“You’re only going to get the echoes” - Alaina Margaret Droog dives into her debut single, ‘Rabbit Hole’
Folk-pop singer-songwriter Alaina Margaret Droog released her debut single, Rabbit Hole on October 11th, an edgy tune that takes listeners on a doom-scrolling journey of obsessing over a recent breakup.
The lyrics of Rabbit Hole explore the experience of using the Internet to cope with heartbreak - something which many of us can relate to. Seeking a glimpse into another person’s online world - but more importantly, closure - Rabbit Hole is a song about coming to terms with no longer being a part of someone’s life.
In Alaina’s own words, the track is “edgy with a mountainous wanderlust vibe - only this kind of wanderlust travels through the depths of your heart, and of course, down a rabbit hole.”
Photo by Julianna McGuirl
We had the chance to speak with Alaina Margaret Droog about her debut single, diving behind-the-scenes into her songwriting world…
Tell us a bit about yourself!
“Right now, I’m an artist living in NYC but am originally from a really small town! I studied musical theatre in college but I’ve always loved songwriting and it’s kind of been the one constant thing in my life since I was seven. Moving to the city and seeing everyone around me go for what they want really inspired me to go for that myself and to make music something more than just a hobby.”
When did you realise that you wanted to pursue music professionally?
“I originally got into music when I was very little. I was seven years old and I was in church and had a crush on the youth pastor who played guitar. I asked him to teach me how to play it and - it didn’t work out - but now I have the music thing!
I grew up in church and listening to a lot of country songs so music was a big part of my life and it felt like I always knew that this was what I wanted to do, it was just a matter of believing in myself. I went the theatre route first because when I was young and playing guitar I thought, ‘I’ll never be able to do this, that’s a silly little dream - it’s not for me’. So, I went to musical theatre camp when I was 14 and I remember thinking that the counsellors were the coolest people in the world. They flew in from NYC and they were pursuing theatre full time, and that was the first time it clicked and I was like, ‘oh, you can do this for a job - this is an option for me!’”
“I went on to study musical theatre in college and I’m still doing auditions and chasing that goal today, but I also studied songwriting. For me, it’s like a form of journaling and a way of working through my emotions. It’s always been my thing and everyone knows this about me. Everything I write about every day is something that I truly, deeply love and when I got to the city, I found myself really inspired and writing all the time.
At the same time, though, I was feeling really disappointed and uninspired by having to do the whole ‘survival job’ thing and felt so artistically unfulfilled just doing auditions and working. From there, I started thinking about my songwriting and how I could make it a bigger part of my life. I connected with friends and started doing live shows, and now we’re here!”
What’s it been like navigating a way into the music world as someone who works in such a similarly connected industry as theatre?
“At the school I went to for acting, I felt like I made good connections and feel like I’m already working my way through that world and I have boosts from my education, the people I know and my agents. I feel like I know this world, but coming into the music thing, I felt like an absolute infant and like I had no idea what I’m doing and was just truly just winging this whole thing. But, I’m still dipping my toes in and learning more so I’m getting there, it just definitely takes a lot more bravery to do the music thing than it does acting, because I’m still new!”
On that note, how does it feel now that your debut single is officially out?
“I got so emotional when I was making the post about it because when l first moved to NYC, like I said, I had that whole fantasy of songwriting and felt like it was this far off thing that I really wanted, but didn’t know how to get to.
I feel really proud because I found a way, and the right people and it all feels so surreal - I almost can’t believe it’s actually out there in the world now. It’s just awesome.”
How would you describe Rabbit Hole to someone who hasn’t heard it yet?
“It’s a really in-your-face, vulnerable, tongue-in-cheek song about stalking your ex on the internet and how it feels like you’re doing this little addictive thing but you just cant help it. The song’s also about reflecting on the self-awareness of knowing that it’s bad and that the things you’re seeing on the internet aren’t true - it’s all a made-up world.
At the time when I wrote the song, I was living in Virginia where there were a lot of mountains around me, and I was inspired by a noise echoing down the mountain. With an echo, the further away you get from the sound, the more it gets distorted and I think it’s similar with the internet: the less and less you know someone who’s posting on the internet, the more the truth get’s distorted. Through this filter of Instagram, Spotify or wherever you choose to stalk your ex, social media is the same. The song’s about how we all do that and we all really want to know!”
Tell us about your songwriting process! Do you use notes apps or journals / work from melodies or lyrics first?
“Normally, the idea comes to me first because I’m very lyrically-driven. I have a songs folder on my notes app and whenever I have an idea, I write it down. I currently have 884 notes because so many lyrics and titles will just come to my head and I make sure to write them all down.
Writing with the idea of a title is helpful for me, but it’s always that I’ll see the big picture first then sit down with my guitar or piano and go from there. I’ve recently been trying to keep out of my head and focus on the feeling - just write and say the first thing that comes to my mind instead of getting all technical and fussy with it. That’s been my process recently: I’ll think of the idea, play chords that feel like the idea, then start singing!”
We’re big on lyrics at VoiceNoted, so do you have any personal favourites from the track?
“I think the chorus is really one where when I first wrote that I was like, ‘oh, that’s really hitting me right now’. The thing is that it’s not a really traditional chorus and kind of sounds like the verse, but I love the lyric: “I know it isn’t good for me to wonder how you might be shouting from the rooftops / I moved on, I’m in love and I’ll only hear an echo.”
That’s just what it is: I’ll never really know and that’s the heartbreak in the song. As badly as we want to know and will do all the crazy internet stalking, they’re just gone - you’re only going to get the echoes.”
We then asked Alaina what music she’s been listening to lately, and compiled the tracks into a playlist of her recommendations:
What has the reception of Rabbit Hole been like? Do you have any standout memories of people’s reactions to your music?
“I came into this thing with zero expectations but just knowing that it was my dream to put my songs out into the world, so my favourite and most important reactions have been from my friends. Getting to share my music with them for the first time - and the people who know that this is what I’ve wanted for the entire time they’ve known me - has been so special. My friends will have tears in their eyes and so will I, and we just share those moments. Getting to hear that they’ve been adding Rabbit Hole to their playlists and knowing that they really enjoy it is more than anything I could have asked for and the most rewarding thing.
A big part of my writing is saying the things that not everybody wants to hear sometimes, and I’m naturally not a shy person but I don’t always say what’s in my head. That’s why I feel like songwriting is so important to me because I can put this musical filter on my feelings and it makes it safer to express them and say what I need to say. Also, because people my age don’t always openly talk about their experience with things like relationships, sex and heartbreak. So, it’s great to get to share that with my friends and have the songs be a way to start those conversations or to know that they relate. That’s the most rewarding thing because music is one of the best ways to bring people together - it’s magical.”
Now, it’s time for some fun questions…
If you were a candle, what scent would you be?
“Probably a mix of something fresh, naturey and warm. I really love lavender eucalyptus but I don’t think that’s me as a candle - I’d probably be a vanilla, amber, floral scent.”
What’s your star sign, and one toxic trait you have that matches your sign?
“I’m a leo! My toxic trait from that is definitely that I think everything’s about me and I take everything personally. That’s why I write songs: I’m so in my own world and get so worked up about things that I have to put them into songs. I honestly feel like the best songs come from your ego being hurt in some way, and having a big ego is definitely a toxic leo trait.”
What’s invisible but you wish people could see?
“Maybe a social thing because I always really want to know what’s going on inside other people’s heads. I actually think there should be a visible floating bar above people’s heads of their emotions, like in The Sims! I was kind of socially anxious as a child and always wanted to know what was going on in people’s heads so that I could know how to approach them, and it would also be so helpful to read people’s minds!”
Do you have any upcoming performances in NYC?
“Yes, I’m singing this Friday at a concert that I’m very excited about - it’s at The Delancey!”
If you’re in New York this week, we’d really recommend heading to Alaina’s show to hear her play Rabbit Hole live. There might also be a fun surprise that night…
And finally, do you have any advice to the doom-scrollers out there who might relate to Rabbit Hole?
“One: you’re not alone and it’s totally normal. I know we all feel crazy when we stalk people online but it’s normal. Two: stop yourself and go cold turkey. Give yourself time, but know when enough is enough and block them on everything so you don’t even have access. That’s my number one advice for anyone trying to quit a bad habit: go cold turkey.”
But what if they write a really good song about it?
“True, in that case… write a good song and then go cold turkey. Let it fuel your art and once you’ve wrung out all the good inspiration from it, go cold turkey!”
With that in mind, here are three final rules to follow: listen to Rabbit Hole on Spotify, remember to block your ex online, and follow Alaina on Instagram to stay in-the-know about what’s coming next for her!
