Agalisiga Mackey: Cherokee Language, Alive in Song

Gaelynn Lea is a violinist, singer-songwriter, disability rights advocate, author, and public speaker. Born with osteogenesis imperfecta, Gaelynn began her musical journey with the support of a childhood music teacher and her musical family. You’ll hear about how her big break happened when she won NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2016, which led to a fascinating creative life which in the last few years has included international touring and scoring Macbeth on Broadway, starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga. Gaelynn is really open to trying new things, and this really came through as she talked to me about how she’ll never have enough time to explore all her curiosities, reflections on her first compositions and songs, how she collaborated with mentors Alan Sparhawk, and Charlie Parr, and how she created a new musical fable for the stage called Invisible Fences with disabled storyteller Kevin Kling.

You’ll be hearing clips from some of Gaelynn’s albums during the podcast, and her Bandcamp is linked in the show notes for you. We begin with a look at her upcoming memoir—It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect— a warm, funny and deeply-felt exploration of disability, music, and the messy creativity of an artist’s life. I plan to welcome Gaelynn back for a future episode focused on that work. You can find the pre-order link in the show notes. It will be published by Algonquin Press in April 2026.

Episode page with video, transcript and other episodes you'll love!

Gaelynn Lea Website Albums on Bandcamp

Order It Wasn’t Meant to be Perfect Invisible Fences with Kevin Kling

Newsletter Podcast Merch Buy me a coffee

photo: Explore Duluth

(00:00) Intro

(03:32) Gaelynn’s upcoming memoir—It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect

(10:42) Macbeth score and album, meeting Michael Stipe, Whippoorwill Arts Fellowship

(16:02) about “Perfect”, with clip from Macbeth album

(18:50) Gaelynn’s childhood, learning the violin in an adapted way, her instruments

(26:20) decision not to have surgery

(29:01) Someday We’ll Linger in the Sun with clip

(32:06) other episodes you’ll love, ways to support this independent project

(32:53) how winning Tiny Desk changed her life and for her husband

(38:32) disability visibility, mindset, beginning of song-writing and composing Alan Sparhawk, Charlie Parr

(45:56) The Long Way Around with clip from The Living Room Sessions

(49:46) Dragons and Fairies with clip from The Living Room Sessions, joys of improvisation, looping

(54:45) fiddle repertoire, jamming in Edinburgh

(59:45) Invisible Fences with Kevin Kling, disability activism, psychological challenges