Emerging Irish artist Marr Not Meeger aka Rowan Meagher has released her new song, Yellow Car, which is taken from her debut EP The Boy In The Tree. We asked her the BIG questions . . .
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Having grown up outside Ireland, mainly in Geneva, and then moving to Paris at 17 to pursue her music career, she found herself having to explain the pronunciation of her last name to foreigners, hence the name, Marr Not Meeger.
On The Boy in The Tree, she "navigates the transition from adolescence to adulthood, relationships, and insecurity through a blend of 90s grunge, indie pop and delicate folk sounds".
Speaking about her musical taste and the artists that influenced her, Rowan says: "I'm going through a future soul phase at the moment, but growing up in the streaming era, my playlists are always as eclectic as I am.
"The people who influenced me to start making music were The Beatles, Green Day, The 1975, Daniel Johnston, Billie Eilis, Jorja Smith, Nina Simone, Clairo, and Rex Orange County."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
My full name is Rowan Anne Meagher but my friends call me Rowan or Roro. I'm from Waterford (up the Déise) but I grew up in Switzerland. I’m now studying music in Paris.
How would you describe your music?
That's often very difficult, however, I would describe it as indie-pop meets dad rock, with sad girl lyrics. After all, I am yet another sad girl with a guitar in the long list of sad girls with guitars.
Who are your musical inspirations?
In a time where we have access to such a wide catalogue of music, I tend to listen to so many different things, all of which I find inspiring. My biggest inspirations for The Boy In The Tree were probably Joni Mitchell, Daniel Johnston, Clairo, Beabadoobee’s earlier work (ashamed to admit I haven't gotten the chance to listen to her new record) for songwriting. In terms of vocals, I have to mention some of the great jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Louis Armstrong. However, I invite anyone who's curious to check out the playlists that are on my Spotify page for some specific songs and records that inspired mine.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I went to see Luka Bloom when I was too small to understand what was going on, but he gave me a guitar pick afterwards so that was fun. The first gig I bought tickets for was Rex Orange County at Le Trabendo in Paris. I remember leaving the gig and thinking it was the best moment of my entire life
What was the first record you ever bought?
I think it must have been Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy. I’m clearly very into 2017 indie pop stuff
What’s your favourite song right now?
It’s Autumn right now, which basically means I’ve got Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago on loop, and one of my favourite tracks off of it is Lump Sum.
Favourite lyric of all time?
It has to be Love is Stronger Than Pride by Sade, I even have it tattooed.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That is a near impossible task, but maybe Diminuendo in Blue live at Newport by Duke Ellington, because I love the song's lore and also because it's 14 minutes long.
Where can people find your music/more information?
I don't have a website yet, but people can find my music on most streaming platforms (barring some really niche ones) and can get some more day-to-day updates on gigs and such on my Instagram and other socials @marrnotmeeger.
Alan Corr
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