Exposed Vocals catches an interview with Meg Strayer

Meg Strayer is an Annapolis-based musician. She began playing music and singing while still in pre-school, and wrote her first original song at the age of 11. Her keyboard techniques are mostly self taught, inspired by the work of artists like Tori Amos and Regina Spektor, as well as the composition style of soundtrack artists like Nobuo Uematsu. Her vocals are versatile, but most influenced by folk and classical vocal stylings.

Her songs are heavily influenced by Medieval and Celtic music, as well as the “softer side” of progressive rock and 90s alternative. The music evokes a sense of myster

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Meg Strayer: I heard about Exposed Vocals on Twitter – they came up among my recommendations and I’m always looking to network with anyone involved in the music scene. I decided to sign up because I thought an interview may draw some attention to my upcoming EP, Sprouts in my Palms.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Meg Strayer: I’ve spent most of my life in Annapolis. When I was still in pre-school, my parents bought me a tiny toy Casio. I would play back songs I heard on the radio, songs I heard my parents listening to, and for a long time, all I really wanted to do was play the keyboard. My parents eventually got me a real keyboard to work with, which was when I started experimenting with writing my own material. I suppose what made me want to become an artist was just my love for music and sound in general – I’m very responsive to sound, it’s always the first thing I notice in my surroundings and I always have the urge to manipulate it somehow. I wanted to use my natural inclination for music as an outlet for my thoughts and to create things that others may find inspiring and enjoyable.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Meg Strayer: Meg is my real first name. Strayer is something related to my spiritual path – straying from the ways of society and the masks we wear in order to become in touch with our true selves.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Meg Strayer: In this day and age, there’s really no way around it, is there? If you’re creating non-mainstream work and you want to build a following outside of your own town, you have to share at least some of your material online. I do give a very limited amount of my music away for free, because I feel that it helps a listener make an informed choice as to whether or not they think my music is worth buying. If I give away one track for download, not just online streaming, one can listen to that track anywhere, even if they don’t have internet access at the time – being able to listen to that track in a variety of contexts gives the listener an opportunity to sort of form a bond with the song.

Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?

Meg Strayer: While I’m still an upstart myself, I would say the best way to get gigs is to network with similar artists in your area, preferably those with more of a following. Have them introduce you, show you around. As for airplay, I unfortunately have little experience in this area.

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Meg Strayer: Of course – who doesn’t? I recently saw a favorite artist perform, she made a few mistakes but it was no big deal – she’s exceptionally talented and everyone in the audience already knew that. Sometimes our bodies just don’t cooperate. When I make a mistake while performing, I just try to play it off by vamping and improvising a little.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Meg Strayer: Not yet!

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Meg Strayer: Most of my songwriting inspiration comes from abstract interpretations of events in my life – I often tie them to spirituality, literature, or psychology in some way. I tend to write the lyrics first, and the musical composition second. I start with my rhythm piano base, and sometimes I just stay there… Other times, I add in other “instruments” through the sound bank on my keyboard on top of that.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Meg Strayer: I have a personal website where I host both my writing and a bit of my music. I use Soundcloud, ReverbNation and am in the process of setting up shop on Bandcamp.

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Meg Strayer: I’ve never really seen much of a point in being embarrassed about music. If you’re embarrassed about something on your MP3 player, all that really says is that you take yourself too seriously.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Meg Strayer: I would plan out an LP, and I’d pull out all the stops with it – studio musicians, producers, professional promotion, the works. Any spare time I had would be spent on my novel.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Meg Strayer: My current EP was recorded at Howling Wolff studios – I don’t record at home. As far as instruments, I swear by my Roland RD-700SX.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Meg Strayer: ReverbNation has been working like a charm, also just mingling with other artists (at open mics, on SoundCloud, RN, etc), using a mailing list and a Facebook page. Sometimes I will find fans of artists whose work is relatively similar to mine and follow them on Twitter or Tumblr in hopes of getting their attention. So far, RN has worked the best.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Meg Strayer: I would love to perform with Joanna Newsom, doesn’t matter where. She’s just a huge inspiration to me in that no one sounds quite like her, and her lyricism blows me away. I would love to be able to get on that level as far as lyricism and composition.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Meg Strayer: Keep an eye out for my EP, Sprouts in my Palms! It should be ready on Bandcamp by March. I’m very excited about it – while I have done studio recordings before for posterity’s sake, this is the first one that I’ve really put work into getting out there.

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Meg Strayer: Well, I have a day job helping disabled students. I wish to continue doing this sort of advocacy work even as I work on making music.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

Meg Strayer: I don’t remember exactly, I was in middle school. I think it may have been an Alanis Morissette album. I remember loving the rawness and vulnerability in her music.

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Meg Strayer: I have to say, it’s hard. I’m someone who overextends their self a great deal. But I have so much excitement and passion for all of my creative projects that, even after the hardest day at work, I still have the energy to plug away at them, even if it’s just a little bit.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Meg Strayer: As I said, the Sprouts in my Palms EP. I also hope to have a second EP out by December of 2016. Local fans can look forward to some live performances once Sprouts in my Palms is out, as well.