By Nicholas Jason Lopez
Think 2002 Avril Lavigne, but with some LA grit.
An angsty fuse of electro-pop and 2000s punk, MEGG has used her music as a way to bridge the gap between her affinity for pop music and her SoCal beach punk rock roots, smoothed over by her unmistakable personality.
MEGG has opened for The Used at Musink, performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Disney Concert Hall and has even appeared on NBC’s “The Voice.”
The Music Bugle had the chance to catch up with MEGG about her career highlights, insights on the music industry and more, which you can check out below.
Music Bugle – How did you decide your artist name and its stylization?
MEGG – To be honest, I just wanted to be different! When I was in my first year of college and started this project, everyone I knew was a two-name artist. Either their first and last name or their first and middle name, so I knew I wanted to switch it up. At the time, the people I was meeting in college were calling me Meg, which was different from my childhood and high school friends, who all called me Meghan or some variation of a nickname, so I thought, “Fuck it, let’s go with one word – MEG.” The producer I was working with at the time, Drew Kapner with Angelhouse Studios, thought we should take it a step further and make it more “even,” so we added that second G and thus, MEGG was born.
Music Bugle – What excites you the most about your style of music?
MEGG – I think the lack of labels relieves the pressure to fit into one category. I grew up listening to and being inspired by so many different genres, was classically trained and also spent most of my childhood in musical theatre, so it’s really fun and exciting to rip that box apart and just make music that feels like me. My sound is a little rock, a little theatrical, a little South Bay and a little pop – it’s just a fuckin’ big ass sound of everything I love.
Music Bugle – How would you describe LA and the South Bay to someone who has never been there before?
MEGG – Good vibes, rowdy nature, great people and the most beautiful beaches. Is it cheesy if I quote my own song? ‘Cause if not… “Sandy feet on the street, stoney eyes, wanna eat – stop at LBJ’s, we can grab a Special C. Feel the sun never ends, can’t get bored with your friends – meet me at the stairs right on Avenue C.” That’s the best I got. It’s truly heaven.
Music Bugle – Who are you listening to right now, music-wise?
MEGG – Right now, I’m all over the place – K.Flay, Remi Wolf, UPSAHL, Joyce Manor, Sublime and this “Best of 2000’s Hip Hop & R&B” playlist I found on Spotify.
Music Bugle – We know there was a point where you were on a five-year hiatus from music. What did you focus on during that time?
MEGG – Well, I fell in love with being in love. I had never really experienced true love prior to that relationship, so I was just diving into the girlfriend experience, living a slow and easy life, eating junk food, watching movies, staying in and cuddling, the whole 9 – which I loved. After a few years, it became apparent that I wasn’t happy… I really missed performing, I missed the chaos of the music business, I missed being creative, I missed being in the studio ’til all hours of the night. Most of all, I missed myself and my old life, so I took a step back from the relationship to start writing the ‘Here For Now’ EP, really dove into and found myself. Ultimately, he and I grew apart and the relationship ended. The breakup was brutal, but looking back, I think the timing was right. We had a beautiful relationship, but it wasn’t meant for forever.
Music Bugle – What has been your favorite performance, of the ones you’ve done?
MEGG – I’d say it’s a three-way tie between this college show I played with my buddies and our band Party For One at a local bar called the 901 Bar, opening for The Used and the ‘Here For Now’ release show in the South Bay in 2021. The Party For One show was just total anarchy and such a blast, opening for The Used was a bucket list item and the way my community showed up for me at the ‘HFN’ release show was just overwhelming. Three really great shows I’ll cherish forever.
Music Bugle – What’s a quote that motivates you to keep doing what you do?
MEGG – Well, there have been a lot, but recently, it’s “no one cares.” I get so in my head about everything, my perfectionism gets the best of me and I start to get wrapped up in other people’s opinions, but in the end, literally no one fucking cares. Everyone is so caught up doing their own thing and most people want to see you succeed, so just do you, be authentic in your art and who fucking cares about the rest. I promise you, whatever your panties are in a bunch about – no one cares.
Music Bugle – What’s something that you wish happened less in today’s music industry?
MEGG – I wish clout wasn’t king. I wish people in the business were real. I wish artists didn’t buy fucking followers and I wish companies and labels were more interested in your music and what you have to offer rather than your social media following, but all that aside, I do love the music industry. It’s a wild world full of wild people, some of which are great. We’re all just doing our best and I think social media has created lots of opportunity and reach. It ain’t all bad.
Music Bugle – What do you hope for from the future?
MEGG – I think I just hope I keep this train moving. I have a tendency to swing, so I’m hoping to just stay where I’m at.
