Remaining True to Yourself: An Interview with Musician Megan Sidwell

 Country pop singer/songwriter Megan Sidell’s music career has been a long time in the making. Originally from New Zealand, she moved to Australia a few years ago, before becoming a finalist in the Toyota Starmaker Competition in 2017.

Since then, she has been honing her craft, both in the studio with well-known producers and co-writers, as well as on stage alongside big-name artists such as Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele.

Now she’s ready to share what she’s been working on with the world, having released a new single, I Got You, the first from her upcoming debut album, Right Kind of Wrong. I caught up with her recently to find out all the details.

 

Congratulations on the release of your latest single, I Got You.  It sounds great!  What’s your fans’ reaction been like so far?

Thank you! Everyone has been really supportive so far. It’s been a while since my last release, so I’m also really glad that I’m still getting support from back home in NZ and they haven’t forgotten who I am.

 

It’s your first Australian release, and the first from your upcoming debut album, Right Kind of Wrong. Were you nervous putting it out there in what is essentially, a different music scene for you?

I was really nervous, which is probably why I sat on this release for a while. I wanted to make sure I had a good product as my first push here in the Australian market.

It’s been a tough few years since moving here – trying to re-establish myself, my sound, figuring out how the industry all works here, as well as the research and business that equates to a full-time job, whilst also having an actual full-time day job that pays the bills.

I hear there is this thing called a “weekend” that I hope to enjoy at some point.

I hear Right Kind of Wrong is a bit of an eclectic mix of songs. What do you want people to take away from listening to the record?

The collections of songs from this record were written over a lengthy period of time so they all have a slightly different feel whilst also remaining cohesive in the production. At the end of the day, my music is me.

I just hope what I have experienced will help someone else who may be going through similar things and let them realise they are not alone.

 

What are the similarities and differences between the album and your 2013 debut EP, Forever on a Sunday?

I had a lot more input with the arrangements and overall sound of the new album than I did with my first release, which has made this new album feel a lot more personal to me.

I had learned a lot about the recording process and how to create my sound since my first EP, which was also my first time in a proper studio. The song writing also comes from a different, slightly more mature place.

Have you grown as a musician since then?

Most definitely. You really do learn a lot by just playing live and playing alongside other musicians. Being a “female guitarist”, I have learned to ignore that label and just be the best guitarist I can be. It really makes a difference playing with other musicians who show respect and see you for who you are, not as someone who “plays guitar good for a girl”.
Can you talk me through the recording process?

I made my first trip to Nashville and ended up recording my new album with Sam Hawksley, who is an amazingly talented Aussie now living over there. We recorded most of it in his home studio and got some incredible session musos in to help.

It was crazy how they worked – such professionalism and skill yet so down to earth and just generally lovely humans.

 

Do you have a release date for Right Kind of Wrong yet?

Mid this year. No release date as of yet.

 

Are there any plans to tour the single/album?

Yes, I’m currently working on finalising dates and sorting out my live show with my band.

 

What do you enjoy most about touring and performing live?

I love visiting new places, meeting new people and hearing about their stories. Getting to do that whilst playing music with my friends is an added bonus.

 

You started your career in Australia as a finalist in the Toyota Starmaker Competition in 2017, after moving here from New Zealand, and you said in this interview that it was a great introduction to the Australian music industry. How does the industry here differ from the one in New Zealand?

It’s mostly the size that’s the difference. Because of the population here in Australia, there is the ability to not be in a set genre but still be able to find an audience. Also, in NZ we are very DIY-minded and love to work on our own projects, whereas I find there is a lot more collaboration here, especially with co-writing.

 

What was your music scene like growing up?

Definitely not country at all! My first few bands were quite punk/rock orientated so the shows I attended or played at were a lot different to these days! A lot more crowd surfing and a little less shooeys.

 

You played a number of gigs at Tamworth Country Music Festival. What, in your opinion, makes that event so great for up-and-coming musicians and music lovers?

There are just so many opportunities to play and see others perform. For up-and-coming musicians, if they can’t book any shows in venues there is always the busking option, or to sign up at the walk-ins at the town hall.

Generally speaking, if you had to choose between performing in a festival setting or a more intimate gig, which would you prefer?

I do love playing at festivals, but it is a lot harder as generally you are playing to new crowds, whereas intimate gigs tend to be people who know you or your music and it gives you an opportunity as an artist to personalise the show and setting of the venue more.

This song is your first co-write (with Anthony Snape), and was written when you went to Nashville. Can you tell me a bit more about that?

I had never met Anthony prior [to the co-writing session] so it was a bit nerve-wracking, but he is the nicest guy and made it a really easy experience. I needed another upbeat song for the album, so we talked about my style, what was going on in my life at the time, and then three hours later we had a song!

The majority of the songs on your debut album are written solely by you. How important was that for you?

It’s not out of importance, but out of necessity. Writing is how I express myself, and without that I would never have gotten in to being the front person.

Co-writing is exciting in that it can bring new elements in to your writing, but at the end of the day I need to be performing something I can relate to and that is important to me, otherwise I’m not being honest as an artist or to listeners.

When writing a new song, what comes first for you, music or lyrics?

Music generally comes first. I find it helps with writing the lyrics if I have some sort of supporting emotion with the music.

When did you first discover your passion for music?

Music has always been around, ever since I was little, and I started piano when I was in primary school. I’ve been playing an instrument ever since, so there was never really a light bulb moment, more just a need to play something.

 

Who inspires you, both musically and personally?

Bonnie Raitt is a massive inspiration to me. I finally managed to see her live here in Melbourne and it was really inspiring to see how much respect she was shown, especially from her band members. Being a female in this industry is sometimes hard so it’s important to find role models who can prove to you how it can be done.

 

Over the course of your career thus far, you’ve supported a number of well-known artists including Kate Voegele, Tyler Hilton and Big Country.  What did those experiences teach you about the music industry and finding your own way as an artist?

It taught me that these guys are just the same as me, albeit slightly more famous! They sing, they write, they perform, and they all have their own voice. Playing original shows is so important as an artist because you get to really develop your own voice and figure out how your music fits.

 

Do you have a favourite memory of those times?

Getting to meet Kate and Tyler was a huge fangirl moment for me because I grew up obsessed with the TV show One Tree Hill that they were on. They were just so nice!

If you could collaborate with anyone in the industry (living or dead), who would it be and why?

I would love to collaborate with Bonnie Raitt. Her slide guitar playing is just so expressive and so uniquely her own.

 

What are the highlights and lowlights of your career thus far?

The highlights were getting to play on the main stage in Tamworth and also getting to record this new album in Nashville. It was such a new and exciting experience and I’ve ended up with something I’m really proud of.

The lowlights are really just the patches that held up my progress, by working with people who didn’t complete the job they were signed up to do. It’s really hard to switch between the business hat and the artist hat sometimes so when things go wrong it is easy to take it personally, instead of working to find a solution.

 

Why does country music appeal to you so much?

The honesty in the lyrics and I love the instrumentation. Country guitar has a lot of technical aspects to it but it’s so melodic, which is something I really love.

How do you see country music in Australia evolving?

With a lot of artists and producers making working trips over to the USA, I see the market between both countries becoming a lot closer.

 

When not performing or recording, what does an average day look like for you?

I teach instrumental music at primary schools, so I’m the teacher the kids love because they get to get out of maths for half an hour a week.

 

What’s the biggest misconception regarding making a career out of music, in your opinion?

That it happens overnight. It takes a lot of time and money to produce music, and to make a living out of music you do need to spread yourself out whether it is with teaching, playing covers or writing jingles.

If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing?

I would have been a criminologist. I had actually been accepted in to Uni back in NZ to do this but decided on my Bachelor of Music instead. I figured having a music career kind of has an age limit on it so it was now or never!

How does social media play a part in your success thus far, in terms of expanding your audience and connecting with fans?

It really helps with being able to keep in touch with my audience back in New Zealand. I put a lot of effort in back home so it’s good that I can keep a bit of that relationship.

 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

Always be prepared with your material and play for you. Work to be better than you were last week and never to impress people. Honesty will attract the right people.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

I am really loving the new album Girl by Maren Morris.

What’s the epitome of success for you as an artist?

To make a living touring my own music. No more background music [or] covers gigs to pay rent!

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Hopefully touring a lot more, especially overseas with a few more records under my belt.

 

What are your plans for the rest of 2019?

Get the band and my live show sorted and tour more of Australia.