Freestyle rock-loving pop artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kendra Muecke of Kendra & the Bunnies is back with her latest single, “Manic Pixie Nightmare,” a bold reflection on breaking free from societal expectations and defining one's own identity. Known for her soulful blend of genres and messages of self-love and shared understanding, Kendra’s new release marks yet another milestone in her remarkable career.
Kendra Muecke’s impressive résumé speaks for itself. As a member of the Recording Academy, she serves as a Grammy Voting Member, GRAMMY U Mentor, and GrammyNEXT participant (2022). She has also been part of the Recording Academy Los Angeles Chapter Foundation Committee from 2022-2024. Kendra & the Bunnies has garnered critical acclaim, winning the Josie Music Award for Artist of the Year (Multi-Genre) in 2021 and Artist of the Year (Pop) in 2022.
“Manic Pixie Nightmare” confronts the stereotypical trope of the “manic pixie dream girl” (MPDG), often portrayed in the film as a quirky, free-spirited muse for a male protagonist. In this track, Kendra flips the narrative, encouraging listeners to appreciate who we are authentically, living authentically, being yourself, being you, and define their own existence beyond relationships and societal norms. As Kendra explains: “As a 'Manic Pixie Nightmare' myself, I wanted to use this song to inspire others to embrace who they truly are. Chasing love can lead to heartbreak, but finding yourself? That’s where the magic happens.”
FLEX sat down with Kendra Muecke to discuss the new single.
Thank you for sitting down and talking to FLEX, can you tell us a bit about how you got into music?
Thanks so much for asking me to interview. I got into music first through musical theatre, when I was a kid. I started acting and all that at four. I've always liked to sing and dance. In high school, I discovered rock 'n roll, which was eye-opening and inspiring.
Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?
Love Jefferson Airplane, Britney Spears, Phish, the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, DJ Screw, Poppy, and Kim Petras.
Congratulations on your brand-new single 'Manic Pixie Nightmare' —what inspired this particular release?
Thanks! This song is about relating your identity to a romantic relationship in your life. This song is about chasing around a guy and stepping outside yourself in the process. On top of that, it's about travelling by all means to accomplish your goal.
How do you channel personal experiences into your songwriting, and what do you hope listeners gain from connecting with your music?
I feel my personal experiences often times weigh on my mind so much that I have to write about them to process my thoughts. There are the happy feelings mixed with places I visit, combined with my dreams and day to day life. I try to always have a positive attitude, but I'm not afraid to tell it like it is through my lyrics. I hope listeners feel heard and understood while jamming my music.
Each aspect of music—writing, recording, practicing, and playing live—offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each?
I wrote "Manic Pixie Nightmare" on the TikTok livestream actually, so my subconscious really showed up, since I was writing in-front of people. I didn't know it at the time, but my ex and I were about to break up. I think it marks a time in my life where I was starting to really see how much I had grown as a person individually, and how I needed to start focusing more on me. Recording time is like a pedal to the metal focus. My main objective is to sound good, perfect, new, better, and the same all in one. Practicing is whatever. Important, but you have to make it fun. Playing live is EVERYTHING. My dream venue to play is the Hollywood Bowl.
Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it?
My song "The Miracle" is about my literal alcoholism. It's so bad, but I'm 4 years sober from it. So there's that!
What are your goals for the future with your music?
As someone who adores songwriting, my aspiration is to remain fresh in all of my music endeavours. I'm also working towards being a more proficient guitar player, as always.
What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from your music?
I want people to feel comforted and hopeful for the future.
To wrap things up, is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I am working on my next album now. I will be recording it in San Francisco at Hyde Street Studios next month.
Listen to "Manic Pixie Nightmare":
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