Meet Gillian McMahon | Leader/Singer/Second Guitarist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gillian McMahon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gillian, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks is the best thing you can do in a creative career. Whether that’s experimenting with your music or connecting with someone you admire, I’ve found that a lot of the risks I’ve taken have paid off. I’ve never regretted any risk I’ve taken, because the worst that can happen is someone says no. It’s better to try than to have never tried at all. The friends I’ve made, the connections I’ve made business-wise, all happened because we decided to take that risk.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Like most creatives, my art was a way to express my feelings during integral parts of my life. It’s also a way for me to share my hyperfixations. As a longtime fangirl, there are so many pieces of media that got me through certain parts of my life that I want to sing and scream about. So, while you’ll get personal anecdotes from my songs, you’ll also get songs about my favorite TV shows, movies, books, and more. Our most popular song is “i want to be maeve wiley,” about feelings of insecurity, but also about how cool of a character Maeve Wiley is (from Sex Education). I hope to continue being the space where nerds and geeks can find solace.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Seattle is full of so many cool things, there is so much you can do. For main tourist attractions, I love the Museum of Pop Culture and Chihuly Glass Garden. One of my favorite areas to go to is Fremont, and on Sundays, they have an epic market with great food and finds. Restaurants-wise, I love Buddha Ruksa, or really any place in Capitol Hill. You have to go to Hot Cakes for dessert though, it’s a necessity.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have two big shout-outs to give. One to my parents, who not only supported me but helped me get my band started. My Mom was always the one to give me song feedback, and my Dad is called “Dadager” for a reason. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.

The second is to My Voice Music. I was only there for a short time, but I have never met a more supportive group of people. They helped me record my first songs for this group and provided me a safe space to express myself creatively. For that, I am forever thankful. They’re also just a great organization.

Website: https://thesleepyhaunts.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesleepyhaunts/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thesleepyhaunts

Image Credits
Brittne Lunniss
Sarina Solem
Maxine Eve
Emery Lemos
Raychel Champneys
Samantha Wong