Today we’d like to introduce you to Scarlet McKenzie.
Hi Scarlet, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
After surviving abuse, domestic violence and fighting through systems that often silence survivors, including battles with CPS to protect my role as a mother, I made the conscious decision to turn my pain into purpose. I focused on healing, rebuilding, and advocating for those whose voices are overlooked, especially women and children impacted by violence and systemic injustice. Today, I’m a dedicated single mother homeschooling my daughter with intention, creating a nurturing environment rooted in love, curiosity, and breaking generational patterns. Through Magnolia Muse Foundation, the nonprofit I founded, I provide direct support, resources, and empowerment programs for survivors of domestic violence, helping them reclaim their strength and rebuild their lives. As an emerging artist under the name Scarlet McKenzie, I’ve channeled my experiences into music as a powerful tool for awareness and healing. My debut single “Run This Back” is a raw anthem of resilience and reclamation. This summer, I’m excited to release my first full album, a deeply personal project that amplifies stories of survival, human rights, and triumph, inviting listeners to connect, reflect, and rise.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all.
The domestic violence my daughter and I endured, compounded by the trauma of her kidnapping, left me with complex PTSD that I still manage daily. Research shows that prolonged exposure to abuse and trauma like this can literally alter brain structure and function, chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can reduce hippocampal volume and impair memory and concentration, while overactivating the amygdala leads to heightened fear responses and hypervigilance. Many survivors, much like myself, also experience blows to the head or strangulation, contributing to traumatic brain injury and long-term cognitive challenges like difficulty with executive function, focus, and emotional regulation. For me, that has translated into real struggles with memory, decision-making, and even basic day-to-day tasks on tougher days, but I keep pushing forward, parenting, running my foundation, and creating music despite it.
On top of that, I live with an autoimmune disease that brings chronic pain, fatigue, and unpredictable flare-ups, which compound everything and make consistency a constant battle. It’s been far from easy, but the support system I have now has made a world of difference in helping me navigate and overcome these obstacles. Despite the challenges, I am grateful for every moment I’m given here on Earth, as my daughters mother, and for every opportunity I have to make a positive impact in someone else’s life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As “Scarlet McKenzie”, I’m an emerging singer-songwriter and composer currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Audio Engineering, Music Production, and Business at Full Sail University. I write, produce, and perform my own music: raw, introspective songs that transform personal pain into stories of resilience, healing, and empowerment.
Music has always been my deepest form of expression. I’ve been singing, dancing, and performing since I was a little girl, about the same age my daughter is now. Stepping fully into this path at 29 is something I’m incredibly proud of. I want my daughter to grow up knowing that dreams don’t have an expiration date. No matter your age or what you’ve endured, you can choose to begin again.
I’m especially excited about my debut single, “Run This Back,” and the full album I’m set to release this summer. These projects weave together my lived experiences with my advocacy for survivors of domestic violence and human rights. Through both my music and my nonprofit, the Magnolia Muse Foundation, I aim to amplify silenced voices and create spaces where healing feels possible.
What sets my work apart isn’t just technical skill, it’s lived survival. Every note, lyric, and production choice carries truth. I intentionally incorporate healing frequencies and binaural beat patterns into my music; sound design elements shown to support nervous system regulation, brainwave balance, and emotional processing.
These aren’t just aesthetic choices for me; they’ve been part of my own healing. Through trauma recovery, I leaned into frequency work and brainwave-based sound therapy, and I experienced firsthand how sound can calm the body, quiet intrusive thoughts, and create space for clarity. Integrating those elements into my production allows my music to operate on more than one level; it speaks to the heart emotionally while gently supporting the brain neurologically.
I hope to connect with people beyond the typical image often associated with mainstream music. My work isn’t about glorifying the fast life or numbing pain through distraction. It’s about feeling it, facing it, and transforming it.
I’m creating music for those who are ready to sit with their emotions, to heal instead of escape, and to grow instead of perform. This space is about authenticity over image, depth over spectacle, and restoration over illusion.
We’re feeling and healing over here, and I invite you to come with us.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that might surprise people is how much I navigate internally that isn’t always visible on the outside. I carry myself with confidence and composure, but there are layers of quiet battles most people would never see.
My fiancé often tells me he admires how deeply I feel and how much I manage internally without letting it define how I show up in the world. That means a lot to me, because it’s true, I’ve learned how to hold both vulnerability and strength at the same time.
The depth people hear in my music comes from those unseen spaces. What may look like poise on the surface is often resilience underneath.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletmckenzie?igsh=Z3JwOHQ4bmx1eXg4&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://linktr.ee/professionalbrat
