If you're looking for an on-the-rise musician who records and produces her own music, you *need* to look out for 18-year-old singer/songwriter Mia McIntosh. This amaze artist is a totally talented vocalist and pianist, and her newest single "Who You Are" lends a pop tune to a meaningful love story. To get all the deets, we sat down and chatted about all things music and songwriting.

Girls' Life exclusive premiere of "Who You Are"...

Girls' Life: What is your new song "Who You Are" about?
Mia McIntosh: It's inspired by a story I heard once about two people falling in love. One of them is very rich, while the other is poor. Since the rich girl wants a chance with the man, she disguises herself as poor. But they don't actually have a chance together. It's a very emotional story that I thought would work well as a song.

GL: What message do you want your audience to take away?
Mia: Love can make people do unexpected things. Human emotions can be so powerful that we do things we wouldn't really expect from ourselves. Sometimes you love someone so much you grow as a person to be with them.

GL: Do you have a favorite lyric?
Mia: The last line: "We only have a little bit of time." Initially, when I thought of how to end it, I wasn't sure if I should resolve the conflict. But then I decided to leave it as a cliffhanger. I really like how it has some ambiguity to it.

GL: What lessons did you learn from making the song?
Mia: It's important not to rush yourself when making a piece of art. I never want to waste time, but it's not a waste of time because I'm working on art I'm passionate about. Sometimes songs take a long time, and I'll write down an idea and return to it a few months later. That way, it's better. If you try to rush through it, it's never as good.

GL: Do you have any goals for the future?
Mia: It's one of my dreams to keep writing music, but I also want to continue my education and travel around the world. Generally, I want to have new and exciting experiences, and I haven't decided on my path yet.

Fast facts about Mia:
💜 Her favorite musician is Amy Winehouse.
💜 She filmed the "Who You Are" music video in New York City.
💜 In her free time, she likes to cook and bake.
💜 She loves historical fiction and mystery novels.