Getting to Know Meg Myers

This weekend, Tennessee-born, Los Angeles-dwelling singer-songwriter Meg Myers heads to the Marjorie Luke Theatre as part of Requisition, an evening-long performance and fundraising event to benefit area music camp Girls Rock S.B. While she may not be a household name yet, Myers’ powerful voice and unapologetic style is quickly making her one to watch. Her recently released Daughter in the Choir EP is a powerful first effort filled with pretty pop melodies, catchy kiss-off numbers, and a sound that’s nothing short of huge. In short, it’s a release that signals big things to come.

In anticipation of her Saturday night performance, we recently chatted with Myers about collaborations, inspirations, and the importance of connecting with the next generation of female music makers.

When did you first start playing music? Around 12-13

What was your first instrument and what led you to picking it up? When I was about 12 I was fooling around on keys. At 13 I picked up bass and then started writing songs on guitar and piano.

Who were some of the formative artists in your life? Sting, Enya, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Jewel, Tracy Chapman, James Taylor, Led Zeppelin, Heart, Beethoven, and TLC.

Growing up, were you interested in the collaborating aspect of music writing, or was it more of a solitary pursuit? It’s always been a good balance/mix of both of those, but as I get older though I find it to be more of a solitary pursuit/therapy.

Were you in bands before pursuing the singer-songwriter thing? I was in a band with my older brother from age 14-17 where I played bass and we both sang.

What were the bands like? It was a grunge/punk rock sorta thang.

Can you tell me a little bit about your relationship with your producer/collaborator Andy Rosen? We met a couple years ago and started working together and it felt good so we kept going. Now we are practically brother and sister. We talk about pooping a lot.

How does the writing process work out between the two of you? The writing changes up constantly. Sometimes he writes something and I come up with a melody to it or I write something and bring it to him and we add to it. I never really worked with producer humans before him, so there’s no comparison, but I’m sure if I had, there would still be no comparison.

Looking back, if older you could go back in time and give younger you life/career advice, what would it be? I would tell my younger me that there is more to life than the skin we live in.

As an up-and-coming musician, how important is it for you to be reaching out to younger music makers? It’s most important to me to be reaching out to the young makers of anything.

How did you get involved with Girls Rock SB? They like what I do, I like what they do, and it just happened.

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Meg Myers headlines Girls Rock S.B.’s Requisition at the Marjorie Luke Theatre (721 E. Cota St.) on Saturday, February 23, at 7 p.m. For tickets and info, visit girlsrocksb.org.