Margaret Fiedler McGinnis

Margaret Fiedler McGinnis (née Fiedler) is a London-based American vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and noted guitarist. She is best known as a founding member of UK indie groups Moonshake and Laika and as live guitarist with PJ Harvey and Wire.

Margaret Fiedler
OriginChicago, Illinois, United States
GenresIndie electronic, Dream pop, Post-rock
Occupation(s)Musician, craftsperson
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar, Cello, Keyboards
LabelsToo Pure, American Recordings
Websitehttp://www.magsmcginnis.com

Early life

She was born in Chicago, Illinois, United States,[1] and grew up in Winnetka, Illinois and later in Connecticut. She was educated at Sarah Lawrence College and at Trinity College in Dublin.

She had attended grade school in Winnetka and played the cello growing up.[2] McGinnis formed Child's Play with Moby as a high school band.[2]

Musical career

After a move to London, England, McGinnis formed Moonshake in 1991 with David Callahan, formerly of The Wolfhounds. She and Callahan shared vocals, guitar, sampling and songwriting duties, and the band was augmented by John Frenett (bass) and Mig Morland (drums, percussion).[3] Moonshake were signed to Alan McGee's Creation Records for their debut First EP released in Spring 1991. The group then moved to Too Pure Records, and released the Secondhand Clothes EP and the Eva Luna LP in 1992, and the mini-album Big Good Angel in 1993.

In 1993, McGinnis and Frenett split away from Moonshake to form Laika with engineer/musician Guy Fixsen (who'd engineered and co-produced Moonshake's recordings), flautist Louise Elliott and drummers Lou Ciccotelli and Rob Ellis.[4] The band, increasingly centred around McGinnis and Fixsen, produced four albums (Silver Apples of the Moon, Sound of the Satellites, Good Looking Blues and Wherever I Am, I Am What is Missing) and five singles for Too Pure between 1994 and 2003, following which the band went on what became a permanent hiatus.

In 2000, while still with Laika, McGinnis joined PJ Harvey to play lead guitar, cello, keyboards and percussion on the band's "Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea" world tour.[5]

In 2008, McGinnis joined post-punk pioneers Wire replacing Bruce Gilbert on guitar for an ongoing world-wide tour.[6]

In 2015, McGinnis opened up a Twitter account for a new band project called Pea but failed to post any updates there. In 2023, a Pea homepage was set up announcing that music would be released the same year, with McGinnis declaring "new music coming soon... old music coming soon - 2023 is year of rabbits, lots of rabbits..."[7] McGinnis' LinkedIn page has also noted that she has been working on a secret musical project provisionally called October First, and composing for television and film.[8]

Personal life

Following Laika's last album in 2003, McGinnis studied at the College of Law where she received a post-graduate law qualification. After graduation, she worked at the BBC between 2006 and 2011 in the music copyright field, followed by music-licensing stints at Antenna International, Remedy Productions and Paramount (coverering all music rights issues for MTV music-based programmes produced in the United Kingdom). In 2016, she set up the full rights clearance/music supervision service Mineral Point Music Ltd.[1][8][9]

McGinnis also worked as a candle maker and aromatherapy instructor at The Make Lounge between 2008 and 2010, using vintage teacups and environmentally friendly materials.[1][10] She is an animal-rights supporter.

References
  1. "margaret fiedler mcginnis". Magsmcginnis.com.
  2. Schroeder, Amy (August 9, 2000). "LAIKA'S SPOOKY ELECTRONICS ENHANCE IMAGINATIVE LYRICAL TALES". mtv.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  3. "CMJ New Music Monthly". CMJ Network, Inc. January 1996. p. 14. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  4. Porteer, Christopher (September 15, 2000). "All in the Family". washingtoncitypaper.com. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  5. Klein, Joshua (October 5, 2000). "AHEAD OF THE SONIC CURVE". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  6. "New Wire, Bruce Gilbert replaced by Margaret Fiedler live". brainwashed.com. April 7, 2008. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  7. Pea homepage (accessed 10 April 2023)
  8. Margaret Fiedler McGinnis LinkedIn page, Experience section
  9. Mineral Point Music homepage
  10. "The Make Lounge's Soya Teacup Candle workshops". Themakeloungue.com.
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