The next young country star may be closer than you think.
Introducing Queeva, a 17-year-old rising country pop act from Glenview with something to say. Like a lot of her Gen Z peers, Queeva (born Queeva McDonagh) refuses to wait to start her music career. In fact, she released her debut single, “Who You Really Are,” at just 14 years old. During a time when most young people are simply trying to find a way to fit in with the teens around them, McDonagh aims to stand out. One can’t become a successful, long lasting musician by simply conforming to the norm.
McDonagh grew up in a large family. She cites her father’s love of country music as a direct influence on her music taste. “Growing up, my dad was a big country music fan, so I always listened to that around the house and I listened to country legends like Randy Travis and Dolly Parton,” she said. Outside of her father’s listening habits, McDonagh said the only other musical person in her family was her late grandmother, who was an Irish singer. “People say that I get my voice from her,” she added.
Yet despite being the only person among her five siblings who actively wanted to pursue music, McDonagh jumped in head first early. By the age of seven, McDonagh competed in talent competitions around the country. During a competition in Los Angeles, she drew the attention of Jamie O’Neal, a Nashville-based producer and singer-songwriter. O’Neal taught McDonagh how to be a songwriter and how to put music together to share her emerging messages. “As soon as I started writing and producing my own music and hearing everything come together, that’s kind of when I just knew that this is what I really wanted to do with my life,” McDonagh said.
Writing is a unique endeavor for an artist like McDonagh. She’s at the prime age to pour all of her heightened teenage emotions into every song. It is a template that has worked successfully for other artists, especially country artists, in the past. Think of Taylor Swift, who made her debut as a teenager reflecting on her lost loves and youthful angst. But McDonagh has other ambitions than just focusing on her own life.
“I think that I try to base my songs not just on things that I can relate to, but things that I also think other people can relate to,” she began. “So that can come from a variety of things, whether it’s personal experiences, things that my friends are going through, things that I think would be important to put into a song.”
One such song released earlier this year and titled “Show Off” is a catchy tune about the generational pull to change oneself just to impress other people. Gen Z, unlike nearly any other generation before them, lives their lives publicly. The proliferation of social media, among other things, has fueled the expectation to align oneself with what other people want. McDonagh believes in standing up for oneself.
“I thought it would be cool to write a song that’s saying just being who you are is enough,” she explained. “And if somebody that you like can’t realize who you are, then they’re just not worth it. I kind of wanted to capture that into a song in a fun way.”
Another track, “Slow Down Time,” was also released earlier this year, but was eerily written right before the pandemic hit.
“It made me realize how important life is and how everything can just change so quickly, especially with the pandemic that came along,” she said. “We held on to that song to release towards the end of everything. It talks about how we have to improve. We have to appreciate the little things in life because everything just goes by so fast. And I even need a reminder of that sometimes. That’s why I think I wrote it, just to remind myself to enjoy every moment.”
Like a lot of artists, the pandemic put a hold on many of McDonagh’s plans for 2020. But as the world continues to open up and opportunities to perform increase, McDonagh said she has learned even more about herself and who she wants to be as an artist — honest, confident, and forthright. “Not everybody is going to love your music. You’re going to face obstacles,” she began. “But overall, if you just keep pushing through and working hard, you can achieve anything.”
Britt Julious is a freelance critic.
