After winning Triple J Unearthed's Falls Music & Arts Festival competition last year, Meg Mac released her self-titled EP and subsequently embarked on her first, national tour; this is all for an artist who describes her musical journey as “lucky”.
“Since winning the Unearthed Award, I’ve been able to sing, perform and tour a lot more, which I love. I find it easier to sing my emotions and feelings to people, rather than speak them.”
Now Meg has released the slow burning single 'Never Be' and is on the road again, this time stopping off at a number of regional centres. “It’s incredibly important to play outside of the main cities in Australia and I really enjoy it when I do,” Meg says. “I had a great time when I did Groovin In The Moo last year. Getting out to all of my fans is important to me.
During this tour, she’ll be playing a mix of old and new tunes, plus a few unreleased songs. “I’m most looking forward to seeing people’s reactions to 'Never Be' played live. I also have music not yet released, so we’ll see how they go down in a live environment.”
Meg likes to keep it simple before shows with a distinct lack of any pre-show habits or superstitions; she simply does some solo, piano work, followed by a quick band practice. “I think I’ll be able to improvise more and decide the next song based on the crowd’s reaction one day but I need more confidence on stage first. At the moment, I only improvise within the structure, as in I make changes to some songs.”
Fresh from a supporting slot on D’angelo’s American tour, Meg has learned some valuable lessons from the R&B legend. “It was so amazing to watch him and his band play every night. They are incredibly good at what they do. The tour was tiring because you had to drive, instead of fly, to shows, but it was also one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.”
Her self-titled EP, released nearly one year ago, features a cover of Bill Wither’s timeless classic, 'Grandma’s Hands'. “I really liked the original. The first time I heard the song it made me feel a lot of things. The meaning is so simple and pure – anyone can relate to it.”
Her cover takes the original and adds electronic elements to surprising and delightful effect, such as stuttering drum work which sits behind haunting synth and basslines, produced by Australian producer M-Phazes.
Meg is also known for her habit of conceptualising songs in weird places. “The most inconvenient place I thought of an idea for a song was in my mum’s car. My phone was dead and I usually record my ideas on my phone. All I could do was keep the idea in my head until I returned home. Thankfully I did.”
Written by Conor Hughes
Meg Mac Tour Dates
Thu 24 Sep - UniBar (Adelaide)Sat 26 Sep - Corner Hotel (Melbourne)
Sun 27 Sep - Corner Hotel (Melbourne)
Mon 28 Sep - Corner Hotel (Melbourne)
Tue 29 Sep - Corner Hotel (Melbourne)
Fri 2 Oct - Max Watt's (Brisbane)
Sat 3 Oct - Caloundra Music Festival (Sunshine Coast)
Sat 7 Nov - Riverstage (Brisbane)
Sat 14 Nov - The Domain (Sydney)
Mon 28 Dec-Fri 1 Jan - Falls Festival (Lorne)
Thur 31 Dec-Sun 3 Jan - Falls Festival (Byron Bay)
Sat 9 Jan - Southbound Festival (Busselton)
