Meg Mac has been singing for as long as she can remember; and her voice is one that is hard to forget.
The Australian singer/songwriter has been making waves in the industry since 2013 when her first single âKnown Betterâ gained radio play on Australiaâs Triple J and she released her critically acclaimed debut EP Meg Mac. The artist plans to release her first full-length album this year, which has been named by Triple J and Rolling Stone Australia as one of their Most Anticipated Albums of 2016. Because of her honest lyricism, genuine talent, and undeniably powerful voice, Meg Mac is going to be an artist to watch.
Interview by Sadie Bell
Tell us about your upbringing and how it shaped the person you are now. Did your parents play any particular kind of music at home during your childhood?
I remember so clearly when my Dad used to play Ray Charles, he would play it SO loud, he listened to everything very loud. My Dad listened to lots of music and was always playing something and my Mum was always singing, usually some old Irish songs. I listened to lots of different music but my favourite was the Motown and soul music my Dad would put on. Singing along even if it meant screaming was normal, there was nothing strange about singing in my family â itâs just what we did.
How did you get into the music industry? Who do you consider your role models in this career decision?
Like a lot of artists now, I put my music up online and thatâs where it all started for me and my music in the âindustryâ. But I am very inspired by powerful singers and artists – I look up to two old artists the most, Edith Piaf and Sam Cooke. When I hear their voices, it doesnât matter that they aren’t here anymore, it is powerful. They sing because they have to and I will never be able to stop listening to them, they are timeless voices.
Talk us through your path as a musician
Once I worked out how to play chords on the piano I realised pretty quick that you could make up your own songs and sing things no one had ever sung before. So songwriting is what got me into this, it was the first time I found something that took over my whole life. I uploaded my song online (Triple J Unearthed) and got to hear myself on the radio for the first time â that is my first highlight! And since then I have had many. But this year I got to sing overseas for the first time, starting with SXSW, I went on tour with DâAngelo around America â I played festivals at home in Australia and did my first shows in London too!
“I donât like to talk about my problems, but I sing about them. I sing some things I would never share with anyone, my songs come from the things inside my head that I canât stop thinking about or canât work out yet”
Whatâs your creative process? Do you start with an idea or concept?
I donât like to talk about my problems, but I sing about them. I sing some things I would never share with anyone, my songs come from the things inside my head that I canât stop thinking about or canât work out yet â I usually sit at a piano put my phone on record and just sing. Chords, melodies, lyrics everything happens at the same time.
How would you best classify your music? Has this changed?
I think my music is always changing, because I am always changing and learning new things and getting inspired by new sounds too. I donât know how to classify my music, I wait to hear what others say about it.
What’s the most impactful or memorable comment or question you’ve received?
Someone left a handwritten note at the merch desk one night at one of my shows, it was so sad but amazing what this person had gone through and they had been listening to one of my songs at the time. It made me look at what I am doing in a different way â when you start writing songs you never know who will listen to it and what it might mean to them.
What keeps you motivated to keep going in this industry?
I have just as much fun in my room by myself singing as I do on stage so when the industry and other stuff gets in the way I go back to my piano and just sing. And then it all makes sense again.
What do you think about the current state of the music industry? Do you think there are any notable differences between the US and Australian audiences?
This is my only experience of the industry, but I think that is it very nice and I am having fun. For some reason Americans love Australians – that doesnât ever happen here.
