Today we’d like to introduce you to Meg Schenck.
Hi Meg, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’m originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, but I moved to Nashville in order to pursue a career in music. I always knew that performing and writing music was something I wanted to do since I was little and Nashville seemed like the perfect fit for me! I went to Belmont University for a few years and majored in Commercial Voice and Songwriting before realizing I wanted to get more involved in the Nashville music scene. My parents always said that I have been able to sing since before I could talk and would hum along to radio songs in the car. I started classical piano lessons when I was 6 years old have been playing piano ever since! One of my favorite memories of my childhood was sitting on a step stool and singing with my mom in our kitchen to old hymns. I remember one night she told me “I was singing ‘On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand’ one night when you were about 6 years old, and all of the sudden you just started harmonizing out of nowhere!” I started writing music in middle school and got to perform one of my original songs at our school talent show in 6th grade. From that moment, I knew that singing songs that I have written in front of other people was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Since moving to Nashville, I have met so many wonderful people who have helped me get where I am today, and couldn’t be more grateful for those in my life who have continued to support me. Over the last couple of years, I started getting into the production world and that’s where my single “New Friend” (performed by Casey Kiser, Bradley Crow, Zion Mark, Jake Bibb, and myself, and produced by Eli Wheels) was born into existence! I wrote it with one of my good friends Katareen Mohammed and knew that night that it would be the first single release! I love blending all sorts of genres that people typically wouldn’t expect to hear, and I think that the song does a great job of combining aspects of both live performance and “in the box” production sound. I also had the amazing opportunity of collaborating with Nico Brey earlier this summer on a song that my friend Stuart Anson and I wrote together called “Meant To Be”. Recently I have also been collaborating with other musicians and playing more live shows and gigs in the Nashville area which has made me fall in love with performing even more! I am super excited to share all that I have been working on and continue to play more and more shows in the near future!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not always been easy taking on this lifestyle and career path, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I would say the thing I’ve struggled with the most is accepting that my sound is enough and doesn’t need to fall into one particular category. I always thought that by my music not “fitting” into one specific genre that it would be my downfall. It hasn’t been until recently that I have actually discovered that’s what makes my music special. It can reach so many different groups of people and doesn’t have to remain in any one “box”, and I think that is beautiful. Music is art and it is subjective, so not everyone will like it, but if I can write a song that relates to even just one person, then all of the hard stuff is worth it. When COVID hit, I was just about to start gigging more regularly in Nashville and really felt that everything was moving in the right direction. However, taking advantage of that time away from the busyness that is the world gave me an opportunity to really dig deep and figure out what I want to do with my life, which is perform and make music for the rest of my life. I honestly can’t think of anything more fulfilling that what I get to do each and every day.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a songwriter at heart and always will be, which is what I think makes my music so relatable to others when they hear it. My specialty is in singing high notes and even on occasion whistle tones! I would say I am known for either slaying a rock song or chilling out with some blues/r&b. Something that I am proud of is how much I have learned and grown since coming to Nashville. I know that this life isn’t an easy one to live and know now more than ever that I am made to live it. I am so proud of not giving up on my love for music and performing, no matter how many times I’ve come close to throwing in the towel. Another thing that sets me apart from others is that I don’t like to define my music by genre unless I have to. I think what makes my sound unique is me and my voice and that’s it! I’ve recently started to get comfortable playing electric guitar as I am singing on stage and can’t wait to include it more in my performances as I continue to grow into my sound!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
I’m gonna be honest, I wouldn’t be able to survive without google calendar. Being as busy as I am and juggling as many things such as booking, networking, scheduling writes and teaching music lessons this app makes me feel a little more sane. I love the color-coding options it gives you and how I can edit or look at it on my laptop or phone, or even log into it on someone else’s computer. Another app that makes my life easier is GoodNotes because I will use it on my iPad for chart writing, so that way no matter who I am playing with, they can know how to play any songs that are on the setlist for that night. It makes it so much easier to communicate how I want my original music to sound, especially if it hasn’t been released yet or if they haven’t heard it. I also love listening to artists like Billie Eilish, Demi Lovato, Harry Styles, and old records in my spare time to relax. In the middle of the pandemic, I also started getting into mediation practices and find it super helpful to keep me grounded when I am stressed from the craziness that is my life!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ms.maddix/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ms.maddix
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyiClBpQ8ZlJqhj3pau_IiQ
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/msmaddix/new-friend
Image Credits
Eva Caliendo
ShaeLynn
