Music is a kind of abstract emotional processing. When we hear it, lyrics and melodies make us feel. When we write it, those same components help us learn. Maggie Marre is an independent artist whose self-reflection fuels pop ballads that are as meaningful as they are addicting. In the Season 2 Finale of Eighty Unplugged, Maggie introduces us to a new era of her musical journey in her exclusive performance and lyric breakdown of her upcoming track, “Pity Party.” She proves what’s possible as both a student and a peer to other musicians, inspiring the next generation of singer-songwriters along the way.

Singing and Writing

Maggie Marre has been singing since she was a small child. Growing up, she loved music, listening to melodies and analyzing what made the lyrics work. She was also spending a lot of time writing. Even as an elementary school-aged kid, she would write to understand her own emotions and the world around her. Writing and singing fit together quite instinctively. Maggie leaned into songwriting at first, for herself, as a freshman in high school. Getting the opportunity to collaborate with professionals who believed in her allowed her to hone her craft and see songwriting as a potential career. Today, she’s balancing the excitement of releasing and performing original music with her work as a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Inspiring and Being Inspired

Maggie’s captivating vocal tone and intentional lyrics are a joy to experience. It’s hard to believe at one point, she had to work through considerable stage fright. Her desire to pursue her dream allowed her to conquer that fear. She hopes to inspire others, especially young girls, to follow their passion for music by sharing her story. Maggie credits Taylor Swift as one of her own inspirations. It was the documentary film, Miss Americana, that solidified her decision to commit to doing music.

She also finds inspiration from her life and her peers. She spent a good portion of her early songwriting working alone. Once she got the chance to collaborate with producers, musicians, and friends, she realized the value of being able to bounce ideas off of other people to refine her songs. Maggie feels that people bring a good energy to the songwriting process, and there’s value to allowing others to help you tell your story.

Crafting and Collaborating

Her style of songwriting blends the natural progression of a conversation with the structured approaches she’s learned in school and from mentors. This approach is also present in the music she enjoys herself. Artists like Noah Kahan, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sabrina Carpenter are some of her favorites. Maggie’s smooth, well-controlled pop vocals glide seamlessly over accompanying guitar in a way that shows the level of attention and care she’s put into her art. It’s not surprising to learn that her EP, Miss Paranoia, was nominated for a Central PA Music Award. She genuinely wants to communicate and connect to her audience. Her gentle vulnerability makes specific scenarios about her life feel universal in their musical delivery.

“Pity Party”

Maggie Marre graced the Eighty Unplugged set with her first live performance of the upcoming track, “Pity Party.” The song represents a shift in Maggie’s perspective about her role in relationships as well as relationally to other people. Growing up with brothers, she noticed they were never required to learn things like doing laundry on their own. There was always someone to do things for them while she was expected to learn things on her own. She developed a habit of “emotional babysitting,” as her friends would describe. The empathy of caring for people can sometimes prevent someone from realizing they are carrying too much of the weight in a relationship. Recognizing when someone wants to stew in the distress of a situation and doesn’t really want a solution can be a way of protecting your energy and time. “Pity Party” is a song about how big problems can come out in small ways, and the cumulative impact it has over time.

Written by Maggie Marre
Verse 1
It’s always one big pity party
Me, you, and your moods
I’ve got something I should celebrate
But I’m comforting you
Saying baby life is cruel, a lullaby that’s out of tune
And I know it too
Verse 2
Said “You know I can’t do laundry”
Cause your mom did it for you
And that’s why you’re not responding
Honey what’s that got to do
With why you keep me in your pocket
With all the things you’ve near forgotten
And you know it too
Chorus
What a pity party
Me and you
All your pretty pardons
That I excuse
Yeah I’ll always find
A way out for you
It’s a pity party
Me and you
Verse 3
We got everyone talking
They’re asking what it is I’m crying about now
I’m in my high heels
Guessin I’m happy when you drag me down to the basement couch
(i’m happier now, drag me down to the basement couch)
Hear them ask “whats his deal”
And I’m begging for them just to hear you out
Wonder why I’m still here
Think I’m stuck out of fear of missing you
When I shut it down
Outro
I’m the life of this party, I keep it going
Dance around you like a fool
Always showing up late place to place
But babe I promise, you’re so cool
Every “sure thing” you say’s a new trick
Oh man you really got me good
Over stayed I can’t face that it’s done
And that the fun is all over
Pity Party me and you
What a shame
What a pity party me and you
What a shame.