Published: August 13, 2009 10:41 PM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight August 2009 Edition
Meghan Beaudry
Meghan Beaudry Photo By: Kim Kennedy
Singer/Songwriter Meghan Beaudry's debut album titled "Make Me Happy, Make Me Blue" clearly shows the wonderful vocal diverse talents of this young songstress. She sings throughout the CD with a level of elegance and style that becomes her signature sound. Her songwriting skills are equally matched on this debut album especially with such great tracks as "Shallow" and "All Alone" which are full of enriching lyrics. In this recent spotlight with our Webzine, Meghan gives our Webzine an inside scoop on her music. Enjoy!
Isaac: What has been the best part of 2009 for you musically so far?
Meghan: Working on my debut album with my producer, Steven Santoro, and engineer Mark Thayer, as well as all the fantastic musicians that worked in the studio with me. Seeing my songs come to life in the studio was an amazing experience. It was my first time in the studio working on a record and I learned and grew a lot musically through the process.
Isaac: What do you feel has been the biggest accomplishment for 2009 so far?
Meghan: Finishing and finally releasing my debut album "Make Me Happy, Make Me Blue." It was a long awaited dream that came to fruition and I am so happy to finally be able to share it with people.
Isaac: Describe the music scene in your area.
Meghan: Locally, there's a wide range of music from heavy metal to singer/songwriter acts like myself. There are many great venues to play at locally in Western MA, Boston, and CT; NYC is pretty close by as well. There are also a number of talented people to work with, and there is a lot of competition, which is a good thing because it keeps you focused and sharp.
Isaac: What has been the best venue to perform at and why?
Meghan: I recently did a gig at The Black Moon Music Lounge in Belchertown, MA. I loved it because it's a small venue with great acoustics and an intimate feel that gives the performer the opportunity to connect with the audience in a more personal way.
Isaac: Elaborate a little about whom were your biggest influences in the music industry and why?
Meghan: I try to listen to a wide range of music in order to broaden my musical spectrum of taste and influence, and keep an open mind. I find that it helps my songwriting to listen to and draw from many different styles and eras. Growing up my parents had eclectic tastes and exposed me to all different kinds of music from Country, to Hard Rock, and even Classical. Some of my favorite artists were James Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Carole King, Billy Joel, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee. I could go on, but there's really too many to list. Listen to the album; you'll hear most of my influences make an appearance on there.
Isaac: Let's talk about what you feel you will bring to the music industry?
Meghan: I would hope a sense of refreshment. There's a lot of music out there that sounds the same. I want to be an artist who is making an effort to do something new, something fresh, and yet familiar. The best kind of music has multiple layers to it. It's a perfect marriage between the composition and arrangement of the song, the lyrics, and vocal interpretation of those lyrics. It's when these elements come together in the right way that gives the song meaning and heart. It has to be soulful and honest. That's what I strive for.
Isaac: If you had an opportunity to work with one artist or group, who would it be and why?
Meghan: That is a very tough question. There are so many artists I would love to work with. However, Carole King is someone I admire. She's the kind of songwriter I would hope to emulate because she's very honest and direct in her lyrics. In fact, I covered her song "You've Got A Friend," on my album. I think I could learn a lot from working with her.
Isaac: How would you describe your music to others?
Meghan: Jazzy Poppy Fusion. Emphasis on the fusion part because I fuse a lot of different styles of music on this album. Styles ranging from Jazz to Reggae all make an appearance and find their place. Despite the various influences being eclectic, there is a definite jazzy feel to most of the songs because my voice tends to lean more towards that style. In fact, I've been told that I sound like a mix between Rickie Lee Jones and Laura Nyro. I try to mix it up a little, keep it interesting.
Isaac: What type of feedback have you received from fans about your music?
Meghan: A lot of my fans have said that they enjoy the variety on this album and the fact that the songs don't all sound the same. A majority of my fans love the title track "Make Me Happy, Make Me Blue." Some other fan favorites are "All Alone," "Shallow," "So In Love," and "Catastrophe." Although, there isn't one song on the album that at least a few people haven't told me is their favorite. As an artist, that is encouraging because I think it goes to show that there's something on the album for everyone.
Isaac: Where can fans locate you at online?
Meghan: You can find me just about anywhere online, most of my links are available on my website, www.meghanbeaudry.com. Here you can find links to my MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter pages. As well as, links to some of the places where you can find my music, including iTunes, Amazon, Napster and CDBaby. You can even listen to some of the songs on my website, as well as subscribe to my blog and mailing list.
Isaac: What can fans expect from you in the next five years?
Meghan: In the next 5 years, you can expect new albums, new music, more adventure and hopefully me coming to a town near you!
Isaac: Time for some shout outs to your family, friends, and fans…
Meghan: Thank you to everyone for your tremendous support and making it possible for me to do what I love so much. I wouldn't be able to do it without my family, friends and fans. Allowing my music to be apart of your lives is a tremendous honor!
Isaac: Final words…
Meghan: Thank you Junior's Cave for doing this interview!
