Simply Six: Megan Blue

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you? 

 

When I was five, I was obsessed with the theme song from 'Flash Dance'.  I remember twirling around on the orange shag carpet with my fisher-price plastic microphone.  I was hooked pretty early!  

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening   to?  Who are some of

your favorites? I love funky music.  The New Orleans music scene is so inspiring to me!  I especially love Jon Cleary and Papa Grows Funk.  I also love the greats- Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, Susan Tedeschi.  Anything that's got a lot of soul to it, and that makes you want to dance.

 

 

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live?  Oh, I have to pick one?  Singing at Jazzfest in 2001 was pretty amazing.  We just did a tour for Sundance Film Festival, and we had an amazing gig up in Park City- brought the house down.  That was incredible!  Any time I can connect with the audience and take them away from their daily grind and into a different world- that is my greatest achievement as an artist.

 

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something   to  listen   to?

How much can music influence current events?  I ABSOLUTELY believe music can and has changed the world.  Artists that have a voice have an incredible platform and influence- Just look at some of the greats- John Lennon, Michael Franti, Ben Harper.  There are artists out there that have gotten me to think about how I can make the world a better place- and I love to be a part of that kind of music.   Music and Art are always intertwined with current events- Political songs have been making us aware and creating revolutions for hundreds of years.  'I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound, everybody look what's going down...'

 

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician?  Technology is a double-edged sword.  The worst of it is, people just don't want to pay for recorded music any more.  They want to burn it from a friend, get it for free off the internet.  That effects all musicians who are trying to make a living off of album sales.  Now it has to be about live shows, which is o.k., except I think that if you start thinking you don't need to pay for the album, why pay to see it live, when I can just watch it on Youtube?  The good thing about it is that you can reach a much wider audience through all of these social mediums we have now.  How has this effected me?  Simple math-  Because record labels are dying out, they don't have the funds to support their talent.  They don't have funds to send out talent scouts and agents in search of new talent.  This means that the ARTIST is now in charge of seeking out labels and agents, not vice versa, and now we are also expected to be promoters in addition to everything else.  You have to be incredibly tenacious, incredibly driven, and incredibly stubborn to make it happen.  Luckily I am all of those things.  In addition to that, you have to believe in yourself, and you have to believe that you have something that HAS to be heard.  

 

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be?

Vintage blue leather cowboy boots-  because blue is my signature color, my last name, and the name of my band, and because cowboy boots can be worn anywhere with anything- dresses, jeans, ball gowns.  And they look great on stage!

I also do a column called POV where you can basically write about anything you want.  I've had everything from the Occupy Wall Street to ghosts to music talked about.  So if you'd like to do that that would be cool.   Do you have any videos I could post, I only found one on youtube....just thinking it would help let people see and hear you.