MEGAN WILDE (SEATTLE, WA)
*2015 Early Bird Finalist
This series of features highlights the 2015 NewSong Music finalists. Each artist is invited to Lincoln Center on January 7th for the opportunity to win the #NSM Grand Prize. We sat down with each finalist to learn more about their music and background. Hope you enjoy!
BIO
Within month’s of the release of her soulful fiery debut, ‘Wildfire’ – Megan Wilde was chosen as winner of an LA Music Critic Award, a string of international songwriting contests, a few coveted Tv/Film Music Licensing Deals, a National college radio promotion deal, and she’s received glowing national and international press for her bold, sultry, and heartfelt singing. With a scorching voice that knows no boundaries, a fiery on stage presence, and a robust and bodacious soul for crafting music – Megan Wilde’s music has been compared to the likes of Aretha Franklin, The Black Keys, Beyonce, Adele and The White Stripes. While Seattle Music Insider has declared Megan Wilde a “soul powerhouse” and the Examiner exclaimed, ‘”Wilde could very well become a musical force with which to be reckoned” – Who is the woman behind the music?
Megan B. Wilde was a school yard nickname given to her for her talent for climbing trees, getting in fights with boys, and running around covered in dirt with wild untamed lioness hair. You could say she’s always been a bit rough around the edges. Growing up in a small town outside of Chicago never suited her style, and at 15 she found her ticket out. She was accepted into one of the world’s finest performing arts schools – Interlochen Academy of The Fine Arts. Day in and day out she studied music and art from the masters. Her teachers quickly learned that while she was talented – ball gowns, opera, and being neat as a button was not her thang. Once you’ve been seduced by the brash, rusty, soulful voices – there is no turning back.
Look out for Megans debut EP release -Wildfire- on May 19th, 2015. When recording Wildfire at one of Seattle’s top studios, London Bridge, the artist brought in mastering wizard – Howie Wineberg. Howie is a 4 time Grammy nominee with an estimated quarter of a billion records sold. Producing, composing and arranging the material on the record (with the exception of “Spoonful”), Wilde also takes the helm on Wurlitzer, piano, and of course, the powerhouse vocals. Wildfire combines elements of indie-rock, blues, soul and R & B. Her debut album has been showered with early praise from critics around the nation and is just a ‘spoonful’ of things to come.
Q: What is your songwriting process?
A: When I get that first spark, I stop everything I’m doing and ride the wave of inspiration. Sometimes it’s like lightening when it strikes – rare and intense. I’ve had song’s come to me when in my dreams, and I’ve had songs come to me when I’m wasted at the bar with my girls. My newest song is a new process in that it’s coming to me in pieces month’s apart. I store everything on my phone, and looking back through my recordings I realized the last 3 month’s inspirations have been in the same key. It’s like it’s slowly releasing itself to me.
Q:What does it mean to you to be selected as a NewSong finalist, and what do you hope to get out of the experience?
A: It means I can be proud of the work that I created from the bottom of my soul.
Q: How did you hear about New Song Music?
A: The Internet. I also know The Banner days from Seattle, they were finalists last year.
Q: What is currently happening with your music?
A: I just released my EP ‘Wildfire’ and have signed some licensing deals with TV/Film. I also won a college radio campaign for spring.
