Meet Cornwall-born UK Open Mic performer Megan Forrest:

Hi Megan Forrest, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:

Do you play solo only, or also in a group?

Solo

How old are you?

24

Where were you born?

Cornwall

Where did you grow up?

Cornwall

How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)

I grew up in a really peaceful place and I think that helped influence my soulful sound.

Where are you based now, and why?

I am currently based in London because I have been gigging in Cornwall for years and thought i would move to London where there is a brilliant music scene.

What got you into making music in the first place?

I’ve always enjoyed singing, in fact there aren’t many times in the day when I’m not. When I was younger I was in my primary school play where I sang a solo and I knew from my first performance that  wanted to be a performer.
Singing is always where I felt like I’ve belonged and most able to express myself, I grew up surrounded by all sorts of music – my parents listened to lots of different genres and so I’ve always been very versatile but gained a lot of my sound from the likes of Michael Bubble, Etta James and Ed Sheeran.

What instrument/s do you play?

Singing

Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?

Michael Bubble, has definitely influenced a lot of my sound, I always loved his jazzy and soulful tone and always sang along to his songs growing up.
Ed Sheeran, I think he’s an amazing artist and used to listen to his equals album on repeat.
Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera – I would say their powerful voices helped shape the power I have in my voice.
Lousia Johnson, Becky Hill, Adele, Chloe – influence a lot of what style I want to bring to the music I make

Do you write your own songs?

Yes

How many years have you been writing songs for?

3

What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?

I talents are mostly in lyrics and melody; i often work with producers/DJs, speak about influences and then when they send me a track I listen and see how it inspires what emotions I have been feeling or what situations I am in.

How long have you been playing open mic nights?

1

Why did you get into playing them in the first place?

Great place to meet other musicians and network opportunities and it’s a good place to showcase and see other talent.

What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?

People don’t expect perfection from live performances, don’t feel scared that you will mess up because if you do, it’s okay, it happens to the best of us – just live in the enjoyment of what you’re doing.

What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?

Asking to go up on stage, I am confident going up to sing but the scariest part for me is going up to the person who’s running it and asking if I can go up.

What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?

At a lot of my gigs I get people (probably drunk) shouting that they’re in love with me – I once got someone come up to me after a song and say they would marry me.

If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?

Yes

What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?

I’m in a new city, so finding new places to gig is the hardest part so far.

What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?

I don’t come from a family of musicians, in fact, no one else in my family does music at all.

What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?

I am currently writing a track with a producer which will be, I think, the best track I have worked on yet.

Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?

Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?

https://www.instagram.com/meg.an123/?hl=en

What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?

www.instagram.com/meg.an123/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.instagram.com/meg.an123/?hl=en
www.tiktok.com/@meganforrestmusic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.tiktok.com/@meganforrestmusic
www.facebook.com/meganforrestmusic24/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.facebook.com/meganforrestmusic24/

We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?

No thanks!