24 year old Meg Mac is steadily accumulating critical acclaim for her style of elusive dark-pop – quite a feat for an artist who just released her first body of work. Her soft-spoken demeanour belies a big stage presence and an even bigger voice. Delivering starkly cinematic lyrics filtered through a Detroit/Memphis inspired sense of dark soul, that voice served as the centrepiece of her 2014 debut Meg Mac EP.
The groundswell of interest for this Melbourne songstress began with the release of her debut single ‘Known Better’, which was unearthed by triple j in 2013. The follow up came in the form of the dark, personal, punching ‘Every Lie’, which the singer describes herself as the response to her “first taste of feeling shit, a shock and an exciting discovery – my bitter sweet pop song”. The song saw the young writer get heard above the noise, and snagged her the triple j Unearthed spot at Falls Festival in Lorne, as well as being named a 2014 Next Crop artist.
The most recent offerings are ‘Grandma’s Hands’ and ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’, a letter from Meg Mac to Meg Mac, and a literal reminder that everything really is going to be alright. “I’m one of those people who hide away when I am sad so I had to sing it to myself so I remembered”. Fat piano chords, and her signature vocal that seems to cut straight through you, ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ is an exciting indication of the prolific songwriting which is displayed on her debut EP, MEGMAC.
After being offered deals from a gamut of major records labels, Meg Mac decided to remain independent, displaying that, despite being a young artist, she has a stronghold over her own career trajectory and is in this race for the long term.
Spending most of 2015 in the U.S.A. MEG MAC has been working hard on her forthcoming album and touring; recently completing a coast-to-coast North American tour with D’Angelo and the Vanguard and Gary Clark Jr. and her own sell-out show in New York. Now one of Australia’s most promising young exports, MEG MAC announces she’s heading back home for an Australian tour to celebrate the release of highly anticipated upcoming single ‘Never Be’.
Meg’s soft-spoken demeanour belies a big stage presence and an even bigger voice, delivering starkly cinematic lyrics filtered through a Detroit/Memphis inspired sense of dark soul. That voice serves as the centrepiece of her 2014 debut Meg Mac EP that pricked ears, turned heads and set hearts racing across the country.
Last year, triple j named MEG MAC ‘2014 Unearthed Artist of the Year’ and she scored three songs in the triple j ‘Hottest 100’. Overseas, MEG MAC is generating overwhelming critical acclaim; listed as the number one SXSW act to watch out for on Buzzfeed with glowing write ups and reviews from The New York Times to Rolling Stone and Flavourwire. Her debut US single ‘Roll Up Your Sleeves’ recently jumped into the U.S. Billboard adult alternative top 30 chart and was listed of as one of the American National Broadcaster’s (NPR) favourite songs of 2015; NPR syndicates to a network over 900 public radio stations around the U.S.
Produced by M-Phases (Eminem, Kimbra), MEG MAC’s brand new single ‘Never Be’ will be released to coincide with her national tour; it’s possibly the last chance fans will have to see her this year in Australia before she heads back overseas.
MEG MAC also plays Splendour in the Grass at Byron Bay this July and has also been announced for the Sydney iteration of Mumford and Sons’ Gentlemen of the Road Tour.
Saturday, 26th September | Corner Hotel, Melbourne
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