Bonnie McKee shares what it was like to co-write for Katy Perry, Britney Spears and more! She helped create many iconic hits, and has now released her debut album, ‘Hot City.’ Bonnie goes in-depth about performing at WeHo Pride 2024, seeing her single be No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart, new music and more!
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00:00I've been sort of an undercover superhero or something, like I would go out to a bar and like a song that I wrote would be playing and like no one has any idea that like I co-wrote that. I was a part of that.
00:09You make me feel like I'm living a teenage dream
00:15So if I said I want your body now, would you hold it against me?
00:21I am the champion and you're gonna hear me roar
00:28It means so much to me that people have connected with the songs that I've co-written because I get to be a part of their history. I get to be a part of their coming of age.
00:35I've had people tell me that the song that I co-wrote with Katie Roars got them through their divorce or, you know, inspired them to get in shape or battle cancer.
00:43Like people have these really heavy stories associated with these songs and that is why I do what I do is really connecting with the fans.
00:51I mean it really feels like I did this with the fans. Like this album is curated for the fans by the fans and I feel like they've been with me every step of the way.
01:03They encouraged me, they picked the song and so to see it debut at number two on the iTunes pop chart was unbelievable. I really did not see that coming.
01:12I'm right behind Taylor Swift. I can't believe I got this place that I talked about. It couldn't be a better place.
01:21To have my name right under Taylor Swift was like mind-blowing so I'm just incredibly grateful. I did not expect that at all. I was just happy to have it out.
01:29But to have that kind of a welcome debut I was like holy shit okay we did something. Like I'm already happy. Like if that's all I ever got out of this then I'm happy. That's great.
01:43Well I had to overcome my own fears and my own insecurities of feeling like these songs were dated or no one was going to care anymore.
01:50And I really turned a corner when there was this resurgence of 2010's pop music. Everyone was nostalgic for it and the fans were asking for it.
01:58So I think probably the biggest hurdle was getting out of my own way. And then of course re-recording everything was a challenge but it was really fun because it was almost like collaborating with my former self.
02:09So it's been a really enlightening experience. I've learned a lot and I'm really grateful to have the support of the fans and everyone around me.
02:22My definition of what Hot City or what success was has really changed in the past 10 years.
02:28Because 10 years ago for me my idea of success was like being number one. And if I wasn't number one then I wasn't successful.
02:34And I think the music industry has changed so much and democratized so much where really like anyone can have an audience. You can have these niche followings.
02:41And so I feel like I'm just really happy to have people that love me, want me, want to hear my music. And I don't have to appeal to the masses to feel like I've accomplished something.
02:50As long as I'm connecting with my own audience I'm perfectly happy.
02:54The queer community first of all is my people. I identify as bisexual and I have since middle school and so I've always felt like at home.
03:07And I grew up in Seattle and we have a really great pride fest there. It's just always been a really welcoming place where everyone gets to just be themselves.
03:14I've spent a lot of my career playing for crowds who don't know who I am. And some of those when it's not pride are not fun.
03:20And whenever it's a pride I'm like even if they don't know who I am I know they're going to love me and I know I'm going to love them. So it's always going to be a good time.
03:26I've literally always wanted to play this. I'm so excited to be here y'all.
03:32The best part about being an independent artist is having creative control. Not having to answer to anyone. Not having to be on anybody else's schedule.
03:40I think that was one of the most annoying parts about being on a label was that they have other artists and you have to fit in the calendar.
03:45And if you miss a deadline then blah blah blah whatever. Or if I decide I want to for instance promote a song that I put out 10 years ago I can do that.
03:53And that's exactly what I'm doing. And if I were still signed to a label they would be like that's old. We're not doing that.
03:58And I just have the freedom to do whatever the hell I want.
04:00I think the hardest part is having to pay for everything. Especially being a female pop artist.
04:06There's glam. There's costumes. There's music videos. I feel like it's a lot more expensive to be a female pop star.
04:14But there is a certain precedent that we're expected to live up to. I love it but it's expensive. That's the hardest part. It's just having to fund yourself.
04:29I have more music videos coming. Forever 21 is the next single. And there's four other music videos that have already come out that I'm very proud of.
04:35And I'm playing Albany Pride next weekend. And a few more Pride things coming up I think.
04:40So hopefully I would love to do a tour. That's the plan but we're working it out.