Marcie Hernandez — 3 March 2021 on Rocket Shop Radio Hour

Marcie Hernandez joined host Tom Proctor on ‘Rocket Shop,’ Big Heavy World’s weekly local Vermont music radio hour on 105.9 FM The Radiator. Keep in touch with her at facebook.com/marciemusic

Marcie Hernandez opened Rocket Shop with the title track of the album ‘Amanecer.’ Amanecer means ‘sunrise’ in Spanish. The song is about new beginnings, and that’s why the image of a sunrise fits so well. It’s reflective of the start of a new day. The feelings for this song came from a time where Marcie felt she was starting a new chapter in life. While it is the beginning of new experiences, there are hints of melancholy and sorrow within the song as well.

Early-on Marcie discussed her feelings about the idea of music. Like any of us, Marcie feels through her music. In her mid-twenties, she learned about music therapy as a career path, and she became a music therapist. Reflecting on her experience, she said, “Music is inherently therapeutic.” As a songwriter, she’s experienced the benefits of self-expression and songwriting on an emotional level. She became interested in being able to use what she had learned to help others through therapy.

In November she released ‘Amanecer.’ The recording process took place in Essex, and she completed it with the help of fellow instrumentalist Dan Davin. The album was a work in progress for three years, but they took advantage of the lack of having a deadline. The process was, “kinda casual in a way. Kinda nice that it was flowy and we didn’t have a time crunch.”

Working with Dan, she found herself often incorporating his ideas. This allowed the songs to develop in a more spontaneous way, but she also “definitely had a vision.” Marcie had been playing the main riff on ‘Light A Torch’ a certain way for a long time. On the album version of the track, the riff is entirely different due to Dan’s input. After hearing Dan’s take on the riff Marcie agreed that his riff was more true to the song. “I think I’m a very open person. I think it would be foolish to not hear people’s ideas. But I try to be intentional with what I’m putting out there. I think it was a combination of trying to be open while sticking to what my intention was for a song.”

The final product of this album is what she wanted it to be from the beginning. “The overarching emotion I’m trying to convey is hope, amanecer, and looking towards the future in a positive way.” With that theme in mind, it was pure coincidence that the album was released in the midst of covid.

In terms of production, “It felt very clear with each song, when I felt, OK, this is it, we don’t need to add anything else to this.”

For the album’s single, “Light a Torch,” Marcie recorded a music video with Myles David Jewel. “I was so grateful to be working with someone who was like a real pro. I really liked the idea of candles for a motif. Light being a representation of hope. It also represents my Puerto Rican heritage, being biracial, and the complexities of the relationship between Puerto Rico and the U.S. He helped understand how to best visually represent what I was trying to say.” The music video is on YouTube for listeners to watch at the encouragement of both Tom and Marcie.

In the future, Marcie has two live dates scheduled on the calendar. On May 6th, she will be playing at Northern Vermont University’s Johnson campus. She will also be playing a festival in Woodstock, Vermont later in August.

She ended the show by performing “Light a Torch.”

Marcie can be found on Instagram, and Facebook.

Text by Phil Franklin - Photo by James Lockridge