It’s always enlightening when you get to conduct interviews. A person’s music is a glimpse into a part of their mind, but the thing we forget is that artists are individuals just like you and I. We were reminded of that fact after sitting down with Meg Myers for a half hour of laughs, ridiculousness, and getting to know one of our favorite up and coming artists.
If you aren’t familiar with Meg Myers, this is the perfect time to get acquainted. The 26 year old vocalist is producing soul gripping, thought evoking, and emotionally stimulating music. Aside from her amazing musical abilities, she’s also one of the funniest interviewees we’ve ever had the pleasure of talking to. Read this interview, then go download her EP, Daughter in the Choir, for free from her website.
TMN: We’ve been following you for a little while, between posting “Curbstomp” and also suggesting you as one of our favorite up and coming artists to Staged Incident. Talk to us about the recent attention “Curbstomp” has received from the blogosphere.
MM: You know, to tell you the complete truth, I don’t follow any of the web stuff. I would say my producer does more than me. I think that “Curbstomp” is the one that has gotten more love online. It’s all great and awesome when I hear about it from my producer. I’m not online that much, I just kinda write and put stuff out.
TMN: Do you pay any attention to it? Do you follow hype machine charts at all?
MM: Not really. I had no idea what it was until Andy (producer) told me about it.
TMN: You sing with a lot of passion and emotion. Where do you draw your inspiration for your lyrics from? They’re very intense.
MM: 90% of my lyrics are from past experiences. Also, a lot of them are metaphorical. When I say, “I going to kill you, my love.” It’s not like, “I’m going to kill him,” it’s like, “I’m going to end this relationship.” Well maybe it’s not metaphorical! I did want to kill him. (Laughing).
When I say I’m a monster though it’s because I’m insane. It’s not like I’m growing eyeballs all over.
TMN: When did you learn how to play all the instruments you know?
MM: Growing up, I picked up piano when I was 11 or 12. Then bass, and my brother started teaching me “Teen Spirit.” Bass was the first instrument I was like “Whoa! I want to really do this.” I started writing songs on the guitar when I was 13 or 14.
MM: As far as song writing goes, I think piano and guitar are my favorites right now, but I love playing bass live.
TMN: Do you play all the instruments when you record your tracks, or do you have other musicians chip in?
MM: Me and Andy record everything. It’s just me and him on the whole record. He plays a lot of the instruments on it, but sometimes there’s things that he wants me to play. Like I think the classic guitar on “Monster,” he’d rather me play because there’s a certain feeling that comes through. Then there’s some things that I’m like “I can’t fucking play that,” like the banjo on “Tennessee”. Also, Ken Oak plays the cello in the “Monster.”
I kinda like to keep it that way too. It’s kinda more intimate. You know? A little more real.
TMN: You’ve had quite the journey coming from Tennessee all the way out to LA to pursue your music career. Tell us what that was like.
MM: Well, I really want to say this; I didn’t move from Tennessee to LA. My dad lives in the Smokey Mountains and has always been in Tennessee. I was born in Nashville. I lived in the Smokey Mountains for a few years, and would always visit my dad but I never just only lived there. I grew up in Toledo, Ohio and I moved down to Ft. Lauderdale and lived there until I was 20. Throughout it all, Tennessee has been that one spot where my dad has always been, and that place where I can go and clear my head.
I decided though that I needed to go to New York or LA to play and just came out to LA. I played at a lot of acoustic shows, and played with a lot of people. It was always hard to find someone who really got what I was doing. I don’t want to get stuck doing one thing. I don’t want to mold my sound. I met Andy (Dr. Rosen Rosen)…wait, where am I going? What’s the question? (laughing)
TMN: (Laughing) Just wanted to know a little more about the journey. Like the comment on your website about being a Jehovah’s Witness to being in LA doing what you do now.
MM: Well these questions are always hard for me because there’s so much crazy shit that I don’t even know were to begin. I probably need therapy.
TMN: Can you give us the Cliff’s Notes version?
MM: I was a Jehovah’s Witness until I was about 13. It was really intense growing up as one. Around 13 is when my mom and my step-dad got a divorce. He stayed in it and she decided to leave. So we (me and my siblings) followed her. My mom had taken me out of school when I was 12/13, and we stopped being Jehovah’s Witnesses. Basically I just started spending all my time making art because I wasn’t in school, and I never went back to school. I just made music, I drew a lot, that’s really it. I spent my time creating. I got into a lot of trouble (laughs) which is normal if you’re not in school. It’s normal when you’re in school, but when you’re not in school, holy shit!
TMN: That’s an intense decade! Alright, let’s change it up with something random here. If your music were an animal, what would you be?
MM: A killer whale!
TMN: What’s the reason behind that?
MM: Well, they’re my favorite. Actually, if my music were an animal it would be called a Sea Wolf. I like wolves and killer whales, and killer whales are the wolves of the sea. You see?
TMN: (Laughing) We do. We follow your tumblr and Instagram closely. You seem really into art and photography. Is that a passion that came before or after music?
MM: It was all intertwined, but drawing has been something I’ve always loved so much. It’s been this outlet to get out all of the sick shit inside. I’ve been drawing since before I was making music.
TMN: You seem to have a wicked sense of humor. What’s your favorite funny movie?
MM: Asking me my favorite anything is so hard!
TMN: You can go with your top three, if that’s any easier.
MM: Fuck. I don’t have these things laid out like this. Um, let me think. I really love Wes Anderson. I really like Rushmore a lot. Jesus Chris…I uh…fuck! I can’t do this! Can we come back to this question?
TMN: Sure. Another random question, if you had to eat one type of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
MM: You’re killin me, Smalls. I take these questions very seriously. I take the stupid questions seriously. Maybe a salad that incorporates a little of everything. Some turkey, some chicken, some fruit…then you can go through what you do and what you don’t want. That way you don’t have to eat the same thing everyday. Wait, I don’t know if I like that. Alright, Lasagne!!
MM: That movie question still kicks me. It might be a Steve Martin movie. I also really love Jim Carrey. Those guys. Those guys.
Harry and the Hendersons. I love that movie.
Oh! Let me go look at my movie collection really quick. (Walks away) You know, I really love cartoons and animated films. So shit, probably like Toy Story. I like comedies, or I like action films the most. Roxanne is a good one, or the Man with Two Brains. Jurassic Park is my favorite movie though.
TMN: Ok, you just released your first EP, Daughter in the Choir, which is available as a free download on your website, meginthedark.com. Anything you want to tell our readers about it?
MM: Listen to it. It…will…change you (laughing). Ok, here’s one thing; other than “Tennessee” and “Curbstomp,” all the other songs are based around a really difficult break up. Well, We hadn’t even broken up yet actually. So, it’s about the pain of a relationship.
“Tennessee” is inspired by being sick of LA, and wanting to go back to something not-so-silly.
“Curbstomp” is about death and dying. It’s about not being afraid to die, and just letting go. When the choruses kick in, it’s like, “You’re dead.” It’s like what death feels like.
TMN: Last question, what’s next? Tour? Working on another album? More Instagram photos?
MM: A little of all, I guess. I don’t have a plan to make an album just yet. We want to keep putting out a song here and there before we focus on a whole album. We’re hoping for a tour, and at least playing shows in the area. I’m doing a residency at the Bootleg in August every Monday night. That’s really it. I’m going to keep writing and putting out songs for free. Hopefully an album next year, but we’re not really sure.
