"At the end of the day, all my choices have been down to me, and I've learned a lot from this weird-ass industry."
Women are killing it in the music industry, and song lovers couldn't be happier! In our column, #WomenCrushWednesday, each week, we'll feature an awesome lady whose tunes are blowing up our playlists and ask them about their musical journey.
Meiko grew up in Georgia and went from cocktail waitress to beloved musician. Her songs have captured the attention of fans and television producers alike. With her latest release in April, she brings new tracks for fans to adore. She spoke about her background, what she has learned from working in music, and what we can expect next in her interview with Popdust.
<p><strong>How did you become interested in music?</strong></p><p style="">My dad played guitar for me all the time as a kid… I also loved seeing him play at get-togethers and was in awe at his super skills. As I got older, I realized just how nervous he was to play in front of people…I think with me being a "professional" musician, he gets to live vicariously through me, and I'm doing it for the both of us :)</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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</p><p><strong>You have an interesting heritage/background. Do you think that these roots influence your music at all?</strong><br></p><p style="">I don't know…I guess being sort of 'ethnically diverse' I've felt like an outsider which has helped me dig a little deeper and learn how to acknowledge and deal with my feelings at an early age.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-632"> </div>
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<!-- End Ezoic - under_second_paragraph - under_second_paragraph --><p></p><p><strong>Your most recent album shows your love of the 1990s, but other than music, what else from the decade do you have a soft spot for?</strong></p><p><div id="mailchimp-slot"><script>MailChimpForm()</script></div></p><p style="">Oooh. SO much…The fashion…The movies…The simpler times…It was ALL good…Well, mostly good.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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</p><p><strong>Your songs have been featured in many television shows. What is it like for your music to supplement another art form in this way?</strong><br></p><p><strong></strong>It's a great way for people to listen to your music who otherwise might not have heard it. I'm a big fan of cross-collaboration and feel that TV is the new radio for most people.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-633"> </div>
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</script></p><p><strong>What has been your experience as a woman in the music industry?</strong></p><p style="">Great for the most part…I mean maybe I've normalized the fact that I've been told that I wasn't "pretty enough" on an album cover that I chose, or to "write more songs that are risqué." But at the end of the day, all my choices have been down to me, and I've learned a lot from this weird-ass industry. There's a great song by Elizabeth Cook called "It Takes Balls To Be A Woman" and I can totally relate - and I've grown some nice big ones since I started playing.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-634"> </div>
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</p><p style=""><strong>Your album <em>Playing Favorites</em>, was released this spring. What was the writing and recording process like for the record?</strong><br></p><p style="">Well, since It was a covers album, I didn't write any of the songs, which made me really focus on the arrangement of instruments and sounds. We recorded it in an old decommissioned church in Brooklyn and spent the whole day hanging out and playing as a 3 piece. It was glorious and REALLY fun.<br></p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-635"> </div>
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</script></p><p><strong>Have you got any favorite tracks?</strong></p><p>Yes - "Crush" by Jennifer Paige! I LOVE HER!</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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</p><p><strong>As of late you have been touring with the record. Have you found that playing the songs live changes the relationship you have to them at all?</strong><br></p><p style="">I think the worst part about hearing a cover is hearing the singer basically do a karaoke version. I wanted to make them my own because I've connected with them in my life. So, when I play them, it takes me back to the time and place I was when I first heard them and I hope it does the same for the listener.</p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-636"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent22 - long_content --></p><p><strong>What is coming up next for you?</strong></p><p style="">I'm working on a new record called <em>In Your Dreams</em> that should be out next spring!!</p><p><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
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</script></p><h4 style="">Follow Meiko on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/meikomusic" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/meiko" target="_blank">Twitter</a></h4><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><hr color="red" width="100%"></div><p><strong><a href="https://www.popdust.com/community/rachelaggilman" target="_self">Rachel A.G. Gilman</a></strong> is a writer, a former radio producer, and probably the girl wearing the Kinks shirt. She is the creator of <em><a href="https://www.therationalcreature.com/" target="_blank">The Rational Creature</a></em> and suggests you check it out. Also visit her <a href="http://rachelaggilman.com/" target="_blank">website</a> for more.</p><p>Have an artist we should profile? <u><u><a href="mailto:rachelgilman@popdust.com" target="_blank">Send a pitch email to Rachel.</a></u></u></p><p><div id="ezoic-pub-ad-placeholder-637"> </div>
<!-- End Ezoic - incontent3 - longer_content --></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><hr color="red" width="100%"><p><strong><script async="" type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn.connatix.com/min/connatix.renderer.infeed.min.js" data-connatix-token="b874cbcf-9a6a-44c8-8d49-ccc44f839e74"></script></strong></p><p><strong>POP⚡DUST | Read More #WCW...</strong><br></p><p><a href="https://www.popdust.com/woman-crush-wednesday-kendra-erika-2585119733.html" target="_self"><strong>#WomanCrushWednesday | Kendra Erika</strong></a></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.popdust.com/woman-crush-wednesday-hailey-knox-2583204569.html" target="_self">#WomanCrushWednesday | Hailey Knox</a></strong></p><p><strong><a href="https://www.popdust.com/woman-crush-wednesday-band-2581211004.html" target="_self">#WomanCrushWednesday | Dorothy</a></strong></p></div>
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