Heartfelt new-wave folk with a touch of rock

15 MP3 Songs in this album (65:37) !
Related styles: POP: Pop/Rock, FOLK: Folk-Rock

People who are interested in Patty Griffin Bonnie Raitt Sarah McLachlan should consider this download.


Details:
Born August 22, 1980 in Dallas, Texas, Megan Melaraâs love for music came early. By the time she could walk she was picking out tunes by ear on the piano, and she started singing in school and church choirs as soon as she could. As early as 2nd grade, teachers took notice of her natural talent and encouraged her to keep with it. Megan stayed in choir all the way through her freshman year of college at Trinity University in San Antonio.

Megan moved to Austin in 1999, where she was finally able to focus on her desire to make singing her life. She picked up the guitar sheâd gotten as a Christmas present a few years back, and began the journey of learning the instrument, finding her voice, and writing songs, though still too afraid to play them in public.

Finally, Megan decided to dive head first into performing, writing more songs, and building up confidence. With school behind her and only her future ahead, there is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel for this bright young singer - more like a light the whole way through the tunnel.

Megan grew up listening to the Beatles, The Guess Who, America, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and many other classic rock artists and folk singers. She considers her main influences to be folk singers and writers such as Patty Griffin and Joni Mitchell, along with blues singers such as Susan Tedeschi and Bonnie Raitt. Megan writes insightful, powerfully delivered songs about her experiences- real and imagined, the experiences of others, and the serendipitous nature and universality of everything under the sun.

âMy first open mic was in March of 2003, and since then there have been countless doors of opportunity opening, thanks to all of the gracious people in our town. That tells me that Iâm on the right path. I am so grateful and excited that Iâm getting to do what I love, and that Iâm able share it with others. I consider myself very lucky.â
Credits

Megan has recently been in the studio with Austin legends Stephen Bruton and Malford Milligan. She also sang on a track with Dale Watson, another local legendary songwriter. Megan has recorded background vocals with Woody Russell on his cd, Salt. She has been a guest vocalist on several projects with her peers, and enjoys singing a variety of styles and harmonies.

Megan recently embarked on a six-week West Coast Tour in the summer of 2007, playing such legendary venues as the Make-Out Room in San Francisco, Hotel Café in Los Angeles opening for Jesca Hoop, Lestatâs in San Diego, among other venues in California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Colorado and all the way to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Venues and events she has played in Austin include: Alligator Grill, Austin Fine Arts Festival, Austin Java, Austin Zoo, Baxterâs, Cactus Café, Easy Rhino, Fado, Flipnotics, Gat5 Art Studio (East Austin Studio Tour), Gueroâs, Hillâs Café, Lavaca Street Bar, Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-off, Mariaâs Taco Xpress, Momoâs, Mother Eganâs, Mozartâs, Rossâ Old Austin Café, Ruta Maya, Saxon Pub, Seattleâs Best, Sky Lounge, Southwestern University, Sullivanâs, Stubbs, Ventana del Soul, Y Bar & Grill, Texas Soberfest 2003 and 2004, and Threadgills. She has also performed in College Station, several times in New York City at the Orange Bear Bar, Cupping Room Café, and The Back Fence, and she plays regularly in Dallas at Opening Bell. She also continues her annual Day-After-Christmas show at Poor Davidâs Pub in Dallas.

Her first cd, Dawn, is available for sale on the website and at her shows, as well as her latest release, a 5-song EP entitled âItâs Love.â, which features the incomparable Alex Adinolfi on guitar and Al Garth on fiddle. Her full-length album âA Series of Small Victoriesâ features many exquisite players, including: Merel Bregante (Loggins & Messina), Alex Adinolfi, Carl LoSchiavo, Kullen Fuchs (Ian Moore), Riley Osbourne (B.B. King), John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band), Al Garth (The Eagles), Woody Russell, Tom Benton, and Doug Clark Steiger, with Megan co-producing with renowned percussionist and engineer Merel Bregante. It is scheduled for a late 2008 release.