Band Crush: Meg Myers

Meg Myers' highly anticipated full-length album, Sorry, debuted September 18, much to the delight of her dedicated fans. Throughout the record, Myers’ distinct and powerful voice shines brightly, often shifting from buttery, rich vocals to a flurry of heavy-hearted wails. Of her latest single, the anthemic, charged-up "Lemon Eyes"—the acoustic version of which we're premiering here—Myers says that it's a song "about reassuring someone who is feeling the sourness of jealousy that they are yours, and you are theirs.”  Listen to the track below, and read on as Myers talks about moving to Los Angeles from her native Florida, her dream collaborator, and her love of Southern music.

You moved to L.A. right before you turned 20. What inspired you to take the risk?

I had been playing music for a while. I started playing in a band with my brother when I was 13. He taught me bass. I had been in a few bands over the years. Around 17, I just really wanted to do my own thing. I didn't really know what that was, but I was writing a lot of songs and I didn't see a future for for me in South Florida, where I was living. I wanted to do what basically every teenager wants—to go to a big city and pursue something. I think it's just this deep desire of wanting to discover who you are. So, that's what I did. And it didn't happen right away. It took a good four or five years until I met my producer [Andy Rosen, a.k.a. Dr. Rosen Rosen].

In the past, you’ve said that you and your (now ex) boyfriend had broken up over your "Desire" music video because he had deemed it “too dark and sexual.” Have other important people in your life taken issue with your music? Is your family supportive of your career?

Yeah, they are. All of them. They actually always have been. Before, my dad would sometimes say things like, "So, what are you going to do as a backup job?" But he always loved what I do, now more than ever. My whole family is really musical, so it wasn't like this weird thing where they’d say, "Why aren't you becoming a lawyer or a doctor?”

If you could choose anyone to work with, vocally, who would it be?

I'm so excited to answer this question! I've been so into Ryan Adams! I've always known of him and some of his songs and covers, like "Wonderwall," but lately, I've been devouring all of his music and watching his videos. I'm like a crazy person right now with it. It's amazing, though, I haven't been inspired by another artist like this for a really long time… It's just funny, because he's been around for so long and I’m just now getting really into him. But when I listen to his music, I think, This is who I'd want to work with! I don't know if it would work, I don't know if he'd want to work with me or, you know, if he's cool. 

Looking back, is there anything you would change about what you've done artistically?

So, first of all, I’m so happy with the release of my album, you have no idea. It's just taken so long and I couldn't ask for anything else. It was exactly what I wanted to put out, so that's great. I feel like there are so many things I want to do... and I haven't necessarily been doing those things. I haven't really had a lot of time, because you have to put a lot of work into one project. That's just the way it works if you want to succeed. Not that I regret anything that I've done artistically, there's just so many things that I want to do that I haven't done yet. Things that I'm, like, fiending to do. Sometimes, I’ll somewhat regret little things I say in interviews, that sort of thing. I think that's always going to happen and you just have to accept it. I'm 29, and, you know, I’m sure I'll be 35 thinking, What was I thinking when I was 29! But I'm growing, and that’s normal.

What are some of the things you’ve mentioned that you’d like to do but don’t have time for yet?

I listen to a lot of classical music. A lot of softer stuff. I think I just want to do something completely different. I also love country, that Southern sound. I love bluegrass. That's not what I want to do, bluegrass, but maybe something Southern. I also love jazz. It would be cool to dabble in all these different worlds. I want to learn the piano, too; I started taking lessons when I was nine, but I really want to take lessons and be able to translate what I'm feeling to the keys.

You’ve said the song "Motel" is about finding joy amidst the pain. Do you envision that “joyful” feeling influencing your songs in the future?

Yeah, I do. I do think my writing has changed in that I can now pull from different kinds of experiences that aren't strictly dark. But even though I’m able to pull from these lighter experiences now, I am still always going to be a melancholy and emotional writer.

If you can have a conversation with anyone in the world (past or present), who would it be and why?

Hm… I guess Jesus! I don't think I need to explain why. [Laughs.]

I don't think I've ever gotten that answer before!

Ha-ha, yeah! Definitely Jesus. That would clear up a lot of things for everyone.

Meg Myers’ debut LP, Sorry, is now available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon. The album is available for streaming on Spotify and Soundcloud. Many thanks to Meg Myers and Atlantic Records! For more information about the author, visit laurenkruczyk.com.