Meet Musician Meg Smith and Jam to “Wake Me Up When My 20s End”
This is an interview done with Meg Smith, read her story below! If you, or anyone you know, would like to be highlighted in The Zillennial Zine, shoot us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram!
Q: Tell us your story! Where did you begin and how did you reach the caliber you’re currently at?
A: When I transferred to a new school when I was 12, there was a Ukulele Club that all of the popular girls were a part of. I wanted to make friends, so I bought a ukulele and taught myself how to play. But when it came time to go to the club, I got too nervous to actually go. But after I learned how to play an instrument, I started writing little songs here and there for fun. Before I knew it, I was writing songs every day after school. Then when I was 15, I practically forced my mom to take me on a tour of all the radio stations in California. I baked brownies and gave each receptionist my demo CD. After high school, I moved to New York and went to the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU. That was such a transformative experience. Moving to New York is such a whirlwind, especially when you’re that young. The past two years, I’ve released 2 EPs, one of which is called ‘Cross My Heart I Hope U Die.’ I wrote that song about being broken up with on Halloween. That night, me and my friends googled how to cast a spell on someone. I think the spell worked because that is by far my most popular song. It’s amazing to see how that song has connected with people!
Q: What makes you love what you do? How long have you been making music? Would you call it your passion?
A: Music is definitely my passion. I’ve been recording music and playing live shows since I was 14. I feel like I always have so many songs in me that I have to get out. I love coming up with interesting ways to say universal ideas. Or exploring topics I haven’t heard in other pop songs. Like my new single, ‘Wake Me Up When My 20s End.’ I couldn’t think of a song that expressed how frustrating being in your 20s is. I felt like I had to write that song.
Q: What are some accomplishments or milestones you’ve reached lately?
A: Reaching 2 Million streams on ‘Cross My Heart I Hope U Die’ was insane. I wasn’t expecting that at all! It’s so fun to play that song live and hear people singing the words back to me.
Q: Tell us about “wake me up when my 20s end”!!
A: I came up with the idea while on the L train. I wrote ‘thirty flirty and thriving’ in my notes app — that’s the line from the movie ’13 going on 30.’ Then when I got to the songwriting session, my friends Eva and Dom started listing the things that frustrated them about being in their 20s. I also pulled a lot from a book I read called ‘The Defining Decade’ by Meg Jay. She writes about how being in your 20s is a particularly tricky time. I feel like I’m being pulled in so many different directions. It was really therapeutic to get all of my feelings down on the page and even more therapeutic to hear how other people connect with the song.
Q: Do you have any advice for someone who is starting out in the music industry?
A: Take your time! Don’t rush it. I feel like TikTok makes everyone want to blow up overnight. But you need to hone your craft. Write hundreds of songs. Play shows as much as you can. Failure is such a good learning experience!
Q: What do you want our readers to know about you and your music?
A: I hope I write the kind of music that makes someone feel like they’re living in a 00s rom com.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: Thank you for your questions! And I can’t wait for everyone to hear ‘Wake Me Up When My 20s End.’ 🙂