The Macey Project

Interview With Scott Macey-Gordon of The Macey Project

Written by Alexander Greco

I started getting to talk with a family friend from my early childhood home, Newton, MA, about their time as a musician—being involved with a few projects, namely the Macey Project. Scott is a founder of The Macey Project, who have just released their new EP, Marlboro. I’ve gotten the chance to talk with Scott about his project, his creative process, his time as a musician, and pick his brains at music and songwriting.

Without further ado, here is my conversation with Scott from The Macey Project.

Scott:

I’m originally from Newton, Massachusetts. I was a trumpet player throughout my school years and briefly into college at UMASS Amherst. I have always written lyrics since I was a young kid, as an outlet for my emotions and feelings. Don’t know where those are, but guess those things are long gone. In high school I started to play keyboards and guitar. I have had a variety of careers, and then in 2000 moved to Vermont and became a Financial Planner in 2005.

Me:

Can you tell me a bit about your job as a financial planner? What is your role and experience, and what are some lessons about financial planning that have helped you with the formation of the band?

Scott:

I’ve been working as a financial planner for 20+ years. Currently, I run my own practice, but I have been working under the umbrella of Baystate Financial, which is connected to the company MassMutual. I got my BA in 1993 from the University of Massachusetts, my MBA in 1999 from Babson College, and various designations since 2006. In 2012, I passed my CFP (R) exam which has helped me to grow my practice working with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and female head of households.  Obviously, as a financial planner, I have a good understanding of how to manage money, which as someone just starting a new music group, can be incredibly beneficial.

A few years back after long hiatus got back into writing and creating music. It came about as a sort of therapy after my cancer journey. One day I took a walk and tried to figure out ways to get myself out of depression after surgery and radiation treatment, and then decided to start playing, writing music again, and really dive back into formal guitar lessons.

It was at that time I met Matt from Wright Notes Music and started up guitar lessons and formed a friendship; which has turned into creating songs under The Macey Project.  Matt does most of the lead guitar parts, bass and drums. Sometimes we hire a keyboard player and always hire a singer. My role is really ideas for the songs, lyrics, and rhythm guitar. We have used a few singers that we have formed relationships with. We released an EP March 26, 2026 and are working on new songs for 2026.

Me:

I’m sorry to hear about your experience with cancer, I’ve had a few family members who have had to deal with cancer, and I know it’s tough. Is there anything about that experience that has contributed to your writing or music you’d like to share? Either about the experience itself, or the recovery from that experience?

Scott:

I think, for me, when going through an experience that made me think about my life experience up to that point, I realized there were many things I enjoyed doing when I was younger that I had somewhat abandoned. I always loved music in my youth, and being able to revisit it during this difficult time was extremely therapeutic. Creating my own music and rediscovering my love for it really allowed me to process my feelings in a healthy and creative way. It’s something that has really stuck with me since recovering as well.

Me:

What creative elements do you and Matt contribute to the band individually? When you two work together, how does the creative process typically work, and how do you guys typically work out the lyrics and music? How do your musical/creative voices integrate with each other’s?

Scott:

Matt has a lot more technical experience in music than I do, and he was actually my guitar teacher before things really took off. He is really smart when it comes to music production, and plays a variety of instruments. He tends to play lead guitar, whereas I find my strong suit is in lyrics, rhythm guitar, and coming up with initial song inspiration. We work really well together because we are both comfortable with different things but like to bounce ideas off one another.

I have also been collaborating with a few others on songs, and created Charging Kelli with another songwriter, Kelli Moller, and have released some songs; one of which is a collaboration with The Macey Project called “I’m Reborn”.

Me:

What sort of music did you listen to as you grew up, and were there any experiences in particular with your family that had an impact on your creative process or your ideas?

Scott:

I was surrounded by a bunch of different music growing up. Growing up, I was raised mainly by my mother, grandmother and uncle, which definitely had an effect on my music taste. My mother really loved showtunes, and my uncle liked classic rock, so I listened to a lot of that at home. However, on my own, I really fell in love with Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. I was your typical angsty teenager in the 80’s, really. These days, I think I tend to gravitate towards music that has a similar sound, but maybe involves a strong woman at the forefront.

Me:

What were some memorable aspects of making the Catch and Release album? What was your favorite part of the process?

Scott:

So, the EP is called Marlboro, and we released it in early 2026. Catch & Release is one of the songs that did not make that EP. That idea came from a walk with my wife around the Quabbin reservoir in Massachusetts. But the inspiration came from one of my favorite artists, Michelle Branch. She was one of the three artists I have leaned on heavily during my battle with cancer and brought me to the other side. So, I modeled the song and her style with a singer to try and get her vibe. 

Me:

Who have been some of your favorite people to work with and why?

Scott:

Love working with Matt. Even with the age difference, we really hit it off. I have recorded Molly, Kate, and started to work with some others for a few vocals on some of the songs, and have gone back to them many times. Additionally, I work with Kelli Moller, as a lyricist, she and I connect really well. She and I and Matt worked on I’m Reborn and released under my project with Kelli, and also released on our EP.  Lastly, Kelli and I are starting to work with other artists in collaboration with their songs.

Me:

What are some key takeaways you want people to have as they listen to your music? What do you hope people walk away with as they listen to your songs and get to know you and your collaborators’ voices?

Scott:

For me, music is a means of processing and healing. I want people to feel connected to my music. I want people to want to collaborate with me, as truly my end goal is to help other musicians find their voice to process their own feelings too. I hope that people know that I am an honest, fun guy, and that I would be great to work with on projects, because creating something new with new voices is really what makes it all worth it.

Me:

Anything I Missed?

Scott:

My goal is to be the go-to songwriter for female artists in the hard rock, metal, and pop genres.  Matt has formalized musical training and a music degree. My musical education is really learning from others and self-taught, with time and experience and constant learning. We both love heavy metal and hard rock.

The Macey Project has been in existence for about a two and a half years, but I have been creating new music for a few years after long hiatus. Again as a songwriter, I’m looking to create musical works and collaborate with other artists, whether looking for help with lyrics, or music or both. Major milestones were creating the songs to made up our EP (Forgotten Sisters, Friday’s a Woman, I’m Reborn, Josie, Opposite Ends, and Spinning Out of Control).

We are working on new songs to put together as a sample package to target labels, producers, publishers, managers, and artists (specifically female singers in the genres previously described).

Most of the songs have some inspiration behind them such as Halestorm (I’m Reborn), Spinning Out Of Control (Boy Genius), Josie (The Beaches), Forgotten Sisters (Plush), and Friday’s a Woman (Michelle Branch), Opposite Ends (The Warning).

I am a big believer in taking care of oneself, both physically and mentally. I like helping people and find that through Financial Planning and music are ways I can give back. My family and friends are the most important things. I believe that people are good and can do better and don’t have time for mean and disrespectful people. I support causes for those less fortunate and are marginalized by others. I’m a pretty flexible guy.  Given my background of being raise by a single mother, I tend to write songs from a female perspective and usually hard rock, metal, and rock. Although I also write in pop and country as well.

I was raised in a single parent household and we lived with my grandparents. My grandmother was a force to be reckoned with. I didn’t have a relationship with my father until mid-20’s and have made peace with my past. It’s been a struggle and things didn’t come easily for me, and still true to this day. But the climb is worth the price.

Scott Gordon-Macey is a registered representative of and offers securities and investment advisory services through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC [link to www.SIPC.org] OSJ: 1 Marina Park Drive, 16th Floor Boston MA 02210. 617-585-4500.

MassMutual refers to Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Springfield, MA, 01111. 

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