A Conversation with Meg Myers – HuffPost 2.25.14

Mike Ragogna: Meg, you have a new EP, Make A Shadow that features the single “Desire,” that song having a pretty intense video. First of all, what inspires your creativity?

Meg Myers: It always changes, who I listen to for inspiration. But I do have a few go-to’s these days: Sting, Enya, Dire Straits, Fleetwood Mac, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Depeche Mode, Randy Travis, Townes Van Zandt, Tracy Chapman, Alt-J, Ludovico Einaudi, Tupac, Vast, Robert Plant…

MR: How would you describe your style?

MM: Raw, primal and vulnerable. Alternative Rock/Dark Pop with added electronic elements.

MR: As you were recording the songs for Make A Shadow, do you think the process of recording brought out more of the song’s meaning or layers beyond what you originally imagined the song itself to be?

MM: Yeah, that’s a really great question. I think that that happened mostly with “Make A Shadow.” I wrote that song over a year ago and so to come back to it with new life experiences, well, I think I actually connected to it even more in a strange way than when I wrote it. I also cried throughout recording those verses, half because it was emotional and half because I’m a big baby and I was probably PMSing.

MR: [laughs] What are you looking to achieve as an artist, what will ultimately satisfy you?

MM: I don’t know… I want to put out music that I feel great about and I want to play shows to fans who genuinely feel what I am expressing and that’s what I want. What will ultimately satisfy me? Being able to take care of my family so that they don’t have to struggle anymore and also finding a little peace within.

MR: Which artists or bands inspired you?

MM: Mark Knofler, Lindsey Buckingham, Robert Plant, Sting, Ludovico, Trent Reznor, Jewel, Tracy Chapman, Joan Osborne, Sinead O’Connor, Enya, John Frusciante, Eric Clapton, James Taylor, Kurt Cobain, Layne Staley and many more.

MR: What do you think of the current trends in popular or artist-oriented music?

MM: Uhmmm…. Haha, no comment.

MR: [laughs] What was the inspiration for and story behind “Desire”‘s video?

MM: I thought it was more powerful to have an invisible person than a real person. The song is dark and sexual so it only made sense to make a video that lined up with the intensity of the song. However, I found it created something even darker and disturbing by adding innocent elements, such as the teddy bear sweatshirt, the socks and the cartoons and other footage on the TV screen. I don’t know how to explain it exactly, like what it means to me. But life is a struggle for me and a lot of people I’m sure between dark places and wholesome places and that is kinda what it represents to me in a way.

MR: What are your interests beyond creating and performing music?

MM: I love all of the arts. I draw in my spare time–don’t have much though–and write/read stories. I love movies, mostly animated, and I love to hike and box. I also love animals. I like playing cards and chess and I like to whittle.

MR: What’s your advice for new artists?

MM: Be yourself and don’t hold back your feelings. Well, I mean like find a healthy outlet for them.

MM: How do you picture Meg five years from now?

MM: I don’t know really, it would be nice to have a garden and a home studio and be closer to my family. also I’m sure if all goes well I’ll be on the road in 5 years nonstop!