The Imaginaries, one of my favorite musical couples, are comprised of blues rocker Shane Henry and pop singer and pianist Maggie McClure. I featured them in September of 2022 and explored how they, coming from two different musical backgrounds, combined their efforts to bring us the unique folk/pop-rock duo, The Imaginaries.
Besides the music they create together, they have long been part of the Sync World, writing music for TV and movies and occasionally starring in them. You can catch them in the Reagan movie singing Frankie Vallie’s “My Eyes Adored You.”
The Imaginaries had a few songs in the movie “Mending the Line,” one of Netflix’s most popular films last year.
Maggie advised, “It’s a great film about veterans and the healing process that can occur through fly fishing.”
On a surface level, it was evident that American Veterans have many needs, but "Mending the Line" revealed even more about their struggle. Being part of that movie led to their partnership with Guitar 4 Vets, where they released the touching song, “Carry Me, Carry On,” a heartfelt tribute to veterans released this past November.
Besides an extensive touring schedule, last year was busy for the duo as they recorded music for an upcoming album in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The first song they released in July, “Whole Lotta Living,” featured Vince Gill on guitar. The song captures the spirit of seizing the day and embracing new experiences. While recording the song at Cypress Moon Studios in Muscle Shoals, everyone (except the drummer) sat around one mic and tracked the song.
“It was cool for us to sit together, play the song, and have that energy because you can’t replace that. You can’t make that up,” Maggie explained.
In 2024, the Imaginaries recorded, mixed, and mastered 16 songs as self-producers. Now, the independent artists are deciding which songs to release and when.
In October, they teamed up with the legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa to bring us the down-and-dirty “Crossroads” just in time for the Halloween season. You can hear a bit of the jazzy blues that Shane, who honed his craft early on with BB King, occasionally lets us hear.
In 2025, the first song they released from their forthcoming album was “Wishing Well.” The song is perfect for the new year, as it’s all about breakthrough, renewal, manifestation, and newfound hope. With the words I took a drink from that wishing well/ And To hard times, we bid farewell/ Cleansing water set my world on fire you just can’t help but be happy when you feel the positive vibes of the cheery tune. Another guitar great, Ariel Posen, joined them on this one.
The “Wishing Well” video is so cinematic that I thought it may have been part of a movie or TV show. Maggie says she loves dreaming up video concepts.
She reported, “I researched where we could find an actual wishing well in the middle of a forest in Oklahoma, and there was one. So, we went there. It's this place called Eagle Creek Escape Cabins in Smithville, Oklahoma, near Broken Bow.”
It’s the perfect setting for the upbeat, hopeful song.
The root of the song “Wishing Well” is the bridge: "Be careful what you say, be careful what you pray. It might come true." Keeping that concept in mind, The Imaginaries are very positive and purposeful in the music they create and release.
Maggie concurred, “I think that we both believe in manifesting what you want and calling it forth in life. We put intention behind everything we do.”
Add that to their spades of creative talent, and you know without a doubt that anything Maggie and Shane put out will warm your soul. Their music is original and truly next level, often unlike anything you have ever heard as they mash up their eclectic styles. Stay tuned for more new music from the Imaginaries throughout this year.
You can follow the Imaginaries on their website, Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok, and all streaming platforms.
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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and X.
