Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Kelley
Hi Megan, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Growing up in Texas, I sang in the school and church choirs, and I started performing at local opry houses when I was 12 or 13 years old. As far back as I can remember, I’ve always loved singing along with the radio, losing myself in the stories sung by artists like Reba, Trisha Yearwood, George Strait, Martina McBride, Pam Tillis, Deana Carter… Those influences expanded later to include artists and writers like Brandy, Alicia Keys, Matchbox 20, Avril Lavigne, Gavin DeGraw, Sara Bareilles, P!nk, Miranda Lambert, and Ashley McBryde. Yes, I know that was a long list, but it is what it is, ha.
Writing also came into my life when I was a kid, and it served as a personal outlet for navigating what we’ll call the chaos in my world. Eventually, I combined my love of singing and writing, and that’s where I found my passion for songwriting.
As time went on, I started taking songwriting more seriously. I had a number of music mentors back in Texas, and then in 2018, I discovered NSAI, which helped me build my tribe, as they say, and deepen my connection with the Nashville songwriting community.
I spent several years traveling back and forth between Houston and Nashville, knowing that, eventually, it would make sense to relocate. I started casually entertaining the idea of making the move, exploring different neighborhoods and housing options around town, but I was very much still dragging my feet. At that point, I was fairly plugged into the Nashville scene even from Houston. But after a significant health event, I knew I had to quit sitting in the passenger seat of life. So, in 2023 I took the leap – immersing myself in the industry and making Nashville my home. Since then, I’ve hit the ground running, co-writing songs and performing at every opportunity.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most definitely not, haha. Anxiety, perfectionism, plus imposter syndrome make for a heck of a bumpy road.
Sometimes, no amount of practice and preparation can kick anxiety and imposter syndrome to the curb. In those situations, where you wonder if you’re bringing enough to the table during a write or wondering if your songs are strong enough or wondering if a performance was good enough, I’ve found that I really just have to avoid playing the comparison game and dig into the why. Why do I write songs? Why do I perform? And the why is simple. It’s because I love it. It’s because there’s something magical about engaging in creative collaboration and there’s something so incredible about the way music can touch the soul. So every day, I have make the intentional choice to be present and enjoy the moment, and that’s when I can show up at my best.
Along those same lines, there’s no one correct linear path to take as a songwriter and “success” looks different for each of us. This is something that I hear many grappling with in this community, and as a former perfectionist, that took a minute for me to understand and be okay with. Now my perspective is that there’s an open road of opportunity ahead and whether that’s continued collaborations with artists, whether that’s a publishing deal, whether that’s something else, or all of the above, I’m focused on enjoying the journey and continuing to improve my craft along the way.
One of the most important pieces of advice I received as it relates to these challenges came from a friend and mentor back in Texas. He told me, “We all start somewhere.” It’s a simple statement and he reminded me of it often, and I’m so thankful he did. It really makes me think about how many people don’t even bother to try pursuing a talent or creative endeavor out of fear or self-doubt. What matters is that we choose to start, we show up, we learn as we go, and we keep growing each day. Even now, years later, whenever I find doubt creeping in, I still hear his voice reminding me that we all start somewhere.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a songwriter, specifically a lyricist, meaning I’m the one in the writing room who specializes in the words while my co-writers typically specialize in the melody or instrumentation. I help artists, the singers and musicians you listen to when you stream music, communicate their story. I take pride in creating and sharing music that makes people feel something – feel heard, feel seen, feel joy, laughter, tears and everything in between.
I think that my curious and creative nature are what help me do this. I’m always curious about others’ perceptions, why they think and do the things they do, and I’m always observing the way people communicate and interact with one another. When I’m writing with an artist, this is what helps me help them craft a message that is authentic to them but still universally relatable to their listeners and fans.
It’s no secret that Nashville is known for country music, and I absolutely love writing in that genre, but I also really enjoy creating music that crosses genre lines. It really depends on the artist I’m working with, but I write songs that are country, songs that are pop, and I’ve even collaborated on some R&B/soul projects which has been a lot of fun.
Over the last couple years, I’ve had a #1 song on indie radio. I’ve had a song performed at CMA Fest. I’ve had songs that were finalists and honorable mentions with American Songwriter and the International Songwriting Competition. But honestly, my proudest moments are when an artist decides they want to record and release a song that I’ve co-written. To me, that means I did my job well – that I’ve created a song that speaks to the artist and that they think will speak to their audience. I’ve been fortunate to have songs recorded by Saylor Brasseaux, Emma James, McKenna Faith Winters, Jessica Nixon, and Hannah McDonald. Some of these songs are already streaming and some are lined up to be released in the future, so be sure to check out these artists on your favorite streaming platform.
The way I see it, being part of the Nashville songwriting community goes beyond the writing room. It’s supporting other creatives, musicians, and co-writers. To me, that means showing up for their writers rounds and gigs, sharing their music, and connecting them with others I feel they would collaborate well with. I think that’s what’s so special about working in the Nashville music scene. We all want to see each other succeed, and I absolutely love celebrating my co-writers throughout their own journey.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Man, I feel like I had far less personality when I was younger, haha. I was most definitely a quiet observer growing up, super introverted and shy, and I engaged in my fair share of daydreaming.
I was always listening to music on the radio, cassettes, CDs, records, you name it… and when I started singing, I remember feeling like I had to mimic the vocal sound of the artist whose songs I was covering. Eventually I did learn to find my own sound.
Outside of learning just about every song I heard come on the radio and studying the lyrics of my favorite songs, I was into drawing, and I was a gymnast and a dancer. I had some perfectionistic tendencies, so creative activities were sometimes a little overwhelming. Even so, looking back now, I realize I was always involved in some form of creative expression and, over the years, really came to embrace my creative nature.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.megkelleymusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megankelleymusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeganKelleySingerSongwriter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@megankelleymusic
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/imQwqw5ge1xcpaAx9
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/megan-kelley-the-songwriter-sessions/pl.u-DdANNlBTP0VXq
Image Credits
Nash Bash Collective
