Broadcasting live out of a basement in Appleton, Wisconsin.You're tuned into Fox City's Core on WCZR Code Zero Radio.For the show that gives you an opportunity to call in and be a part of the show.Our call in line is 920-358-0795.Core.
My next guest currently resides in San Francisco.She has independently sold over 50,000 copies of her albums.She has appeared numerous times at Mile of Music.I'd like to welcome Megan Slankar to Fox Cities Core.How are you doing today, Megan?
I'm good.Thank you for having me.
How does it feel to come back into the Fox Cities area on a not Mile of Music time?
I mean, anytime I can make it back to Appleton, Fox Cities area, is a good time for me.I love playing here.I just feel like people really appreciate music.It's like a community of just people who appreciate art.So, it's good.
Do you have any favorite haunts when you roll into town?
I mean, my band and I, every time, you know, Mile wraps up for the day, you know, and most people go off and get the sleep that they deserve and need, we go to play or two and play arcades.I kind of like, yeah, I love, I love it all.It's fun. Yeah.
And so how many times have you been back to play in Appleton?Have you been here besides during Mile of Music times?
Yeah, a few times, mostly just Mile, but a few times in between for different things, Mile-related things, which I always just appreciate that Mile of Music doesn't need to be the festival for Mile of Music to be like, you know what?
We're just going to make music all the time.
Well, it's, it's, your career has been, it's very vast.We're talking before it's, I was trying to find out everything I could about you, which I realized is impossible, but let's kind of go back to, to when you started the music.
You have a, a TEDx talk out there, which you lay everything out and while you talk about it, how you first fell in love with, with music.
Well, first of all, the TEDx was maybe the most scary thing I've ever done in my entire life.If I have a guitar on my lap or if I'm talking about music, I like to know that there's at least a guitar around me.
But a full speech was not prepared for that. Maybe the most, yeah, terrifying.I'm glad I did it, but I'm glad it's over.Yeah, I started to talk about, the beginning of my career was like, I fell in love with the Beatles.
I fell in love with the Beatles because my dad brought home a Beatles movie from the library.
which they have like five movies on circulation so anytime a new one would come in like finally oh we got one from this other little town sharing movies um they would just get it and we would just watch it regardless of what it was
And yeah, we did not want to watch these four people from the 60s play their silly music.We didn't know who they were.We were all just little kids.And my dad put it on, and immediately I was mesmerized.
And I had wanted to be a veterinarian until I had seen that.And then immediately I was like, OK, now I'm going to be a beetle.
Well, I think he said it was the particular Beatles film was help.
It was help.Yes, it was.Silly, but the music just grabbed me.
One of the better Beatles movies, though, in my opinion, I don't know.
I think it's probably one of the best one, actually.
Yeah.Have you sat through Magical Mystery?Oh, yeah.
Oh, yeah.I sat through them all.
So so that got you interested in being a Beatle.Yes.Learning to play an instrument.
Yes.Yeah, I had played piano as a teenier kid.And I feel like sometimes you have to connect with it.Like, it wasn't that I didn't love music at that time.It was that I didn't love either piano or I didn't love the way it was being shown to me.
So I didn't really connect with my teacher.And I remember asking my mom for guitar lessons once I decided I was going to be George Harrison at first.Now I want to be Paul McCartney.
But I was going to be George Harrison, and I begged her, can I switch to guitar lessons?And she was like, sure, why not?And I remember my teacher was such this old guy.He was so old.He was 16.
And I was like, he would be like, OK, he's this responsible 16-year-old old man, and he's trying to show me music theory.And all I wanted to do was play Beatles songs.He was like, well, OK.
You have to learn how to play the guitar before you have to play the songs.But yeah, eventually he just relinquished control and all we did was learn Beatles songs.
So when did you start writing your own songs?
I started writing my own songs at 13 and they were not good, but you got to start somewhere.Did you record any of those? I recorded them on cassette tape.That was the medium that was available to me at the time.
I recorded them on my parents' cassette player.I can't even remember how I'd do it.
Was that the play and the record button at the same time?
Yes, at the same time, yes.And I remember going through many, many, many tapes.And then at one point I switched to minidiscs.Remember those?
Yeah, I never used them though.
Yeah, such a waste of resources.So much plastic. But yeah, tons and tons of demo tapes, which I did digitize.I promised my mom I would not throw them away without digitizing, but I will never listen to them, ever.
So nothing good came out of those songwriting, early songwriting sessions?
I mean, I think the experience came out.And then I started recording my first album when I was 16.I released it when I was 18, and I did it at home with the help from my brother.
We recorded on Digital Performer, which was like a Pro Tools-ish sort of program.
And that was pretty new around that time, wasn't it?
I think so.Yeah, I don't know.My brother was interested in recording, so he got it.He was the nerd who knew how to set it up, and I just went along with it.
So what year was that first album released?
Mm, that's a really good question.Was that 2001?
Was that Lady is a Pirate?Yes.That was 2001.
What was the reception like when you released that?
It was, I mean, we came from a pretty small town.I think maybe, I mean, maybe it was 30,000-ish people when we were there.We lived in the outskirts.So the music community was small, but it was tight.
We had this awesome music store called Main Street Music.And like, I just spent all my time there and met other musicians.It was kind of like the only place
one of the only young female singer-songwriters in the area, because there just weren't that many people.So I think it did relatively well.I mean, it's not the greatest album.It's certainly not recorded very well or not written very well.
I'm proud that I put it out, and I'm grateful for those songs.
Let's dissect that comment.What makes you think that those aren't good songs?What's evolved that makes the newer songs superior to those first?
Well, I like the fact that I can look back on them, and both hold space for being grateful that they exist, because they kept me going.And I like that they represent a specific part of me and a specific time of me.
But I also like that I can look back and go, oh, I would have changed x, y, and z. Because if I was like, oh, they're perfect, then it means that I haven't learned anything.
And I want every album, I want to be able to look back and be like, I'm proud of you, and I'm glad that I know more now.And I think like, now I understand a little bit more.
about like, I don't know, the structure of a song or even just knowing my own emotions and feelings and melody.I understand melody a little bit better.But there's some things that I can even go back and maybe learn from older Megan, like
But that's fine.When that first album came out, did you start playing as many shows as you could at that point?You released your next album three years later.Yes.So you had the bug right away.
You knew this is what you wanted to do and you were going to pursue it.
It was so much.And it was like nothing.I was so entirely focused.I started guitar when I was 10, and then writing when I was 13, and then recording my album when I was 16.
But I had my first, I'm going to put air quotes for our listeners, but my first page show. was when I was fifteen.It was like a three-hour cover gig, and I was so nervous.It was like December twenty-third.I can't even remember what year it was.
It was one of those things where I had friends helping me because I didn't know three hours worth of music yet.I remember the owner of the music store was there, and he was supporting with my family.He was like, I think you're doing a great job.
I think you should write more songs because at least one in every three songs should be your Song not just covers like that should be a goal and I still remember that I'm like, oh, yeah, I should write more So that was really helpful for young me because I loved playing mostly Beatles Yeah, how many songs at this point are original songs that you've written I
Oh, good question.Um, probably maybe 300, I would say about 120 I've written and released on Patreon.And then I've done, uh, five albums?Six albums?Five albums?
I can't count.I think you did six.Six?
Jeez.And then some of those songs, I think 10 of those songs are on Patreon, so we won't count that one.And then I have a bunch of other songs that are just sort of like on the outskirts that haven't been released.Yeah.
When you're writing that many songs, does it get hard not to repeat?Yeah.I mean, you must be writing, and then all of a sudden, you're like, wait, that sounds like this.
No, I've done it.I think it's difficult, especially since I write and record a new song every month.
I can definitely, if I look back at those songs, especially if I'm trying to find something and I'm listening to the intro of, I don't know, 20 songs in a row, I can feel my patterns.I can hear my patterns.
I'm like, oh, well, that was the time when I did the descending bass line.Or that was the time when I did the crunchy harmonies. And then there'll be occasionally I'll be like, yeah, this sounds familiar.Like, I hope I'm not ripping someone off.
I mean, it's, you're constantly pulling influence, whether you mean to or not from like, you know, for me, it could be like a song that I heard 20 years ago, or like this, a siren running by, you know, my house. Or the, yeah, a bird chirping.
It doesn't matter what it is, like some sort of noise, it gets into my brain, it gets like, it's, you're cooking, you're like, you're throwing it in the pot with all of this other ingredients.
Uh, and it's, uh, I just, my mind popped into the, there's a Glenn Phillips song that you can't remember, but the music video is this amazing music video, um, where he's throwing all of these ingredients in this big pot and stirring it up with a spoon, but he's throwing in all sorts of, I'll see if I can find it.
Cause you should look it up.That's what to me songwriting is like.Um, and yeah, so. Occasionally I will repeat myself, but maybe it's like I need to continue to say that thing or who knows.
I like to think there's a reason other than just, I don't know, stagnant.
Are you drawing off personal things that happen to you for your songs or a combination of both?
A combination of both.I think I used to write a little bit more further away from myself.I don't know if it was like out of fear or out of inexperience or both.But I do pull I have started pulling more and more stuff from my own experience.
I think I'm just older and I have more experiences now, and I have more things to say, but I also know how to say them a little bit better.And I also have slightly, I mean, more and less fear, depending on what you're talking about.
Yeah, I think that I've gotten a little bit better at being more personal.I think when I'm a little bit more personal and authentic, that I think people can, the energy is closer to what other people are, even if it's, oops, knocked the microphone.
Rookie mistake.Don't get mad. Yeah, I think other people can at least tune into the feeling that you are authentic, you know what I mean?If I'm like, you know, this one thing happened, but it's totally not true, then it's harder.
However, I do like to make stories as well.So there are plenty of them.
Was that a bigger issue when you were younger?
Because I'm sure you had people, I'll just throw the stereotype out there, some older guy walk up to you when you're 20 or 25 and start questioning you about a lyric or the unsolicited advice on what you should do to maybe change this or maybe do that.
Yeah, for sure.No, I definitely still get that.I think people like to be involved in the creative process and sometimes we can't help it ourselves. I realized that was my boot squeaking.So, guys.
You're going to be wearing those at the show tonight.
I will.You'll see.You'll see, guys.
So we're around the Freaky Little Story.That was your second album in 2004.Was it right before this that you appeared on that TLC show?Let's talk about that right away.You appeared on, was it What Not to Wear?
Which I think is a show I accidentally watched a few times at my mother-in-law's house.Okay, and if people haven't seen it, you get ambushed.Was that all planned?Were they bummerish you, you're standing there on stage,
No, I had no idea.So the great thing about this show is growing up, my parents wouldn't let us watch TV.They told us it would rot our brains.And occasionally, which is funny.I love you parents so much.But now when I see a TV, I'm just mesmerized.
I'm like, what is this magical box?But we did. Yeah, so I didn't know what TLC was.I didn't know what What Not to Wear was.I barely knew what a reality TV show was.So when they, all of my friends were at this show, and I was like, well, that's weird.
My friends never come see me play.And they were all there.And the doors swing open, and these people rush in.They have these lights and cameras, and these two really, they felt like giants, these tall New York personalities.
And I was like, they rush on stage and I was like, this place must be filming a commercial.So I really just didn't know.And they were like, Congratulations, you're on WhatNotToWear.
And they hand me this credit card, and the credit card says Void on the back of it.And I was so confused.I didn't know what any of it was.And then they turn off the cameras, and they're like, OK, so here's the deal.We're a reality TV show.
We're called WhatNotToWear.And have you heard of us?And I'm like, no.And they give you a little spiel.Like, we take you to New York.We throw away your clothes.We make fun of you.And then we buy you a whole new wardrobe.
And I was like, oh, and they're like, do you want to be on it?Here's the paper, just sign it.And I'm like, um, and they're like, well, put your music in the show.And I was like, all right, where do I sign?
And it was back when reality TV was pretty, sorry, that's my boot again, you guys.I'm just not comfortable.Okay, now I'm comfortable.
But you talk, you really get behind toe socks in that segment.
I do.Honestly, I really liked them and I think I liked them as like a little hippie, rebellious person.But I realize as I've grown into my body a little more, toe socks make me feel slightly claustrophobic.
Maybe my toes are sweatier now, I don't know.But back in the day, that was one of the reasons they put me on the show was because they're like, this is not fashionable. I think toe socks are cool.They're like little hugs for your feet.
But yeah, so then they flew me to New York and did everything they said they were gonna do.But honestly, I feel like they were really supportive of my music.Even the hosts, for years later, would check up on me and be like, how's your music doing?
And they came to my shows when I came to New York.It was just like another time.
Does the guy in that show, does he do a house remodel show now?
Maybe.I just saw on TikTok that they're doing a new show.And I don't know what it's called.But Stacey and Clinton, the hosts, they have reunited to do a more inclusive, more friendly fashion show.
It's kind of like wear whatever you want sort of show, which I think is a cool idea.
So what was the reaction when you appeared on here?It's still the video that I saw had hundreds of thousands of views and still has like fresh comments coming in.
Insane.They posted a, I did a, they posted a clip on TikTok and I did a little, um, like, I guess.
like reaction video to it where I told people like what it was going to be like and that clip of mine got like a million and a half views and nothing none of my music ever gets that much ever but this show it just shows the testament that this show was has fans you know
And I think people were really excited for me, but that I was on it.
I think the fashion that I ended up with wasn't like, I mean, like right now I'm wearing this like oversized Def Leppard sweatshirt, but, and I only shop at the thrift store exclusively as a point of pride, but
Oh, thank you.I like to think there's something going on up there.
The host says in there, oh, that's Gucci, or something have on.It's like, that's kind of what's wrong with society now.But anyway.
Yeah, I'm not like me.I don't know how old I was.A 20-something-year-old me was not as I was a hippie, but I didn't really know about things like fast fashion and like the price of these garments, I was like, the sticker shock was insane.
Like I'm not gonna buy something if it's over, you know, $20 or whatever at the thrift store.
Well, I don't want to spend the whole hour talking about this show, but it is, it's a fun, it's a fun one.It's online if people want to find it.Okay.
So you put out a little extra sun in 2005, so you're cranking out music at this point, but then there's a six year lull before the next release.
And did the, I always, I butcher his name every time, that David- Knopfler.Knopfler, thank you.Yes.Did that happen prior?Was that early in your career?
Yeah, that actually happened, I think, around the Freaky Little Story, the second album, right before What Not to Wear, because I remember coming home from one of the tours.
So David Knopfler from Dire Straits, but he was one of the brothers, not Mark Knopfler, but he was one of the songwriting brothers, so nice.
He found my music on a singer-songwriter website that a friend had put my music up on, and he just emailed me.He was like, hey, this is really cool stuff.And since I'm a classic rock nerd, I was like, Knopfler?How many people have the name Knopfler?
I was like, thanks.I really appreciate it, bruh.You wouldn't happen to be part of the Knopfler Dire Straits Knopflers.And he was like, yeah, that was me, but that's another lifetime ago when I was like, oh, cool.
Can I ask you questions about the music industry?And he was like, why not?And then we became email pals, just like,
nerds and he's like, well, what music does like a young person listen to these days and I Was so into Counting Crows So into Counting Crows, I mean it's still in the Counting Crows, but I was like, oh you gotta listen to this band Counting Crows He's like Counting Crows
And so, and we shared music back and forward.And then he was like, you know what, it'd be fun if you like opened for my tour coming up.And I was like.
That escalated quickly.Yeah.
I mean, it was a long, he was like, but you have to bring your dad or something.Cause I don't want to be a babysitter.And I was like, cool.And so yeah, me and my dad went to Germany and did, a couple of tours with David Noffler, which was really fun.
And you co-wrote a song.We co-wrote a song together.Yeah, what a really fun, I still regard that time as like one of the biggest highlights of my life.I learned so much.He's such an incredible mentor. And an amazing songwriter.
So I learned a lot about songwriting.I think that's when my songwriting began to shift a little bit away from the theoretical, like, oh, here's a figurative thing to more of like, here's a little bit more literal.I don't know.Yeah.It was good.
And his guitar player, Harry Bogdanov, was insane.He would always be like, have you tried this tuning?Just a bunch of nerds.Guys, I have to move my shoe again. I'm just gonna take them off.
It looks suspicious, but we've already explained it.
Wait, for those of you who can see the camera, wait, wait, see?
I just wear these when I'm gassy.
So there was that big period of time in between a little extra sun and a token of the wreckage.What were you doing in between there?
Tell me about it.But you know what?It allowed me, I was doing lots and lots of touring as well.
Having that sort of experience, I mean, relationships can be tricky, especially if you listen to the My TEDx that I did was kind of specifically about, part of it was about what is it like when you choose music?
When music is, you are music, and it's hard not to be that, and sometimes it does affect the relationships around you. But yeah, I think that that experience with that boy at the time. was a big growing up experience for me.
And I think I was able to write this whole album, A Token of the Wreckage, because of that.So in a way, I am grateful.But you know, more fuel to the fire.
And you had Running on Machinery in 2015.And then of course, the California and other stories, which was that post COVID?
California and other stories we recorded and were, we recorded, was it in COVID or right before COVID?Essentially, it was derailed by COVID one way or another.But it was one of those things where, yeah, it would have come out a lot
Oh yeah, when did it come out?
20... That's the only one I didn't write the year for, so I can't help you.
Should I know these things?I should, absolutely.
I'm supposed to know these things.I apologize.
That's all right.What is time?Does anybody really know what time it is?
Well, you did the artwork for that album, right?
I did.Yes, I did.Whenever I did Token of the Wreckage was the first time I discovered that you didn't have to put your face on your album.I always hated it.I don't want to put my mug on my album.
I just like, I want the album to continue to be a piece of art.I have lots of people be like, well, how do people, how will people know that it's yours?I'm like, well, I guess I'll have to tell them.I just don't want my face on my album.
I don't know why.So I found an artist to do both a Token of the Wreckage and the album after it, Running on Machinery.He's an amazing artist, multimedia artist in San Francisco. But then I was like, well, it's fun.
I love supporting other artists, but I also love drawing.And so I just had this.I draw on my iPad with a pencil, and it's really fun.So I just draw all the time.And I had been drawing album artwork for my Patreon creations, a monthly single.
I was like, you know what, maybe I could draw one for my album.And I just pictured it being a vinyl, like a big.And I was like, I don't even want a title on it.I just want it to be a picture.And it's really, really fun.
And I like the fact that it can just be like a statement in its own right.And then, of course, when you turn it over, the vinyl is all handwritten text.
Which, if I were to do it over again, I don't know if I would do that because it took forever and I did so many misspells.There's so many errors on the back of that album.But, you know.
Are people still pointing out these errors to you or has anybody even noticed?
No, I think the one that's the worst is I think it's one of my best buddies and I, his name is Christopher and I spelt Christopher wrong.It was just an accident.Like, cause you're constantly smooshing the text and like readjusting the text and size.
I forgot the H. Christopher.Christopher.I don't know.
Well, you've designed t-shirts as well for bands, and you've done voiceover work.You've done a lot of stuff.Do you feel that you're constantly moving?Do you ever sit and relax?
No, I don't.I think I don't.I feel kind of awkward when I'm just sitting, or guilty.I feel guilty for not working.But I also really, I feel, I love creating things.Also, as a kid, I went back when I wanted to be George Harrison.
That was the thing that I pictured.I was going to be a lead guitar player for a band.
started, you know, figuring out who I was, I realized that sort of the vision of success that the like, this is what you're going to be when you grow up, I realized that that's always going to grow and change, especially as being an independent musician slash artist is like,
Music is going to continue to change, so thus I'm going to have to adapt with it.And I have so many passions for so many different things, it helps.
So I can, like, if I'm not going to make rents this month, then I can do some harmonies for someone, or I can do a t-shirt design for somebody, or do a voiceover for someone.
When you've been in the music business so long, you mentioned the changing trends.Have you found yourself needing to change your path musically?Because your style, it's hard to pinpoint.
Is that the influences or is that just kind of trying to stay with the times?
It's not I so I don't the way I consume music I really don't listen to a lot of music the most music I listen to his friends these days I do like music but music is isn't a relaxed thing for me if I'm if a music is on it's
I'm analyzing it, which is awesome, but can be exhausting.So, like, the song's on, like, my whole body is moving to it.Like, I'm dancing to it, but I'm also like, wow, oh, that's a cool snare sound.
Or, oh, interesting, I didn't know that you, like, the way they panned that tom is really cool.I wonder how they got the kick drum and the bass to be so present without conflicting with each other.Like, what EQ band are they cutting out?Like,
It gets crazy, or I love the way they sang that, or that's a cool melody.It never stops.And so the most relaxing time is silence for me.Or if I need to, because I definitely have an inner dialogue.
So if that's too loud, then a podcast, a nice podcast. Drawing yeah stuff like that, but I have had to adapt just like I Think taking on things like doing the voiceover and doing the design work has helped because I'm not touring as much.
I'm still touring, but I'm not touring as much so I'm not getting the income from that touring as much and And then, I'm also still, I'm noticing trends with like AI, people are using AI for harmonies, or AI for voiceover now.
So it's not even real humans, which I understand, you know, adapt, but it is starting to eat even into the newest lines of my income now.And, yeah.
It's getting less and less attractive to be a musician, isn't it?
It is.Yeah.Yeah.I mean, I guess we did this.We've done this constantly, though, right?
Because like, you know, all these people with these gorgeous analog studios, and then we've come out with these digital, the DAWs, like the digital audio workstations that are just taking
I have my own home studio, so I don't need to go into the big, fancy analog studios anymore, even though I love them.But I'm also, personally, I'm obsessed and want to learn about production and engineering and things like that.
So that, to me, is really important for me to have a space that I can use those tools.But I do see, for people who aren't even
really interested in the recording side and just want to record, things are so easy now that you don't even have to know about it and you can make an album.Just crazy.
Do you like the process of recording yourself in your studio or do you prefer somebody else to do it?
I love recording.I would love to get more into production.And it's one of my favorite things.That's how I write now.I sit in front of my workstation and write.Yeah.
Well, we've got so much ground to cover.Let's talk about it.I'm going to say this wrong, too.N-D-I-Y.Oh, yeah. Yeah, well, before we get into that, we've got another guest.
Vandy!Can I come in?Yeah, right over there.Sorry to interrupt us.Oh my gosh.
Well, Megan, Andy, Andy, Megan.Hi!
I'm moving in.Yeah, now you're outnumbered.How do you feel about this?
All of a sudden my angles are all messed up.Talk amongst yourself.
Where would you like me? Here, yeah, perfect.How was your drive?You know what, my drive was pleasant.I'm so glad.It was pleasant.Where were you coming in from?Chicago.Oh, and wearing your Chicago shirt to boot.
I'm that person.I love it.I'm that person.I'm like, am I going to a city with which I have a shirt or a sweatshirt that represents said city?And I will wear it.That's fantastic.I just ate the biggest donut, so pardon me while I like it.
Oh, that's awesome.When in Wisconsin, it's the donuts and it's the... The naughty things, for sure.
I had a couple of incredible vegan donuts yesterday.
I'm so sorry I tried to find them.They didn't have it at the gas station, I saw.It's not really like the gas station isn't like... It was a Long John?Have you ever heard of these?Are these a popular thing?
Yeah, the quick trip has lots of long johns.
That's where I was, my friend.That's where I was.The old quick trip.Couldn't hold the rest needed anyway.This is a lot of information here this morning, but I had to pee.And then I was like, doughnuts and coffee.
So I'm so glad I made it.
I'm so glad you're here.I'm tilting this microphone so I can look at both of you and also talk directly into the... So this is so unexpected.
I wasn't sure when I was gonna, you know, get to be in your presence again, Miss Megan Slinkard.Oh my gosh, I'm so excited.
The two of you have something going on tonight.Later this evening might be a good time to tell everybody what that is.
Megan, do you want to introduce yourself?Oh yes, hello.My name is Megan Farrell and I'm back in my favorite city, really honestly, outside of Appleton. You know, this is where Myla Music lives and breathes and where we met and became friends.
You met at the Myla Music?We sure did.
Well, we met before.Megan met Megan online.We met online.
Megan and Megan fell in love online for sure.It was love at first sight.
I was doing rock boat soundcheck and Megan was, were you on the boat that year? Yes.So Megan was on the boat that year, and I was checking out the other artists, and I was one of the artists who was doing this sound check.
It was a contest to see if you could get on the boat, and I was one of the top five people.Right.And so I was in the running, and I was like, oh my gosh, there's another Megan?Yes.And so I checked out.And I thought the exact same thing.
I was like, clicky, clicky, enter, diving in.
Who is this?Non-A or H Megan.
And I was like, who is this Megan with an A and an H? And then I checked out your music and I was like, oh my goodness.Fun times, yeah.Yeah, and immediately I was like, we have to start a band together.
So we just started communicating online.And then it was like, you like cats, I like cats.You drink tea, I drink tea.Oh my gosh, we're like.You have bangs, I have bangs.I have bangs, yeah.We're both wearing beanies, you're wearing beanies.
Yeah, but this one's, you know, West Coast.I'm East Coast.Yeah.So it's perfect.But we just we meet in the middle.Can we write that song?
Yeah.Oh, we should write that song.You met in the Midwest.Yeah.Megan's in the Midwest.Here it goes.Andy, here it goes.That's our theme song to our TV show.
You are meeting today at the Crystal Ballroom.
Oh yeah, that's what we were supposed to talk about before attention deficit disorder took over.
Sure, a mile down the road.It's at 1 p.m., so coming up shortly.2 p.m.showtime, doors at one.And the Crystal Ballroom, of course, is out by St.John for people in the area.It's right outside of Sherwood.Historic ballroom, beautiful ballroom.
This is the second mile down the road event at the Crystal Ballroom.
Tickets are $20.I'm glad I brought my fancy shoes.Sorry, go ahead.Should people buy tickets at the door?It's a ballroom.Yeah, so people should go check it.What can people expect today if they go to that show?
Don't try to expect something.
I'll have another cup of coffee in me, so it should be somewhat regulated.But yes, it is.I was in town.I just happened to be in the area and I reached out to our dear, dear friend, Ian Thompson.And I was like, I'm up here. What do you got?
I don't wanna just come up and turn right back around when I'm so close to Appleton.And then he told me about that you were playing, and I didn't, you know, I was like, can I come and hang out?
I got that text and literally screamed in joy into my living room, like, no way!And immediately a text, and was like, please add her to the show immediately.I'm so excited that we get to do this.
So are you going to be doing separate sets, or?
I mean, it's going to be some magic.Yeah, we don't want to ruin the surprises.No, I'm just kidding.Yeah.I mean, we haven't discussed it.I know.No, it's going to be, of course we're going to. sing some songs together.
It's it's we can't we can't not now that I mean because on top of meeting each other and and respecting each other so much as artists in our own realms I mean I look up to this woman so much for how you produce your own stuff and you are continuing to just take ownership of that side of of the music industry and you're such a boss
Thanks, bud.Yeah, and I just adore you.So and it's amazing to not only like get to make music with your friends, but get to make music with people that you admire.
Same.Yeah, same.Like, Megan, I are.We got some, you know, some plans, some plans, we got some plans and just like being able to like discuss music with like is not easy to tour and not easy to tour by yourself.And Megan, like,
Like you're like a role model.I do it all the time.She does it like nobody's business.I mean like you got the perfect van and like she shows up, rolls out like ultimate professional.I just say yes to everything.
But the cool thing is, I think that's incredible.We've met a couple times for different, we don't get to see each other all the time, but if we know we're gonna be at a show together, we'll plan in advance.
Hey, do you wanna do some writing or do you wanna do X, Y, Z?And the thing that I've learned about Megan is, You commit.There's no better one take wonder than Megan Farrell.Oh my gosh.It's so true.
Listening back to some of the demos that we've made together, just being like, what is this voice?
I did listen to our jam that we're practicing, Led to Treacherous Things, today.And I was like, yeah, we did do that in Colorado.Yeah.Yeah, but then you come back
I get out what I need to get out for you to then take and do your magic on it, and then she'll send it back to me.And I'll just be like, stop it.It's cool that you can make technology, right?
You can make... When one's on the East Coast and one's on the West Coast.We can make songs together.Yeah. And it's commitment of all the things that, you know, because why not?Go for it.
And when, I mean, just the fact that both of our names are Megan, it's a marketing dream.
Tiz.So Megan, let's catch up on you quick.Give us the quick skinny on your music career.
Feral.This is the feral one.
Yeah, the feral. It's been a tough year.It's been a good year and then full of such highs and such lows.My dad recently passed away.My mom was going through some health issues too and I'm now back in the being fully independent artist.
I have a wonderful booking agent that is an amazing female in the industry as well.And I had an album to put out amidst all of that grief and it came out just recently in August. It's called Motherland.It's on Spotify.It's out there in the world.
I didn't tour as much this year because I wanted to be home with family.But at the same time, I get to birth another music baby.I hope people are listening to it.I haven't really been you know, I've been, my attention and my heart's been elsewhere.
So if Hey, if you if you like it, and you listen to it, thank you so much for supporting if you haven't heard it yet, it's available, it's out there.
And next year, I think it's going to be full of a lot of shows to be more shows to be able to support that record, finally give it the space it needs on the other side of such hard times.But yeah, so still creating always that'll that'll never stop.
It's how I we get through the hard times is music and art.
You'll obviously be drawing heavily from the Motherland album later today.
For sure.Yeah, that comes from that came from moving back in with my mother during the pandemic.And that was an interesting time as well to create from so but I'm grateful for all of it.
Can I say, Slankerd here, can I say that album, you cannot listen to that album without being like, I feel like it really, it tears you apart, pulls you apart in the best way and builds you back together.
I cannot listen to that album without crying and feeling powerful.There's something about that album that is just... You need to stop. No, no, but I need this album in my life.I'm so glad.I can't see a world without this album.
So immediately go buy it.You can download or listen to it on Spotify, but also buy it because it's so incredible.I know it's told not to swear, but just picture me swearing right now.
It's so good.When she told me, let's not swear, I'm like, oh man, that's going to be a tough one.I almost did it just now.I'm surprised I haven't. Thank you, babe, I appreciate this.I can't live without California.
I know, we're just gonna sit here and talk and give each other loves because this is what we need right now.
It does, I know.We'll never stop talking, sir.
Are you guys sick of fighting the good fight to get people to buy physical over just streaming?At this point, is it just throw in the towel and people will do whatever they do?
Someone did something very brave the other day.One of my favorite artists that I look up to and have for years is an artist named Greg Holden.And you know Greg.He's in Northern California.He's in Portland now.
and he just posted on his social media about how he is completely abandoning all streaming platforms for his next latest release and that and he talks about how it hey this could be career suicide this could be end me but i don't care because it is more important and it was so inspiring and it made me do a double take about
how I want to release music and how we need to start doing things like this way more in solidarity than we do.And your bravery as well, Megan, with your Patreon and knowing that if you want to consume our art,
It is worth time, and it is worth your money to support us, and we will always, I mean, you go above and beyond with your Patreon.It really is.
This is a good time to talk about that, because she does do the Patreon Tea Time livestream once a month.
When I was trying to consume everything, Megan, prior to this, I realized it's impossible because of all the content.So much, yeah. But the one I did watch you were sampling was the latest one.
You were sampling chocolate and oh, yeah And you're talking about billy joel.I think how everybody's I think it was billy joel.How everybody's got an opinion on billy joel.Oh, yeah But you're right though.
She's she's actually like putting stuff out there and if people can support you directly that way and It's as little as a dollar or five.
There's a couple patreons that I support that it's a dollar a month and for me it's worth it because I then become inspired by consuming others' art.And it is, yeah, the state of streaming right now, it's unfortunate.
And make no doubt about it, we do not receive any monies.At least, I mean, there are the ones who pursue it differently. than maybe I have time to, because in the independent music world, we do everything.And I mean everything.
Design, run our websites, help put together tours, and then write the songs, perform the songs, tour, merch, sell it, buy it.
We're responsible for the band, the accounting, the promotion, the social media stuff.
All of it, unless you have a team.And you know, And that's great, teams are great too, but one begets the other sometimes and everyone's journey's not the same.But it's still a challenge.
Yeah, and for those who don't know what Patreon is, Patreon is like, it's just a, I always say it's sort of like the Netflix, it's like a subscription service to a particular artist.
So if you like a particular artist, like The Accidentals, they're a mild favorite, then you can subscribe directly to their Patreon, which is essentially cutting out all of the noise.So like if you were to post something on social media,
then you would kind of get lost in, not even all your fans would get it, because you get lost in the algorithm.Or if you were to post something, Yeah, you get immediately just disappears.Yeah, it's like a drop in the ocean.
Yeah, but that's why email lists are still so important.So important because it's going directly to them.So I'm, you know, feeling like poser right now because I'm terrible with all this stuff.
No, I'm hoping there's a Patreon in your future because I think you're I had MF first club.
Yeah, which is it's not a curse.It's my name.But that was the club that I started during the pandemic.And we just met over Facebook.And yeah, yeah, I agree. I agree.We'll talk about it.We'll talk about it.Maybe I'll set it up.
I got some things in the can I could put out there.
Heck yes.It can happen.Yeah, and an artist can use it however they like and however they want to best communicate with their fans.
But what it ends up being, like the MFers Club, is a community where it's just you and those people who want to find out more about your art or be more involved.
And it sort of feels like your record label because like you can run ideas by your fans, you can like, what t-shirt colors do you guys like?
And you could do this on social media too, but this is like a direct line where you get to talk to those listeners who really care.And for the people who really want to dive in deeper and like, you know, Megan Farrell, what is this song about?
Like, it just, it feels like such a safe space to put out new music and new things. And so I've been on it for almost 10 years now.What?
Insane.Oh my gosh.I joined in 2014.Do you think it's still something that is working?
Yes, it is that may be one of the only things that I've done in the music industry, in a platform sort of sense that has felt like not only is it amazing, but it has gotten better.And I like knock on wood or whatever, I'm hoping all things change.
Like I remember when CD Baby got purchased by Disc Makers, I mean, I just put my latest record out on CD Baby.I had to.I didn't know.
I was like, let's just go back to the good old, good old.
I know.I still use CD Baby as well, but it's like one of those things.
Because it's ten bucks to put up your whole album.
And it's not repeating charge, you know, anything like that.I used to have, oh gosh, I remember back in my New York days, I had my website on CD Baby, like all the things.Me too.
But yeah.Revenue streams.You've had some songs and TV shows, haven't you?
Yeah, I had.I mean, I don't even know if that is that reality TV.I mean, I still get royalties, but they're tiny.
So that lemon's not worth the squeeze.
A serious XM can be really totally can. is great.Yeah, commercials, getting the songs on commercial, but there are so many more musicians these days.
And they're all doing it from their basements.And we're all doing it from our own basement.And we're all doing it from the very cool basement, though.This is, yeah, top 10 basements.I know.
Megan, I'm just writing this in my notes here so I can put that in my journal later.
Yeah, it's like, it's so, we were talking about this during a workshop yesterday, it was like, I know Megan, you'll have something to say about this, but like, in the course of our careers, the amount that our industry, and this is not just our industry, but we can speak to it from the perspective of our industry, how much it has changed.
You know, like if you look at the way people consume music, Attention spans.Attention spans, the way it's promoted, the way it's created.
And now that it's easier to create and make music independently, the amount of musicians there are, like how many new uploads to Spotify a day?Isn't it like 30,000 or 60,000 or something?
Oh my gosh, I really try not to consume that information because I spend
It might be a week or a month or whatever, but say it's 60,000 new artists a month upload.I will spend a year making an album, creating it, writing the songs, promoting it, getting all the things together, and you release it and in a week it's old.
and you don't get paid for it anymore.We used to make CDs and sell the CDs, but now you have to do, what, 100,000 spins before you make $10?What is it?
Yeah, and then if it does not happen all at once, you don't see that $10 all at once.You see it in hey penny increments.So subscribe to our Patreon.Or come see a show.
When you think about this, here's what I like, because I tell you right now, I am a gorgeous 44 years old, and I am not going to become the next tech-savvy person in this industry.I just don't care.And imagine me saying something else.
lifeblood, my energy is playing live shows.And so when you think about going to see, for instance, I just went to a festival where it was $600, $6.86 for just two days of music.A burger was $30, burger and fries.A bottle of water was 10.
And I'm sitting there and I'm just being like, okay, I get a bunch of artists.Merch was insane.Merch lines were insane. You, and I drove eight hours to get there and I paid for lodging.
I mean, it turned into a $1,200 trip where at the end my hips hurt.And I was my, I was overstimulated and broke.And when you support local art, you can be in your bed in one night.You can pay sometimes as low as $10 in tickets or free.
You can buy merch.You can be a really huge part of keeping independent art alive, and it's good music.And even you can travel an hour and pay $25 or $30 at most to go see Red Wanting Blue.That's most likely going to have another opener.It really is
what I would like to change the conversation and being like, you get so much more bang for your buck.And it's an easier way to consume music.And it helps support us.Not little guys, because we've been doing it, but it keeps us doing it.Yeah.
And $20, $30 for a ticket might feel kind of
Some people might think it feels high, but when you realize that it's going to support the sound engineer- And a small business.The venue, yeah.
And all of the people who are part of a local community.Yeah.I mean, look at Mile of Music.It is so based on that.Yes.I mean, yeah, you had people like Alice and Russell and stuff that go, ah, as your headliners.
But at the end of the day, most of this is independent.
And it's beautifully so.Beautifully so.
And what a great way to like have a band that not everybody knows.And then you can show your friends and be like, I found them first.That's my favorite thing.
And they probably have awesome, hilarious DIY music videos on YouTube like me.Yes.So many.So many.How many videos do you have?Oh, gosh.I mean, during the pandemic, we were so bored and I bought we bought a a way to suction cup a GoPro to any surface.
So we were just like, let's just... My producers, best friends in the world, Dan and Nate Monet of Hey Monet, they live out of Canton, Ohio, are my producers on my last two records.
And man, we would... I made that record in 2020 and 2021, and we would Quarantine, then for one week, go into the studio, work together for one week, and then go home and separately quarantine.And we had nothing but time.We had nothing but time.
And we were like, I can pay $35 for a GoPro suction cup holder, and let's just stick it on my van.And we drove around a RV park.
while Dan Hidd behind me in the drive, we're going 15 miles an hour, just can't go any faster, and we filmed the music video for Just Me.And then, what was the other, oh, just recently, I went to a Meijer grocery store outside of Canal Fulton, Ohio.
Chef's Kiss.Chef's Kiss.This place is huge.During regular business hours, and we stuck an iPhone on a shopping cart, and my friend Sean McArdle filmed it,
and then his daughter, whose name is also Megan, was on the lookout for customers in aisles, and we went and filmed, and I danced around like an idiot in a grocery store and ate food off the shelves, which I paid for.
But that video, and then I had headphones on like this so I could hear the playback of the song, and then that video just cost me the cost of editing it.And a pack of Oreos.And Fritos Oreos, and then I ate an entire
It's a cream-filled donut in my face.What are they called?Klon, not Klondike's, Bear Claws.That's what I have.
This video is, I say, I repeat, chef's kiss.This video is my favorite music video that has ever been made.
Blame it on Tuesday?Yeah.Well, and then this one, when we were in Mexico, stepped in and directed, you did, my video for High Hopes, which came out New Year's Day just this year, and we danced around like a pack of idiots in Tulum, Mexico.
So those videos are out there, and oh yeah.
Yeah, good.At least I got something.Yeah.
So I'm gonna have to catch up on those videos.You've got a ton of videos, and you've directed a lot of those as well, and a lot of different styles.There's one where you're a dancer, or you're dancing with a bunch of other dancers.
That makes it look like you're a dancer, which you're in there in enough shots where it puts you in there, and then we're talking about the different styles.You have a lot of different styles of stuff, which keeps it interesting and not stale.
You had your TV show.You were editing that and filming that.
I have too many interests.I have not enough time.
Oh, are you kidding me?I want to throw pottery.
Megan paints.I'm ready to paint.Farrell paints.It's so good.
I will slay the show today.I have one remaining. art piece.
Wait, is it going to be available at the show?
It's going to be available at the show.
Guys, get there early.She has one piece left.Which one is this?
It's called Moth to a Flame.It's the one with all the butterflies and the scary skull picture and the rainy window.I just basically got a hot glue gun and had a ball. These are handmade by an artist.
I loved painting as a kid, and then I moved on to music and performing in musical theater, and then all of a sudden it found me again in my early 40s, and I'm just grateful.
It's artists like Megan who make me, like, I don't, it feels lacking when I say, oh, Megan, she's a great musician, or she's a great singer-songwriter.Like, those don't encompass what you are.You're like, you're a creator.You're freaking stuck.
Well, you, this one, Slankerd, Slanky, this is my nickname, you do all your own graphics on most of your art.You create your art. Let's give it, cheers buddy.I love you.
For how much you inspire me and man, the Megans do good things and you have to, you gotta get together with your friends every once in a while and just tell them they're doing just fine.After a week like this week, cheers.
This is a good question to kind of wrap it up.Each of you, what was the high point of your career so far?
Dang! Do you want to go first?I don't know.I mean, I know mine.You do?Go.Was the rock boat, my first six-man sessions.That was a pinnacle that I will never forget.And that is actually, that moment is on YouTube as well.
So when I moved to Nashville, I had left New York City after 16 years and was brokenhearted about the business and was ready to give up.I just wanted to write songs.
I didn't want to be a figure anymore, even though performing is my favorite thing ever. And I met up with a dear friend, we met each other, she's a singer-songwriter named Amy Gerhartz, and she's amazing.
We became besties, and I became her backup singer.And she was on the rock boat 2020, so this was January of 2020, before all the stuff.
Couple months before that, Six Man does a thing called Six Man Sessions, where several artists that are going to be on the rock boat go on another previous boat, write and record a full-length album on that boat and then perform it on the rock boat.
Amy didn't want to do it.And she said, why don't you have Megan do it?Because this is what it takes.This is what I mean, friends supporting friends.And I knew it would change my life.And I went on this boat.
I still was cleaning houses on the weekends and cleaning houses for a living at the architectural firm I worked at and didn't feel like I was doing much else.And I get this opportunity.And I wrote three songs.And I wrote this song called Ready to Go.
And I performed it on the boat and got a standing ovation. And it's what every performer dreams of.Not a standing ovation per se, but that moment where everything just clicks.
And every audience member and you have made that you're on the same level, you have synced energies, and you have a live musical moment together.And everyone felt it, I felt it, and I got this standing ovation and it changed my life completely.
I walked off that boat with a fan base of my mom at the time, and then all of a sudden I had 3,000 people all in my corner, and I haven't looked back since.So that moment will forever be my highlight of my career, for sure.
Yeah, that's a good one.Special community.The change, the trajectory change is really cool.Like a rocket.Yeah.It was nuts. Yeah, I think for me, it's hard to pick one thing because I feel like... And meeting you.And meeting you.
It's hard to pick one thing, but I think more recently, I think one of the just fun, crazy experiences I had was touring with Toad the Wet Sprocket.I've toured with them before in 2018.
It's called Chasing the Bus when you're in your van and you're following their... I had a band, so we couldn't fit on their bus. But this time, last year I did solo and they had an extra bunk so they're like, come on, come hang with us.
It was just really fun to feel like a part of the family and just roll in with those guys.The amount of knowledge, information that they shared about touring and their life was just there so incredibly generous.
And so I'm super grateful for that experience and it's just kind of fun being like a like a it felt like both part of it and also like a fly on the wall at the same time just watching this amazing like
well-oiled machine just like perfectly work and like how they all worked together.And they recently were one of the people who asked me to do some designs for them.So that was really, really fun.
just to feel like, I feel like their kid sister a little bit.And yeah, it just felt, I love it when like these, again, it's your community, like Megan is saying.
I'm the little sister of Red, White and Blue.Yes.They took me on my first cross country tour and I was the van behind the bus.Yes.And we would cozy up to each, oops, sorry.We would cozy up to each other in like a Walmart.
And they would check on me, they would text me to make sure I was okay.But yes, they are my heroes and warm, loving, kind men ushering in and including women in their tours.
Exactly.That's fantastic.And I think it's a good thing to know going forward is just like, aligning ourselves with people who are inclusive, who especially, it is still a male-dominated industry, and seeing- The world.World, thank you.
And then just feeling the support of the men in the industry, or anybody in the industry, but also from your fellow sisters in the industry, but also people who have
been there ahead of you and have blazed the trail before you and who are like, hey, let me lend you a hand and help you out.So I just think that's good.And I know Megan and I are trying to be role models to anybody who's starting.
It's our mission, really.Yeah, it is.People who are just getting their legs.
And realizing that you're able to do so much more than you think you can.Yeah. That is always hard to... It can be scary to be like, well, I've never done that before, but you won't know until you try.Yeah.Beautiful.
You're beautiful.You're beautiful.You're beautiful.You're beautiful too, Andy.
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