Q&A: Mia Van De Loo

Can you introduce yourself?


Hey! I’m Mia Van De Loo, and I’m a singer-songwriter in the indie alt/pop sphere. I’m currently based on Cape Cod, but in my life I’ve been from Minneapolis, Chicago, San Jose, and Boston. I dropped out of school to commit to music two years ago, and my goal has been to create a space in which we can recognize and honor our emotions, but move on from them with grace and composure with the help of one other. It has been such a joy already to connect with old friends and new friends, near and far, through music and beyond it.


Can you describe "fairytale" in three words?


Soft, Crush, Resolve


What were the first and last parts of "fairytale" to be written?


The first element of “fairytale” that I wrote was the chord progression. Four months before I even attempted lyrics, “fairytale” was an elementary picking pattern with that three-chord progression. It’s a super simple ascending and descending interval, but those get me every time.

The last element I assembled in “fairytale” was the order of the verses, chorus, and bridge. In its four years of existence before I recorded it, I’d always switch up when I’d play the bridge, and how many times, and whether I’d repeat the second verse, really trying out every combination. I’d never play it the same way twice until I finalized the order I wanted to record each section in shortly before we got in the studio.


What’s your favorite lyric or production element of "fairytale"?


I had absolutely no involvement in my favorite production element of “fairytale.” I’d recorded harmonies for the chorus, and my producer, Laiko, had tracked some piano stuff. I love watching other creatives’ brains work, because I never would have thought to add what he did. At the end of the song, he combined gave the piano this super echoey feel, and combined it with the harmonies from the chorus on top. It creates this super ambient moment at the end that gives me the feeling of both foreboding and also resolve. When I heard it for the first time, it sent my imagination reeling, and that snippet heavily impacted a scene we shot for the music video (in post production, on its way soon!).


Did you learn anything new about yourself while creating this song?

I don’t know whether I learned anything new about myself while writing this song, but it definitely did help me grow. I wrote this song about a boy that frustrated me, because I felt like he received far more attention than he deserved, but I couldn’t help but offer him my own headspace. When I concocted the lyrics for “fairytale,” it was just a word vomit of the frustration I felt and an honest reflection on his presence in my mind. But as some time passed, I often called upon “fairytale” to remind myself why I was intentional about isolating myself from him and moving on. Even now with other boys, I call upon “fairytale” to remind myself to protect my heart against boys I want to offer unrequited attention to; he isn’t worth your focus if he doesn’t care.



Is there a certain place that you feel the most creative in?

Past midnight in my bedroom. My best songs come to light in the dark, when I’m able to process without the confinement of time. And I actually do write a lot of music on my bed- I suppose I like to be comfy while I write. My favorite thing is to settle into my bedroom after those especially dramatic, eventful and emotional days, and process them through song.



What was on your playlist as you worked on "fairytale"?


I’ve always been a really big fan of super soft and almost childlike singer-songwriters, but you can especially hear that in “fairytale” and in my upcoming EP. I listened to a lot of dodie (“Human,” “If I’m Being Honest”), Ashton Edminster (“Music Box”), Cavetown (“Green”), Billie Eilish (“party favor”), and Conan Gray (“Crush Culture”). Most of those artists have begun their careers in a really light and airy space and matured to heavier, more intricate tunes, and I can see myself heading that direction as well.


If you could transport listeners to the perfect location to hear "fairytale" for the first time, what would that place be?


I got to bring my vision for “fairytale” to life in a music video (on its way!), and it was surreal to watch my mind movie of this song unfold in front of me. I would transport the listener to my shoes in a scene we created in the video: a mountainside picnic with a person you’ve reluctantly fallen for. It’s golden hour, and there’s a spread of treats to enjoy. The elation you feel that they’ve elected to spend time with you after all of your mental back and forth. Then to watch, once you’ve finally relaxed into the moment, that person get up and leave, without a glance back. The confusion, betrayal, and unsettledness the listener would feel would set the scene perfectly for “fairytale:” to sit in a beautiful place and wonder why you feel so dissatisfied when deep down, you know the sight is more beautiful without him there.


If you had to describe your music to someone who couldn’t hear, how would you describe it?

I would describe my music like traversing barefoot through a meadow. If you were to walk slowly, thoughtfully intaking each blade of grass on your feet, you’d encounter a mixture of dewy spots, sharp spots, and soft spots. The amount of intention required to focus that closely on each sensation would feel cathartic, and would probably ground you immensely. If you were to pick up speed and run through the meadow, though, those individual blades of grass would mesh together to carry you across the expanse. As you’d frolic and spin, so would your surroundings, becoming a watercolor. You’d frame that moment, and thereby immortalize it. No matter how you experience my music, there is an emotional release waiting to be had if you’re willing to embrace it.


What comes next for you?


My debut EP, “open book,” drops on December 8th, including “fairytale” and four other tracks I wrote around the same time! As I mentioned, I’ve also got a music video for “fairytale” in post-production! After that I’ll spend a few months in Amsterdam unwinding from the two years I spent on this project, then start planning a low key national tour, and my second EP, which is already fully written! I’m so stoked about the present and even more stoked about the future.

Make sure to listen to “Fairytale” on Spotify and follow Mia Van De Loo to see what she’s up to next!