biographical info
Hello, I'm Meaghan Smith. I like to draw and paint, and I love to sing.
I
have always loved to sing. Music played a big role in my family. I used
to sing with my three wonderful sisters in four part harmony. My mom is
a piano player and my dad is a gifted singer, bass player and whistler.
We spent a lot of time making music together. I started playing piano
when I was young and later, guitar. When I was 12 I wrote a few songs.
But I was really REALLY shy so no one ever heard them. After years of
singing with my family I had developed an acute case of overwhelming,
knee-shaking, stomach turning stage fright.
Meanwhile, I somehow
graduated from high school and went to college for classical animation. I
was so shy, I figured being a musician was not a possibility for me
becuase I couldn't work up the nerve to play in front of anyone. The
next best thing was to draw. But I had some really good friends at
college, and they encouraged me to sing some of my songs for them. I
started playing little shows in the stairwells of my college, where the
acoustics were really good. Eventually my teachers and friends started
coming to my stairwell concerts and I slowly gained a little bit of
confidence.
It wasn't until I moved to Halifax for a job in
animation that I really started to try to get over my stage fright. I
couldn't go on with my life till I had at l had at least tried. So after
work I went to open mics to attempt to get over my stage fright. It
took four years, but finally I started to be able to sing in front of
people the way I sang alone. CBC recorded an album for me called Lost
With Directions in 2004, and in 2006 I decided to make my own album. I
wrote 11 songs, hired a producer named Les Cooper and worked with him to
make my first full length album, The Cricket's Orchestra.
Then
in 2007 I met some really great folks who came here for the Halifax Film
Festival. Most of them are music supervisors based out of LA. They
listened to my songs and passed it on to their friends in the industry.
They have become great friends and supporters of my music.
Then
after a whirlwind series of events, I found a great management team in
Terry McBride, Coleen Novak and Ari Martin of Nettwerk management. I
also signed a major label deal with Sire Records (Warner America)!
I'm
in an amazing place in my life right now. My most unthinkable dreams
are coming true... I am singing music in front of people that like what I
do! And I'm not even afraid anymore! I am married to an amazing guy who
plays guitar in my band and comes with me on my adventures! I get to
travel to amazing places and meet incredible people and see amazing
things!
I have no idea what will happen in my future. There seem
to be no limits! I hope that my music touches many people for years to
come. This is an amazing adventure, and I am thankful to everyone who
has ever truly encouraged, supported or inspired me to become more than I
ever thought I could!
lineup
Meaghan Smith Vocals, Guitar, Songwriter
Jason Mingo Guitarist
influences
Ella Fitzgerald
Louis Jordan
Fiona Apple
Billie Holiday
Kid Koala
Caravan Palace