By: Sadie Christine
Mandy McMillan is letting that mother f**ker go in her newest single, “ltmfg.” We sat down with the Alberta powerhouse to discuss this latest single, empowerment, and fresh chapters.
Having written “ltmfg” a few years ago, this song came as a “total download,” Mandy says.
After a romantic interest resurfaced with a “you alive?” text after 365 days, despite having viewed her social media posts throughout the entire year and knowing damn well she is alive, Mandy wrote this song in just 20 minutes, fueled by humour and disbelief at the absurdity of the situation. Mandy recalls calling her best friend after writing it and laughing with her about it. Mandy wrote the song from a place of pure freedom and just allowing whatever she was feeling to come out. “I’m from Edmonton, so I can drop a few F bombs,” she says.
This track was also her first opportunity for self-producing. Mandy explained that the song went through different trial runs with different producers she has lots of respect for but ultimately, the sound wasn’t what she envisioned for the song. Mandy then bought a Berklee Online self-production class, which gave her the foundation to create the song with the sound that met her vision. During the process, Mandy was applying her skills, researching different equipment and setting it up with help from friends in her living room studio. From writing the song on an acoustic guitar to self-producing with different elements, “ltmfg” has an upbeat energy as well as a reflective tone.
With lyrics such as “Just remember who pulled you through, yeah she’s staring at you in the mirror,” “ltmfg” is an anthem for knowing your worth and being empowered. When asked what other artists Mandy likes to play for empowerment, Mandy said classic rock is what gets her hyped up. Stevie Nicks is extremely inspirational to her, especially since Stevie has previously written songs about her ex and has had him sing with her on stage (cue “Silver Springs”). Mandy is also loving Ella Langley and the female empowerment she brings to country music.
Sometimes, a part of self-love is feeling confident in how you present yourself through fashion and style. Fashion and the creative process go hand in hand, and when asked if there is a piece she’s worn either in a music video or on stage that feels authentically her, Mandy gave a shoutout to her friend’s store, “Rock n Boho,” out in Nashville. She shared that she has a pair of flared cheetah-print pants that make her feel confident and perfectly capture her vibe: rock and roll with a mix of boho western elements.
Closing off our interview, we asked Mandy our signature question: “What is your era?” This asks what song from her own discography resonates with her the most today. Mandy chose “Chasin’ The Ace” from her 2022 album Dream Catcher, which carries the message of being done with jokers, acknowledging your own self-worth, and chasing the best that’s out there.
During our conversation, Mandy expressed how she feels strongly called toward empowering others. With this passion, she has written a book! Set to release in the coming months, Every Single Girl’s Guide to Self-Love will teach readers how to let that mother ****er go, of course, and start choosing yourself. It is definitely something we are adding to our TBR list ASAP. On top of this book launch, Mandy says she has a bunch of exciting songs coming out that she can’t wait for others to hear.
We are so excited to read Mandy’s upcoming book, as well as listen to the new music coming soon. Thank you, Mandy, for this inspirational conversation. Make sure to keep up with Mandy on all her socials!
“LTMFG” is out now on all streaming platforms.
Stay Wild, Stay Free, Stay Country
