to the characters– from Ghost of Eryndor using “Hellfire Fury” to trap the souls of her victims, and “Hellfire Tonight” being what her victims experience- to Bellflower sacrificing her child to attain powers, to Clairvoyance explaining what happened when she acquired the powers…
Which moon phase from the album resonates with you the most, and why?
I am a new moon girlie through and through. The darkest nights, cleansing us for new beginnings, I am all about!
As far as songs go, I think Song of Phaedora is one of my favourites with its slight Floyd-y guitar feel, and the siren’s vocal melodies in the prechorus and bridge (that stand true now- I am sure that will be ever-changing.)
What is one thing about Kailan McGee as an artist that people are just beginning to understand?
That I am not going anywhere! I love making music and I love writing. So, I am going to keep doing that! I am going to keep expanding my abilities and trying harder to do something unique with my imagination each time I make a new album!
Rejections don’t get me down, I just use them a fuel to build my skyrocket! So, you can probably expect that I will always be working on something. 💘
If your music were a physical place someone could visit, what would it look like?
A magical moonlit forest soaked in a warm golden glow with a sky full of stars.
What’s next for Kailan McGee?
Currently, I am working on ideas for producing and directing my own music videos for Lady of the Moon. Ghost of Eryndor will be out at 6PM on July 29th for the full buck moon. The other videos are a surprise!
I am currently working on my next album in the studio, the songs are written and the pre-pro has begun– as well as, the remaining visual art for it!
And on top of that, the building for the following album after the next one (😅) is in the works and heavily involved with poetry.
Buy Lady of the Moon now on Bandcamp.
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