Story by Chris Jay and Photography Courtesy of Katie Larocca
“I always tell people that I’m from ‘upstate’ Louisiana to make it sound fancy.”
Fresh off the road from a US tour opening for the popular British singer Fink, Maggie Koerner is settling into a new apartment in New Orleans’ Garden District and putting the final touches on her fourth full-length album, Upstate. New Orleans has long since felt like home, but making the new record has her thinking about the town where she grew up. “I wasn’t a full-fledged musician yet,” she said of her early days performing at Shreveport bars.
Finding Her Groove
Personally and professionally, Maggie flourished in the New Orleans music scene. Live collaborations with artists like Galactic and The Revivalists fed her reputation as a showstopping vocalist. These days, she’s interested in collaborating with other women in music. “When we were making the new record, I made damn sure that I was never the only woman in the room,” she says.
Home Sweet Home
Whenever Maggie passes through Shreveport, her tour van practically drives itself to the doughnut shop. “I want my last meal to be hot Southern Maid Donuts,” she says. “I’ve tried every local doughnut in the South, and I have yet to find any that are as good.”
Doggone Good
For the last eight years, Maggie has been accompanied on tour by a 100-pound labradoodle named Tom. She recently had Tom certified as a therapy animal, and the pair have begun volunteering to provide therapeutic pet visits for seniors and individuals with disabilities. “It’s amazing how much joy he brings people,” she says.
Follow her journey at @MaggieKoerner and maggiekoerner.com
