Michael Green Interviews... Angie Murchie
- Michael Green
- Jan 27
- 7 min read
Here is a Q&A with musician & performer Angie Murchie. She talks about her experiences in music.
1. How did your journey in music begin?
I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember. I used to sing all the time, anywhere and everywhere.
However, growing up in Poland in the 1980s, unless you were enrolled in a music school, you weren’t really encouraged to sing. Funny story — my mum actually removed me from the church choir because she thought I was there too much. I understand her concerns now, but back then I was devastated.
I had friends who went to music school, and I was completely obsessed with them. I was so jealous. Meanwhile, I had to focus on maths, English, and only one hour of music per week. I was a proper rebel — always in conflict with everyone — because all I wanted to do was sing, and it felt like everyone just wanted to shut me down.
It was even harder because, as a child and as a girl, I wasn’t given much of a voice. At the dinner table, I was constantly told I wasn’t allowed to speak when adults were present. That stayed with me for a long time and affected my confidence deeply.
I think that’s one of the reasons I’m such a feminist now. It also makes me really sad that I’m 38 and still have people in my life who try to shush me or break my spirit.
So yes — I’m still a rebel at 38, and I probably always will be. But I’m also the happiest I’ve ever been, finally free because of my own choices and fully in power of my own life.
2. Who have been your biggest musical influences or inspirations?
I grew up on rock groups like The Cranberries. I was always singing Zombie, and it became the very first song I ever learned on the guitar when I finally bought one for myself at 25. I was also drawn to strong female lead singers and powerful stage presence — artists like Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, the Spice Girls, Mel C, Dido, Alanis Morissette, Fergie, and Rihanna.
At the same time, I fell in love with rock ’n’ roll and the pure joy of dancing. That’s why I always try to include upbeat, danceable songs in my sets, and I make a point of encouraging everyone to get involved. I genuinely believe we don’t dance enough in everyday life — and that singing and dancing are incredibly good for us. So yes… let’s dance!
3. When it comes to creating music, where do you usually draw your inspiration from? Could you walk us through your songwriting or creative process?
My songwriting is very much a process, and it really depends on how openly I want to talk about something. Sometimes a song feels too obvious, and I need to change the lyrics so people won’t fully understand the exact meaning. I like to leave space for everyone to have their own interpretation — like in Narcoticistic Touch. That’s the fun part: everyone can read a song differently.
I also love letting a song evolve and tell a story through the verses, like in Under the Mistletoe. I’m really drawn to metaphors, similes, rhymes, and playing with words — I love diving into the dictionary when I write. I always recommend object writing to anyone, because it truly opens up your creativity. Before songwriting, I had forgotten how much I actually loved writing.
Once I have the lyrics, I start looking at chords. I usually use the cycle of fifths and just play with what I like and don’t like. There are also websites that show the most commonly used chord progressions, which helps me explore what sounds good or not. After that, I often transpose the song, because changing the key can completely change the tone and feeling.
Then I listen closely to my voice — I don’t want to strain it. I want to use my voice to its maximum potential without pushing it too far. I record the song a few times over and over, looking for harmonies to add, changing the key if needed, and making it more interesting. I also play with words to create a catchy title that repeats through the song.
Tempo comes last — ideally — because I love to dance, and guess what? Most of my songs are made to dance to. So I usually keep them upbeat and full of energy.
4. How do you decide which songs to cover — what draws you to a particular track?
When it comes to my song selection, I always go by the crowd. I work with three main sets:
40s–60s rock ’n’ roll, blues, and jazz for a classic, feel-good vibe;
80s to now dance hits for more upbeat nights when the goal is to get people moving;
and 60s to now soft rock and pop ballads for a more relaxed, emotional atmosphere.
This gives me a lot of freedom, because there’s such a huge selection of songs, and it means I can really tailor each night to the people in front of me. You can look at the crowd, feel the energy in the room, and decide what songs will work best in the moment.
I believe you have to be versatile, read the room, and be open to taking requests — even if it’s not a song you personally love, or even one you don’t fully know yet. Sometimes stepping outside your comfort zone is part of making the night special for everyone.
5. How important do you think it is to keep up with current music trends while also learning from music of the past?
I think it’s really important to listen to music non-stop, keep an eye on what’s trending, and try to learn new hits — because that’s what people want to hear. Of course, it always depends on the age group you’re performing for, but it’s still so valuable to stay current and keep learning new music to make your sets feel fresh.
Everyone knows The Beatles, and they’ll always go down well — but adding someone like Jess Glynne or Ella Henderson into a set can suddenly make people fall in love with you even more. One of the best examples is “7 Years” by Lukas Graham — it’s not brand new, not too old, everyone knows it, and everyone loves it.
When people see how well you sing, you start building this respect and connection with them, and they just want more and more. It’s such an amazing feeling — I honestly can’t even explain it.
6. Do you think it’s valuable for artists to watch other acts perform or to regularly attend live shows?
I love regularly attending other people’s shows to learn how they perform, because it’s such a powerful learning process for me. I’m always asking myself, What would I do in this situation? Could I do this better or differently?
I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I love learning my sets so well that I can sing them by heart. It takes a lot of time, but it’s so worth it when I’m finally performing. When I sing, I want to focus fully on the crowd, not on remembering lyrics. The words are already in my head — the rest is about how you perform them.
With social media the way it is now, you can also watch live performers online. It’s not exactly the same as being there in person, but it can still give you a great sense of different styles and help you shape the kind of artist you want to be. It makes you think about your image, your stage presence, and the energy you bring.
You really get to choose who you are when you perform. You might be a librarian Monday to Friday and a rock star on Sunday — and that’s the magic of it. Every step is thought through, every moment has intention. You wouldn’t believe how much detail goes into it. But that’s what makes it feel effortless on stage — and that’s when the real connection with the audience happens.
7. Finally, what advice would you give to someone just starting out with live performances and songwriting?
When I build a set list, I always think about genre and flow. I like to start slow and gradually build up the tempo through the set. Opening with a really good slow song helps build your confidence and also gives the audience time to warm up and connect with you. It’s about creating trust and getting people to like you before you turn up the energy.
Then you just go with it — sing, dance, play your instrument, enjoy the day, and chat to people. Have fun. You’re providing the entertainment, and that moment is on you. Your job is to make people feel happy. Take requests, keep a smile on your face, and enjoy yourself — because when you’re genuinely having fun, the audience feels it too.
And lastly — this is really important — keep that smile on your face at all times. Even if things go wrong, smiling actually tells your brain that everything is okay. It calms you down, boosts your confidence, and draws people toward you. You’ll always attract more connection when you look open and happy than when you look stressed or nervous.
So no matter how difficult it feels, keep smiling — even if you forget the lyrics, even if you forget your capo, even if everything goes a bit wrong. Keep smiling and forget the world for a moment. The audience doesn’t need perfection — they need your energy, your joy, and your presence.
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