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Young Fargo musician set to play Java Joint
Margot Wagner got her start playing piano at age 4. Now she's touring the Midwest and has two CDs. She's only 18 years old.
 Britt Johnsen
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"We (sign) people who we think are something special," said Linda Coates, co-owner of Fargo-based independent record label Barking Dog Records. It's that very attitude that got 18-year-old singer-songwriter Margot Wagner where she is today.
At the young age of 4, Wagner got her start in music by taking piano lessons. She loved it so much, and it became such an essential part of her life, that she embarked on other musical journeys such as church and school choirs.
Dissatisfied with the social aspect of high school, Wagner went to France as a foreign exchange student in the middle of her high school education. Unfortunately for this musical prodigy, there were no pianos in the house of the family with which she was staying. However, arrangements were made, and it was there she was first introduced to the guitar.
Besides being prominently influenced by Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, Ben Folds Five and Sheryl Crow, Wagner had a strong and passionate drive to write songs. By her senior year in high school, she had enough originals to record her own CD.
For Mother's Day the year she went to France, Wagner had sent her mom a tape of music she wrote about love, experiences in other countries, and homesickness among other topics. Wagner's parents were both surprised and delighted, and took the tape to Barking Dog Records, the independently-owned record label to which the Wagner family had connections, due to the CD they had recorded with them in 1995.
When Margot returned from France, she had a studio offer waiting for her.
"It just kind of happened. I'm really passionate about music. (I think) it was supposed to happen," she said.
From there, Wagner's first CD, "Open Blue Sky," was recorded. Less than a year later, the late March release has surfaced and attained levels that Wagner and her associates would never have imagined.
Luckily for her, all of the hard work seems to be paying off.
"(Things) are going really well," Coates said.
But Wagner still has to waitress to be able to afford all the bills that accumulate from traveling all over the Midwest and owning equipment to play the shows, as well as handling a booking agency, among other responsibilities.
And Wagner's choice not to attend school was a big decision for her to make. As a studious person who loves school and everything about it except the social aspect, this Fargo South 2001 graduate hopes to eventually go back to school.
For now though, "(touring) is relentless," Wagner said. Her touring will continue into the fall when she also hopes to be working on the music for another CD to come out next year.
But music is what she loves--playing piano, guitar and writing songs-- and it's what she does best as well.
"She's really an amazing (live) performer," Coates said.
Wagner released her second CD, "Firefly," this month and will be promoting it at the Java Joint today at 8 p.m. The cover charge is only $1 with general admission.
Wagner is not worried about the success of her concerts and CD sales because for her it is just her music and she is passionate about it.
"I have this philosophy about (expectations)," Wagner said. "If I don't make expectations, I won't be disappointed. It just seems so natural."
Britt Johnsen can be reached at: [email protected]
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