Megan Black Interview

Award-winning singer-songwriter Megan Black channels the spirit of ‘70s female rock artists with an inspirational anthem of women empowerment “MOTHER. SISTER. LOVER”. This new track aims to honor the experiences of female-identifying and non-binary individuals who have had to navigate the burden of society's unrealistic standards and the pressure the patriarchal system has placed on women. 

We got to speak with the artist about her new song, her impressive career, and her commitment to helping minorities.

Hi Megan! Congratulations on your latest release "MOTHER. SISTER. LOVER.". We're curious about your creative process. Could you shed some light on how you approached the creation of this particular song or any insights into your overall creative process?

Thank you so much! I actually wrote the hook of this song whilst putting petrol in my car! I always find myself humming a tune while doing everyday tasks and for some reason this song just came to me. The inspiration behind the song helped me to find the people I wanted to work with and connect with creatively. I wanted to have a lot of voices on this track to symbolise women using our voices and standing together. I co-recorded this song with Sam Macleod and fractured the amazing musicians on the track: Estefanía Badilla Mora, Niamh Maclennan, Rachel Duns, Mima Merrow, Sam Moffat, Stephen Buggy, Lewis Ross, and Paul Lamberton. The track was then mixed and mastered by Scott Bathgate. It was important that everyone I worked with on this song understood why the message is so important and why I needed to put it out into the world.

How do you personally connect with the lyrics and themes in 'MOTHER. SISTER. LOVER.'? Is there a specific experience or story that inspired the song?

MOTHER. SISTER. LOVER. is a very personal song to me. It represents unity and belonging. All of the amazing women in my life inspire me every day. As a queer woman, I’ve been in love with woman and still found a sense of comparison. We as women are taught that there is only one opportunity; that we have to be prettier, smarter, funnier, the list goes on. I realised that voice telling me to compare myself wasn’t even me, but instead, this patriarchal system that we’ve been forced into. I wanted this to come from a place of honouring women: my own Mother is one of my biggest inspirations and really represents strength to me. I also wanted to make sure this song recognised that this message applies to everyone who identifies as a woman, or relates to the experience. 

In the promotional photos, you have a heavily made-up look with a unique style, while on the single cover, you have a natural and makeup-free appearance. Could you tell us the reason behind this choice?

Creating the artwork for this song is one of the scariest things I’ve ever done! I wanted it to show me in my most vulnerable and empowered state. I love my make up looks and using that to express myself, but when it comes down to it, I have to be willing to accept myself as I am. I wanted to give permission to other people to do the same and feel comfortable in however they want to express themselves. Also, the armpit hair was just an added bonus! 

Your song aims to celebrate femininity. Can you share which artist has inspired you the most throughout your career in terms of embracing and empowering femininity?

For me, the song is more about celebrating one another - however we choose to show up and express ourselves. Throughout the years, I've been inspired by the likes of Patti Smith, Lady Gaga, and Kate Bush to name a few - I look up to these artists as they seem to create authentically and celebrate their own art. However, my real inspirations behind this song come from my own mum, my wonderful friends, my band members, and the women working in the music industry making huge changes. I'm so blessed to be surrounded by these amazing she/theys and gays and I owe so much to them. They give me a lot of strength to continue making art I'm proud of and I always want to celebrate them.  

In your opinion, what steps can society take to become more inclusive, especially in terms of embracing diverse perspectives and experiences?

I think the best way to celebrate diversity is to showcase people’s voices. We need more representation. I want to hear people tell their stories. The more we can see ourselves represented in media and being heard, the more we will believe we’re being heard. 

You have won awards in L.A. and San Francisco and have been recognized as one of the finest singer-songwriters in Britain. How do these accolades and recognition motivate you as an artist, and what goals do you have for your music career moving forward?

These awards never feel real (mainly because I struggle with imposter syndrome) but I’m so grateful everyday for the support I receive as an artist. My career in music is continuously growing and it’s always thanks to the people who support me and appreciate what I put out into the world. The thing that always motivates me most is my younger self feeling seen. Growing up in a small town, I didn’t feel like I had permission to be the queer woman I am today and because of that, young Megan suffered. I now see it as my place to make her feel seen, and hopefully while doing that, I can help other people too. I have so many goals but my main ones at the moment are to release more music (watch this space), go on the Jools Holland show, play more festivals, and tour. I’d also love to visit San Francisco. Let’s see what happens!