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From ballet slippers to microphone—check out this Raleigh artist’s musical journey.
McKenzie Van Oss may have retired from the Carolina Ballet—but she hasn’t permanently hung up her ballet slippers just yet. The 27-year-old multitalented artist recently released the latest music video for her single “reminder,” which not only incorporates her professional ballet background, but also features her former colleagues from the Carolina Ballet (dancers, costume, hair/makeup).
The Wisconsin native-turned-Raleighite joined the local ballet company at 18 years old—but during a period of less strenuous rehearsals and no school, she began dabbling in songwriting and performing at open mics. It wasn’t until an injury that led her to leave the Carolina Ballet in March that her music career really took off. Now, the indie-rock artist creates music about her life and experiences while still honoring her dancing roots in music videos. Here, we chat with the rising star about her artistic identity.
How has your training shaped your career as both a dancer and musician?As a kid, I had no time for other extracurricular activities because all my time went to ballet. Then, as I got older, I just really started loving music—but I love I was able to use my body to interpret it. Around age 11, I decided I wanted to be a professional dancer. It’s funny—when I was in the eighth grade, a friend and I wrote in our yearbook what we wanted to be when we grew up. I wrote ‘ballerina musician,’ which is hilarious—but at that time, I was taking the ballet route. Music was always there, but I put it on the back burner.
What finally sparked the transition from ballet dancer to musician? I got injured during COVID, and in 2021, I found out my back was broken. I was in a lot of pain, so I decided to write songs that I wanted to make bigger than just me. I got to work with my brother who’s also a musician, and he produced one of my songs. I was like, ‘Wow, I really want to do this. I love being in a position of artistic freedom and creating a safe and fun environment—no judgment or pressures.’
What influenced your latest single, “reminder”? I wrote this song during COVID. It was to give myself therapy—looking at my younger self and seeing it from a perspective of growth. I think “reminder” can be applied to my experiences within a toxic relationship and my hardships with ballet. It’s funny sometimes how multiple things can be happening in your life and have a similar effect.
What do you have coming up next? At the moment I’m pretty much locking myself away in my room and writing. I’m securing grant funding and raising money to make another music video for my single ‘Hot Air Balloon,’ which will be out in November. And on Oct. 28, I’ll be performing in the third annual Hauntaculer at Bond Brothers Eastside in Cary.
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