Showcase Artist Feature: Meg Rilley
Welcome to the final installment of this round of Showcase Artist Features! Meet the final artist featured in our March 20th showcase at The Basement East, Meg Rilley!
1. What are your top 3 most influential albums?
M: “Jagged Little Pill” (Alanis Morisette) is a huge one, I love that one. This next one might be a little weird, it’s not necessarily my style but it definitely was influential for me growing up, and that’s the “Brand New Man” album by Brooks & Dunn. Then I would say, the “Yes I Am” album by Melissa Etheridge.
2. What is one song you could play (or have played) on repeat?
M: Recently I re-discovered a song I probably also used to have playing on repeat, it’s “Hanging by a Moment” by Lifehouse.
3. If you could bring back any 3 deceased artists, who would they be?
M: Oh gosh! I’d go with Janice (Joplin). Probably Freddy Mercury, he was such a performer, I would want to see that again. And, if not just for a moment, Hank Sr.
K: Any particular reasons why those three?
M: I mean, Janice I would just absolutely love to see perform modern day. I think she’s just an absolute idol, in general. Freddy Mercury was such an icon, and a character, and performer that I think he would thrive regardless of the time period. He would be a super cool person to watch thrive in this time period. And Hank, if not for just the moment. I don’t know if he would be received in the same way today as he was then. But even just to sit down and have a drink with, I think I’d love to meet the man.
4. Which artist/genre have you really been into lately?
M: Lately I’ve kind of been exploring the pop genre more, as a whole. I think I’ve tried to stay away from diving too deep into the pop genre but lately I’ve just been doing it because I think a lot of the music is very fun. I’ve been listening to a lot of P!nk’s stuff, which I always loved P!nk and appreciated her sound, but I’ve been listening more to her whole discography instead of just the popular hits. I’ve been really enjoying that! I’ve been exploring Fletcher’s discography a little more. At the same time, I’ve been gearing up for a punk show we (my band and I) are a part of. So, I’ve been listening to The Runaways and Babes in Toyland a bit more.
5. Is there any artist or genre that you absolutely CANNOT listen to?
M: I don’t think so… There’s been some hair metal that I find a little tricky to get through but none that I can’t listen to. There’s plenty of artists in that genre that I have no problem listening to, so I don’t know if there’s a whole genre that I just can’t listen to.
K: In terms of hair metal, can you think of a band that their songs just really don’t do it for you?
M: Gosh, I don’t want to call anybody out like that, um… This is gonna sound terrible, I hate saying it but maybe Whitesnake?
K: Is it David Coverdale’s voice or is it something about the lyrics?
M: I think it’s the vocal tone, there’s just something that’s not hittin’ the right thing for me.
K: He does have a very distinct tone.
M: I can’t wait to make everyone angry about that. (laughs)
6. What was your favorite show/performer you’ve seen live?
M: Actually, last year I saw Halsey live at an amphitheater and she was astounding! It was incredible! I knew it was going to be great, but I did not expect to be that blown away, but I was.
7. What is your favorite memory from one of your performances?
M: My band had just started to form and we were getting to know each other and having a lot of fun getting to know the music together, and we were playing at this outdoor music venue. There was no one (at the venue), it started raining, so no one was showing up, but we had the best time together just playing in a circle and rocking out together! Just being able to connect with my boys on that level was really cool, with all the rain around us it was kind of like a, “my life feels like a movie” moment!
8. When you’re writing a song, what’s your process? Where do you derive inspiration?
M: Most of the time, at least as of recent years, I’m co-writing. I’ve been writing a lot with Courtney Bumbacher; so, one of us will come with a hook we may have been sitting on, or even a concept, and then we’ll sit down and create a chord progression. From the chord progression, we move forward with lyrics and everything. Generally, it starts with one little idea, bouncing it off another person, then developing a chord progression and melody.
9. Do you remember the first song you ever wrote? How old were you/what prompted it?
M: I was in fifth grade, so however old you are then. So, I went to a Catholic school kindergarten to eighth grade, and at the time I had just gotten into my church’s youth choir. The woman who’s in charge of it actually became a really great friend in my life, and is one of my dearest friends to this day. At the time she was a big role model for me, and a very big encourager of my music. So I decided to write a church song, and I wrote a song about Jesus! That was my first song; I wrote it on my little Gibson guitar, and I walked in to my church and sang it on Sunday!
10. Given that as performers and artists we tend to give the most deep and vulnerable parts of ourselves to our art, and subsequently our audience, how do you re-charge and fill your cup other than songwriting or performing?
M: I really love working out and lifting, that’s a huge passion of mine and I go to the gym almost every day. Physical health almost always correlates with how my mental health does feel, so I like to keep that all on the up and up. Most recently I’ve gotten a little into randomly painting. Which I’m not good at visual arts, I’m not a good painter, please don’t ask to see any of it, but it’s just a way that I like to de-stress and get something out that’s creative but not necessarily songwriting.
11. With the oversaturation of content in today’s market (not just on social media but with the general overflow and influx of artists and their music), how do you cope with the act of staying relevant and building momentum, all whilst maintaining authenticity for yourself and your work/music?
M: I think a huge thing for me has been prioritizing what brings me the most joy and fulfilment out of my career. Because I totally agree, I’ve always kind of had this sentiment, especially in recent years, where I have felt a little at odds with the music industry where I feel like I’m not a content creator, I never wanted to be. I’ve always wanted to be a songwriter and musician, and therefore I find it very challenging to step up to the plate when it came to creating content on a consistent basis for all these different platforms. While I think I’m getting better at that, there’s definitely a learning curve. I also think I’ve just prioritized live performing, knowing that my people are around me and the people who enjoy my music, my fans, are there because they love my live performing and the energy I bring to it, and they will translate to the digital platforms.
12. Independent artists are frequently in charge of managing our socials, promoting our work and shows, and building and maintaining artist and venue connections, in addition to the actual musical aspect of our careers. Where do you feel the most challenged, and where would you like to learn/grow more in these areas? Is there anything you’re excited to get better at?
M: I mean, it’s definitely a challenge just keeping up with all of it. I absolutely understand independent artists who sign on with a manager, because, gosh, would I love someone else to manage it! Again, as I previously gave sentiment to, I’ve always struggled with keeping up with a variety of social platforms and making sure all content is translatable to all of them, and/or making different content for all of them. I feel like the overload, the amount that you have to make—not necessarily that it has to get made, more just the amount. I’ve always found that a little bit challenging, if I’m also going to be spending my time writing and performing, and doing all these other things that take up energy and time. But I also think when it comes to, for example, booking, especially when I’m travelling, I’ve gotten really good at sending out a lot of emails and not hearing anything back. Then sending the follow ups, and really sitting down and doing the business end of it to make the other stuff happen. I definitely think I’ve gotten way better at that in the last few years!
13. For people who may not be familiar with you or your music, how would you describe your sound?
M: I’m going to go with something a pal had told me a couple years ago: swampy. My pal even started calling me Swampy Meg at one point. My sound is definitely southern rock, leaning towards the rock ‘n roll end of it.
K: Do you think you have influences you’d say you maybe sound like? Or anyone that your sound is maybe akin to?
M: I mean, I love to go back to her: Melissa Etheridge, 100%.
14. Do you have any music coming out or that was recently released? What would you like us to know about it?
M: I’m planning on releasing three singles this year. The dates for those have not been announced yet but they are going to be a little heavier than the stuff I’ve released previously. I’m very excited about it, this is the first time that me and my boys (the band I’ve been playing with for years now) are going to all be playing our respective instruments and bringing what we have been doing live to the recordings. So, I’m very very excited about that!
15. What compelled you to submit to play the Music on the Move showcase?
M: I thought it sounded really cool! Like, an all-female, all around just girls top to bottom—love to see it! I thought that was really awesome, on top of the fact that The Basement East has been a dream venue of mine for a very long time. Like, since I first visited here many years ago. So, that opportunity just was not passable for me!
16. What is one thing you want the MOTM community to know about you? It doesn’t have to be music related.
M: I was born with pulmonary stenosis, which is a congenital heart defect. So, when I was born I spent probably the first month to month and a half of my life in the hospital, just going through different heart surgeries, things that weren’t working, things that were working, getting random infections, and getting some really cool scars to talk about later. Now I just am so passionate about spending some of my time and energy donating, and walking in stuff for the Adult Congenital Heart Association.
K: Wow! That’s really cool that you still donate and do stuff with them. Do you see yourself doing any shows or anything like that in the future to help donate to the cause and spread awareness?
M: Oh my gosh, I would absolutely love to! Any time they want to hit me up, I’m here! I’m absolutely here for it. They do have walks in a lot of major cities, so there’s probably one close to you. If you can’t, donate. If you can, then walk! It’s just a great way to show your support and spread awareness because 1 in 100 babies is born with (a congenital heart defect).
Stay tuned to New Music Friday this week to hear more from Meg Rilley about her featured song!
Come see Meg and our other artists live on March 20th at The Basement East, tickets are linked below!
