The Daisy Corner is a Philadelphia-based, women-led creative collective founded by producer and mixer Mackenzie Markstein and marketing director Olivia Paranich, longtime collaborators who first met as freshman roommates at the University of the Arts while studying music, business, entrepreneurship, and technology. After graduating in 2023, they transformed years of shared dreaming into a functioning home-studio environment built around color, comfort, and emotional safety, eventually expanding their team to include videographer and visual storyteller Charlie Cooper, whose work completes the collective’s sound-to-image ecosystem. Together, the trio offers artists a cohesive creative experience that spans production, mixing, branding, video, and release strategy — all developed under one roof and grounded in care, collaboration, and a commitment to making the studio feel like home. Known for their intimate “Sad Girl Music Club” sessions and their dedication to uplifting vulnerable, emotionally honest music, The Daisy Corner has become a trusted pocket of the Philly scene, a place where artists are supported, celebrated, and encouraged to grow into their most genuine creative selves.
We step into The Daisy Corner with Mackenzie to learn more about the space, the vision, and the heart behind it.
SNQLX: Take me back to the beginning. How did you two first meet, and when did The Daisy Corner shift from an idea into an actual space?
TDC: Olivia and I met in 2019 as freshman roommates at the University of the Arts. We were both studying music, business, entrepreneurship, and technology, so we naturally started dreaming up creative projects together. By 2022, that turned into the idea of building a business of our own. After graduating in 2023, we finally had the time and space to make it real. We built our website, started promoting ourselves, and that’s when The Daisy Corner really began to gain momentum.
SNQLX: You describe your studio as a “safe and inviting” place in an industry that often isn’t. What were the non-negotiables when building that environment?
TDC: For me, creating a safe and inviting studio started with the atmosphere. I knew I wanted the space to be full of color because vibrant visuals naturally spark creativity. Good mood lighting was another non-negotiable since it helps artists relax and sets the tone for the session. And comfortable chairs were essential. When someone feels physically at ease, it makes it easier for them to be emotionally open too. I wanted every detail to contribute to a space where artists can breathe, experiment, and feel completely at home.
SNQLX: When an artist walks through your door for the first time, what do you hope they feel right away?
TDC: When a new artist walks in for the first time, I want them to immediately feel comfortable and safe with me and with the space. Recording and creating music can be vulnerable, so it is important that they never feel afraid to make mistakes or try something unexpected. I want the studio to feel calm, supportive, and fun, a place where they can experiment freely and let their creativity lead the way.
SNQLX: Walk me through how a project unfolds here — from the first conversation to production to visuals. What’s your usual rhythm?
TDC: I usually start with a consultation call where the artist and I talk through their vision and the overall direction of the song. There is always room for things to evolve, but it helps to have a starting point. If we are working remotely, they send me their recorded stems and I build from there, keeping them updated with every new layer or idea. If we are working in person, the artist comes to my home studio and we record guitar, piano, vocals, and whatever else the song needs. Once we have the main elements down, we comp the vocals together and I put together a quick rough mix so we can hear the shape of the track. From there, production depends on the genre and what the song is calling for, and we keep communicating about how to make it stronger. I like to work closely with artists because the stronger our creative relationship is, the better the final song will be. After production is complete, I usually handle the mixing on my own and do as many revisions as the artist needs.
SNQLX: You handle sound, visuals, and branding under one roof. How does that change the creative energy compared to the fragmented, traditional model?
TDC: I handle all of the production and mixing, Charlie creates the music videos, and Olivia runs the marketing, and the three of us live together. It creates a really natural flow because we can talk through ideas at any time, even if we are just hanging out and watching a show. Being under one roof makes everything feel connected, and it helps our work stay cohesive from the sound to the visuals to the overall branding.
SNQLX: How do you balance giving artists creative freedom with guiding them toward a cohesive vision?
TDC: Balancing creative freedom with guidance can be challenging, but my priority is always making sure the song becomes exactly what the artist wants it to be. I share my professional opinion if I feel something might not serve the song, and most of the time artists appreciate that perspective. But at the end of the day, if they are happy with the direction, then I am happy too. It is their vision, and I am there to help bring it to life.
SNQLX: Is there an artist you’ve worked with recently who really embodies what The Daisy Corner is all about? What’s the story there?
TDC: I truly feel that every artist I work with ends up embodying what The Daisy Corner is about, especially the ones I collaborate with in person and build real friendships with. Friendship is how this whole business began, so creating those relationships with artists feels very natural and very important to me. One artist who stands out is Emily Vadala. She was one of the first people I worked with when I started the business, and we have grown so close over the years. She has this soft, shy energy, but the moment she sings it feels like something magical happens. We started writing music together, which is something I do only when it feels really right. Some of our writing sessions have turned into almost a therapy experience. We have cried together while writing a deeply personal, heartbreakingly sad song, and I think that emotional honesty only makes the music stronger. The song is not out yet, but it will be finished soon. Emily takes her time with her releases, and I love that about her.
SNQLX: Philly’s creative scene is its own ecosystem. How does the city influence your sound, your collaborations, your community?
TDC: The Philly music scene is a really tight-knit community. The city is small enough that everyone knows everyone, and there is a strong sense of support among peers. Over the years, I have met so many incredible musicians through college and social media. A lot of the scene leans toward punk, rock, rap, and psychedelic music, which I love, even though I don’t usually work in those genres. That makes it especially exciting when I connect with a Philly artist who works in pop, singer-songwriter, or folk.
SNQLX: As a women-led collective, what challenges have you faced most directly, and what strengths have emerged because of it?
TDC: As a woman in a heavily male-dominated field, I have definitely faced my share of challenges, from people questioning whether I am ‘legit’ to comments meant to make me feel small. But those experiences have also made me stronger. Women often have to work harder to prove themselves, and that has pushed me to refine my skills and build resilience. I have also realized that many women want to collaborate with other women after negative experiences in the industry. That has inspired me to create a space that is not only creative but also safe and supportive for every artist I work with.
SNQLX: What does empowerment look like in your day-to-day work with artists?
TDC: Empowerment can take many forms, but for me it is about making sure artists feel supported and confident in their work. If they are experiencing self-doubt, I am the first to hype them up and remind them of their talent. I also only take on projects that I am genuinely excited about, so my energy matches theirs and I never have to fake enthusiasm. I regularly check in with artists to let them know how great they are and to be their biggest cheerleader throughout the creative process.
SNQLX: Your “Sad Girl Music Club” series has this intimate, emotionally honest vibe. What sparked that concept?
TDC: As an artist who writes soft, intimate, and often sad music, I never really found the right spaces to perform in Philly. Many house shows would pair a heavy band right next to a quiet singer-songwriter, which can be intimidating. Olivia and I wanted to create a space specifically for artists to share their more vulnerable music, so we came up with the idea for an intimate living room-style show. That became Sad Girl Music Club, and it has been amazing to see the turnout and the energy. We hope to host another one soon.
SNQLX: What’s the next chapter for The Daisy Corner — creatively, visually, or in how you support artists?
TDC: We are always looking to grow and expand while working with more artists. There have been discussions about possibly moving to New York City in the coming year to access more opportunities and further our careers, but wherever we are, our mission remains the same: to create a safe, inviting, and comfortable environment for artists.
I hope to continue growing our roster, collaborating with incredible musicians, and increasing visibility for the work we do.
MACKENZIE MARKSTEIN
As The Daisy Corner continues to grow, the mission remains beautifully unchanged: create a space where artists feel safe enough to be honest and bold enough to evolve. Whether the next chapter keeps them rooted in Philadelphia or pulls them toward New York’s wider horizon, Mackenzie, Olivia, and Charlie carry a shared vision that’s bigger than geography — a commitment to nurturing artists with care, intention, and collaboration at the center. What they’ve built isn’t just a studio or a creative service hub. It’s a refuge, a launching pad, a living room for the vulnerable and the brave, and a reminder that the most meaningful work often comes from the corners shaped by friendship, trust, and a whole lot of heart.
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