Cassidy Margolis had been a frequent visitor to Los Angeles to work on her music as margø when she decided to apply for an O-1 Visa. She knew she had people living there that would be in her corner - management, producers, co-writers - but she was surprised to so quickly find a community that lifted her up in ways she never thought possible.

Since moving to Los Angeles, making music and its accompanying visuals have been a group effort. McKenzie Connell and Victoria Towns have been instrumental in set designs and prop creation. From intricate puppets and papier-mâché masks to (respectfully and in no way being traumatized by Toy Story) dismantling Barbie dolls, there has been no challenge too small for them.

“[They have] been the most amazing creative partners to work with,” Margolis said. “Any crazy idea I bring to them they make happen. The three of us have been a little powerhouse of building all of the crazy props you see in the music videos.”

Co-directing the music videos and visualizers alongside Margolis is Hannah Avison and Austin Dickerson, who also serves as videographer. Their ideas and suggestions have brought so much value and importance, Margolis said, and they execute her visions better than she could have ever imagined. There is no idea too crazy for them, and they will show up for her every single time.

Together, alongside artists and friends Matthew Brandon, Adam Snavely, Cody Carwile, Katie Cox, Caleb Towns, Gwen Towns, Amelia Watson, Tanya Negin, Max Zappellini, Joey Vice, Bex Merry, Cami Petyn, Morganne Yambrovich and Bo Baskoro, their creativity is being lent to a full-length release for this fall.

“I think that’s what’s making this album so special,” she said. “It’s very community-based. I have such a wonderful group of people surrounding me who believe in the art and really bring my vision to life.”

The perfect example of their dedication is seen in the music video for “hometown heroes”. On the hottest day of the year, inside a room with absolutely zero air flow, the choreography created by Coco Williams added an extra level of chaos Margolis hoped for. When viewing the playback, she was equally amazed and entertained at how much effort everyone put into it.

Her latest set of visualizers is for the single “dirty laundry”, which finally gave Margolis the chance to bring a dollhouse concept to life. She wanted the visuals to have a sense of lightheartedness, with hues of pastel pink and a brightness to drive home that polished feel. Beneath the brightness are lyrics that touch on the stereotype of distorting reality to appear perfect, and keeping to a script in order to appease the other person.

“There was this feeling of having to be perfect in every way in this relationship,” she said. “I had to watch my tongue constantly so I didn’t upset this person. I had to be so polished so that I didn’t do something wrong and have them take love away. I think that was something that really translated well to this idea of living in this perfect dollhouse where you have to be this perfectly polished thing at all times, and you’re kept in these little boxes and this person decides when they’re happy enough to take you out and give you attention and affection.”

With her album release anticipated this fall, she has been introducing a set of songs unlike her previous material. While her first album was written at a time where she felt untethered, this new set of songs are coming from a much happier mindset. Instead of focusing on the emotions happening in the moment or writing about a specific person, she is looking at those moments in retrospect and how her feelings were ignored.

“Looking back at the experiences that I had while I was writing my last album, I realized I didn’t deserve any of that,” she said. “I put up with so much and accepted so little, and I allowed myself to be so hurt by someone who just didn’t deserve me. A lot of this album is really unpacking that feeling of giving so much of myself to be so hurt and receive so little back and that retroactive anger for myself.”

There is a misconception that art is made better in times of sadness. Over the last year, Cassidy Margolis has found herself in such a safe and happy space that making music has never been more enjoyable. She has found something special in the city of Los Angeles; a community of people making really cool art and uplifting one another. Creativity is unlimited, and she is thankful for all the creativity that is explored for margø.