Rock-pop star Maggie Lindemann is breaking back into the live performance world as she goes on tour with pop icon Madison Beer. _Flaunt_ last talked to Lindemann when times felt unpredictable and the concept of engaging with a live audience was out of question. Now Lindemann claps along with her fans going from city to city to do what she loves most, singing.
Lindemann recently released the new woman-loving-woman anthem “She Knows It,” tackling the heartbreak of being led on by a girl with a boyfriend. Styled and cast entirely by Lindemann, it is on its way to becoming a queer classic. _Flaunt_ had the chance to catch up with Lindemann about being on tour, the banging new single, and an upcoming album in the works.
**The last time we chatted it was peak COVID, how have you been since?**
Things are fun! I'm on tour, and I had my EP drop earlier this year, which has been just so amazing. Finally being able to go out and tour and do shows has been just so much better. And then I'm already working on my album, which hopefully will be out next year. So I've just been super busy, but it's definitely better than when COVID was bad because now at least I'm able to go out so that's been really nice.
**How has it been touring with Madison Beer?**
It's cool, It's been really fun. I mean, we're still in the beginning so I feel like it only gets better. But I mean, the crowds have been really good and the shows have been fun.
**How has your interaction with the crowd been this year in comparison to previous years? Has it changed post-COVID?**
Yeah, people have been really responsive. Like when I'm like, ‘clap!’ Everyone claps and it just seems like people are just really enjoying themselves. They've been super interactive and singing the lyrics back to me, which has been really cool. I love that.
**What are you looking forward to the most while on tour?**
I'm just looking forward to performing, just being back on the road and being able to actually perform the EP. I'm looking forward to having my family come because I'm playing in Dallas, which is my hometown, so my family's gonna drive down, and they're gonna watch me. I don't think my grandparents have ever seen me perform so that'll be really fun. So I'm really looking forward to that.
**Tell me about your new track “She Knows It.”**
I wrote it when I started working on the album, and I mean, it's basically what it is, I liked a girl that had a boyfriend. And this is a situation that happened a while ago, because I remember I previewed and people are like, you’ve literally been in a relationship for like three years, and this was a long time ago. This girl had a boyfriend and she would, you know, complain to me about him and be like, ‘oh, you know, we fight all the time,’ but then kind of led me on and was like ‘I like you, but not like that though.’ But it was obviously like that. So it just got to me and I feel like a lot of people go through that similar thing where someone is kind of just stringing you along. Or in this case, a girl stringing you along and then trying to play with your emotions. So I was like, I'm just gonna write about it.
**Your song is like the new “girlfriend” by Avril Lavigne for queer girls, could you speak to the importance of writing songs about being that experience?**
I remember growing up, hearing a song, and then kind of switching the lyrics around to fit my situation. It's definitely cool now, because I feel like people are including it a little bit more, and we're hearing more songs that, have like her and she, it's been really nice and equally for guys, we have like Lil Nas X and Conan Gray, and all these really cool people that are making music for people that like the same gender. It's been nice to be able to do that, because for a while, I felt kind of weird about it because I'm from the south and I didn't know how certain people would take it. And then I was just like, fuck it. I wish I had this representation growing up and it's stuff I go through, I talk about guys all the time so why not talk about girls?
**The visuals are also very cool in the music video. What did the production like and what did you want to convey with it?**
Instantly after writing the song, when I was listening to it, I had the idea to make it in a school, and kind of have it be a high school thing just because that was my little fantasy. I always wanted that in high school, but obviously I didn't have that, like I was not out in high school. So we had this industrial warehouse that was turned into a school, which was cool because I really didn't want it to look like a glossy school that's super stereotypical. I casted the whole thing which was fun, but also stressful. The music video was so fun to film, it's my first real music video that I've been able to do in a really long time.
**Your music is very pop-rock and has a 2000s vibe, how do you pair the now and the then within your music?**
I'm heavily influenced by the 2000s and 2010s. I love Avril Lavigne, she's such a big inspiration to me.With my videos and everything I love to give it the corny 2000s feel. Like the school thing, a lot of people have done it but I wanted to do it in a way that gave that little glimpse back but also was current. But with my fashion, same thing, I take inspo from the early 2000s, but then I pair it with things that are new and current and trendy and things that I'm really into right now. I styled the “She Knows It” music video.
**You are working on an album, what do you look forward to the most in regards to releasing it and how has that been so far for you?**
I'm just looking forward to putting more music out. I'm constantly craving new things so I'm excited for that to come out. I love Paranoia, but I’m excited to move on from it and elevate even more. And it's been really fun doing it, like we were done before the tour and then the tour started and I was kind of like, actually, I'm not done, I want to add some stuff, take some stuff out. So we're kind of back in the process. I'm just excited to expand even more and do cooler shit and new stuff.
**Do you have a favorite memory so far in relation to making the album?**
Maybe working with Kellen Quinn because I grew up listening to Sleeping with Sirens so that was probably one of the top five coolest things in my whole life.
**Do you have anything else you want to let your fans know?**
Yes, I have an album coming up with no release date yet or anything but I do have an album coming out. “She Knows It” is out on all platforms and the music video as well. And come see me on tour!
