Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Blue.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a young age I knew I could sing. I remember dancing around on the orange shag carpet and belting into my fisher-price plastic microphone. My first favorite song to sing was ‘What a Feeling’ from Flashdance. Although I loved to sing, I was always a shy kid, and we moved around quite a bit, chasing my father’s career. We moved to SLC when I was 9. I was a fish out of water, for sure. Non-Mormon in a sea of Mormons. It was a hard move and I was definitely ostracized for being different. I didn’t really start to come out of my shell until high school. That’s when I finally forced myself to try out for the musical, and ended up landing the lead role, which led me to falling in love with performing and pursuing music in college. I studied opera in college and also for my Master’s degree. I loved it; the drama, the challenge; dying on stage in a corset. I’ve always had a flair for the drama. Graduate School helped me get into teaching voice, which I still do for a living. I love it. After grad school, I felt myself pulled in two directions; I loved opera but the blues were calling my name. I loved the live music scene in New Orleans, and found myself drawn to blues, soul, and funk much more than opera; so in my mid-twenties made the switch to becoming a blues singer. I’ve cut my teeth in countless bands and different cities. I found my way back to SLC after a bad stint in a New Orleans band that I learned a lot of lessons from. When I came back here in 2013, I met my amazing husband, and we ended up building a life and having our beautiful boy Redford, who is now 8. I teach for a living and have a blues/funk band, Megan Blue and The Bonfire. We are currently recording a full-length album of all original music that will be released at The State Room on November 14th.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was always a big girl, which in the 90’s was not a popular thing to be. I couldn’t ever seem to lose weight, or if I did I’d gain it right back. I had low self-esteem when it came to my body. This led me to make pretty bad choices when it came to relationships with men. I look back and I can’t believe what I put up with through my twenties; not just in dating, but also in musical relationships; I let people walk all over me. Because I was shy, I got used to using alcohol for ‘liquid courage’. Drinking became quite the crutch, slowly, over time.
Luckily, I was raised by parents who believed in taking action; and who taught me that through education and hard work, change was possible. Through a lot of therapy, self-awareness, and hard lessons, I’ve found sobriety, and it’s so beautiful. I feel I am now becoming the person I was meant to be; everything is clearer, and brighter. My music is better, my relationships are better, and my health is better. I feel lucky that I was able to see the light through the darkness of depression and guilt. I am free, and I am strong.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My music is a mix of blues, funk, and soul. I write songs that are true stories of things that have happened to me, or people close to me. I write what I know. I start with melody and lyrics first; but I use the piano and the guitar to write. I have songs about quitting drinking, about my faults, about all the things that matter to me; also I have some dark twisty humor in there as well. I’m very proud of this album and excited to share it.
What matters most to you? Why?
Health comes first. I’ve learned that taking care of myself makes me able to care for those I love even more. Regular exercise, healthy food, not drinking. But I’ll never give up dessert. It’s my last vice!
Family is second. My boys are my world. I’m so lucky to have a beautiful partnership with my husband and my loving son. I’m also very close to my parents and siblings, and I have many friends I consider family that I keep close.
Music is third. Singing and performing and teaching. I’m very blessed to be able to do what I love for a living. It’s not easy, and it’s a constant hustle, but I’ll take living my dream any day over working for someone else’s.
Speaking my truth. In music and in life. Too many people couldn’t say shit if they had a mouthful of it. Call me loud, opinionated, bitchy. I’d rather be that then not have a voice. I’ll never go back to that.
Pricing:
- $50 per 30 minute lesson
- $100 for an hour lesson
- $500 for private gig plus PA (solo)
- $2,000 for full band plus PA
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.meganbluemusic.com
- Instagram: @meganbluemusic
- Facebook: @meganblueandthebonfire
- Youtube: @meganbluemusic
