Suzie McNeil says her brand new song “Wherever We Go” reflects the fact that she’s in a good place.
“I like it as a sort of a first-song-back because I like how it’s more mature, it’s total ‘80s vibe, a little more soulful,” the Canadian artist told iHeartRadio.ca. “It’s kind of a feel-good song for me.”
McNeil releases her first single in four years (not counting 2017's "Christmas Came Early") on March 22, just days before she kicks off a 35-show run in the Aerosmith: Deuces Are Wild residency at Park Theater at the Park MGM Resort.
In June, the 42-year-old celebrates five years of marriage to musician Andrew Mactaggart, with whom she has 16-month-old son Findlay.
McNeil and Mactaggart have spent the past few years touring and recording as members of Loving Mary, which doubles as Steven Tyler’s band for his solo shows.
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“I've loved all of it but there’s a part of me that missed releasing Suzie songs,” she told iHeartRadio.ca from the couple’s home in Toronto. McNeil’s last album was 2012’s Dear Love.
Juno-nominated McNeil rose to fame with tracks like “Believe” and “Supergirl” after becoming a finalist on the reality show Rockstar: INXS. She also starred as Oz in the Toronto production of the Queen musical We Will Rock You.
“Wherever We Go” is about longing for a loved one when you’re apart – a feeling she knows all too well.
“A lot of times my husband and I get to work together but then we also don’t work together,” said McNeil. "It resonates really true to me, just the relationships that I’ve had to have because I’ve always been a working musician. That comes with travel.”
She said everyone in Loving Mary is currently focused on other projects (“We’re still going, we’re just taking a little break”) so she’s able to focus on writing and recording songs for a new EP.
Of course, McNeil will also be spending a lot of time in Vegas sharing a stage with Aerosmith – an experience she describes as “surreal.”
She explained: “The thing that kind of resonated with me is the history that these guys have. So, just to be in that room and watch their dynamic and think, ‘wow everything that these guys have been through…’ is really cool.”
McNeil said Aerosmith: Deuces Are Wild will have “all the bells and whistles” of a Vegas show but “there’s also the feeling that this is a rock and roll band,” so fans can expect to hear songs going back to the ‘70s. “It will be a good mix,” she said.
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McNeil said her son is showing an early interest in following in his parents’ footsteps.
“Obviously neither of us would ever pressure him, but we love music,” she said, adding that Mactaggart was secretly collaborating with Findlay while she was in Boston rehearsing with Aerosmith.
“I came back and I woke up with [Findlay] that first morning and he points to one of the guitars and runs for a shaker and wants to jam.”
EXCLUSIVE! Listen to Suzie McNeil's "Wherever We Go" before its March 22nd release: