Interview with Meghan Linsey

Hi there! It is Adam. Welcome back to bringing it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. On this episode, we had a chance to hang out with Megan Lindsay over zoom video. You might recognize Megan from the voice or she was also on the show. Can you do it? Megan was born in new Orleans and raised just outside of new Orleans and a small suburb. And she talks about how she got into music. Always a fan of singing, always singing really, since she could speak, she was singing, took piano lessons as a young girl, but really wasn't too interested in piano. Always loved to sing was in different choirs and courses all the way through high school and middle school. 3 (3m 11s): She also had a band while she was in high school. She eventually moved to Nashville and was hosting a karaoke night and downtown, which led her to meeting her ex-boyfriend, which ended up being half of steel Magnolias there on the show. Can you do at the one, the show, she talks about that. Getting signed to big machine recordings of major label, how that experience went. Eventually they went their separate ways. Megan started her solo career. She talks about getting a phone call from the voice. She ends up doing the voice, making it all the way to the very end. She was the runner up, which she said was a blessing because she was able to not be signed to the record land bowl by doing it that way. 3 (3m 53s): And she's the first person to ever perform her own song on the voice at the finale, she talks about working with her now husband, who's an incredibly talented producer and songwriter. We hear about the pop records. She put out called bold, like a lion writing the theme song to the new queer eye season, which is on Netflix. She tells us about the new song she's riding with her husband, the duets they've been doing together and all about the brand new song she just wrote, which brings her back to her new Orleans roots. It's called. If you need me don't you can watch our interview with Megan on our Facebook page and YouTube channel at bringing it backwards. It would be awesome if you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TechTalk at bringing back pod. 3 (4m 40s): And if you're listening to this on Spotify, apple music, Google podcasts, it would be amazing if you follow us there as well and hook us up with a five-star review. 4 (4m 49s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts, 3 (4m 55s): We're bringing it backwards with Megan, Lindsay. I appreciate you doing this. My name is Adam and 5 (5m 2s): Oh, thanks for having me. 3 (5m 6s): Of course. I can't wait to hear your story. This is about your story and journey and music and how you got to where you are now. And I love the new songs you've been putting out in the most recent one and I just watched the video and 5 (5m 17s): Oh, cool. Well, awesome. 3 (5m 21s): I love this song. Oh, nice. And I saw on your Instagram, it just as dogs and cats, like the first thing. 5 (5m 30s): Yeah. I love it. 3 (5m 33s): I love the songs you put out with your husband to 5 (5m 35s): The 3 (5m 36s): Recent ones. Yeah, those are beautiful songs. 5 (5m 40s): Yeah. Those 3 (5m 40s): Are great. Are you in that? You're Nashville? Correct? 5 (5m 43s): I live in Nashville. 3 (5m 44s): Oh cool. I just moved here about a year ago, a little over a year 5 (5m 47s): Ago. Oh really? Cool. Where'd you move from 3 (5m 50s): San Diego, California. 5 (5m 51s): Yeah. I love San Diego, man. I really do. 3 (5m 56s): It's great. Yeah. We, my wife and I and our two kids, we, my wife and I were born and raised there. I moved to San Francisco for a little while and then back to San Diego and we were California our whole life until we moved out here about a year ago, a year ago in February, so, 5 (6m 12s): Oh, wow. Yeah. I love the weather there. Just the beach, everything. 3 (6m 18s): Yeah. I love it here. To be honest. Like I love the changing weather. Yeah. The fact that like my kids saw snow, like legit for like snow and like in the, you know, little bits in the mountains of California, but not like here. I mean, it just snows out in the front yard. I mean, it was crazy, 5 (6m 33s): Right? Yeah. I guess if you're not used to it, it's probably really cool. 3 (6m 38s): You're over it. Yeah. My neighbors across the street are from Chicago and they're like, ah, I thought I moved to place in the business 5 (6m 46s): Apps. No, 3 (6m 48s): We love it here. It's amazing. Cool. So you are originally from, is this small town in Louisiana? Right? 5 (6m 54s): Well, I was born in new Orleans and I kind of spent half of my growing up time there. And then we moved to Ponchatoula, which is like a suburb for new Orleans it's but it's it's small. Yeah. 3 (7m 5s): Yeah. Cause I saw him like, I think it was on Wikipedia. It had like less than 8,000 people. 5 (7m 9s): It's very small. 3 (7m 11s): I was like, whoa, 5 (7m 12s): I think as new Orleans it's close enough to drive. So you're not like, you know, You at least have a city and it's a really cool city. 3 (7m 21s): Oh, sure, sure, sure. Okay. So you're close. You'd go into, to new Orleans all the time 5 (7m 25s): Now. 3 (7m 27s): Okay. Right on what was it like growing up there? 5 (7m 30s): It was in Ponchatoula 3 (7m 34s): Or new Orleans. I mean, I guess all of it. 5 (7m 36s): It was great. We were so like weird, you know, like until you move out, when you move out and you go to a normal city, you're like, oh wow. We're really strange. Like we've got a lot of things going on. 3 (7m 51s): A 5 (7m 51s): Lot of culture that I didn't realize was not like normal things that people just, I just thought brains during the day were normal, you know? 3 (7m 58s): Yeah, sure. I love the sound. I mean the, the music in new Orleans is beautiful. It's amazing. And like, I can kind of hear that in the new records you've been put or that at least a new song that you put out. 5 (8m 9s): Yeah. That's kind of like the new theme, I guess, for the, all the new music is like getting back to like my roots and bringing in like horn players and horn sections and stuff to kind of make it feel like that vibe and authentic. And my really good friend, John Jackson is from like up the street where I'm from. We grew up like right down the road from each other. And he, we, we reconnected like later in life, like didn't even realize we had, we knew each other, but he was like my husband, one of my husband's best friends. And so we reconnected. And then we were like sitting there one day and was like, I'm like, wait a minute. I'm like, I think you came to my house when I was a kid with your dad. And we like put all the pieces together. 5 (8m 51s): Like we totally hung out when we were kids. Like just cause we were on this like talent show circuit together. That's why we kind of piece it back together. And then now he like plays with like, he plays with Macy, gray, just did a thing with will Smith and he's just like an insane arranger horn player keys. And so I called him and he agreed to put all the horn arrangements on my project 3 (9m 17s): And that's awesome. 5 (9m 18s): Yeah. He's like real, real Louisiana, you know? 3 (9m 22s): Is your husband from there as well? 5 (9m 24s): No. 3 (9m 24s): Oh, okay. They're best friends. I didn't know if they were like grew up together as well and then even more crazy 5 (9m 30s): They met. Oh, 3 (9m 31s): Okay. 5 (9m 32s): But, but yeah, no, it's Tyler's from Virginia By way of, he's kind of moved around a lot. Cause he was in his dad was in the service, so. 3 (9m 42s): Okay. Yeah. Well, how did you get the music originally? 5 (9m 47s): I mean, you know, it's like as a kid, you know, just like didn't really want to do anything else and just started singing like super, super young, you know, as soon as I could talk, I was singing and wanted to be, you know, doing talent shows and all of the whole thing and put a band together when I was in high school. So I was doing like a lot of, I was gaining a lot actually through high school playing like, I mean bars and then also like, you know, singing in church and that kind of stuff. And then yeah, I just kind of decided that's what I wanted to do. 3 (10m 22s): Did you, where are you putting piano lessons or anything like that? In early. Okay. Dreadful. Okay. Yeah. 5 (10m 31s): Yeah. I hated that. I didn't, I mean, to be honest, I didn't really enjoy any of my music lessons growing up. Other, I had a, I had acquired a teacher. I really liked when I first started, I was in like junior high and they were bringing me to the high school to sing in the choir. Cause they didn't have like enough people. They're like, well, this girl's junior high, but she's thinks gun. So we're just going to bus her over during the choir hour. So I was doing it free. I started doing that early. So I had a really good choir teacher that I liked. And then he left like right as I got in high school. But yeah, they, I sang in all parts of the choir. 5 (11m 12s): They had me as like I sang 10 or one year just cause they didn't have enough boys. So 3 (11m 16s): Whoa, whoa. Okay. Well obviously you amazing vocalist. So it's like, well she's way better than, probably than everyone else. So they'll just put her around <inaudible> Yeah. That's funny. So obviously you did chorus choir through, you know, your, your elementary, I mean middle school, high school years, you were in a, you said you were in a band. What is your, what was your band like? What'd you guys sound like? And, 5 (11m 41s): Well, it was me, but it was like I had, I had this, it was like literally me and like for like, I mean at the time to me very old men 3 (11m 51s): They're like in their early twenties. Yeah. 5 (11m 55s): They were like forties, fifties, but they had been playing, you know, the new Orleans circuit for a long time. So it was good. They were really good players and yeah, I just like, I, it was more like cover gigs, but then I started getting into songwriting in high school. So I would throw in some of my, some of my originals and stuff, but it was, it was mostly kind of like a soul kind of, you know, little soul, a little country, just kind of a blend of different things, which is kind of what I am now. I feel like. So 3 (12m 23s): Did you go to college for music at all? 5 (12m 26s): I went to one semester at Belmont. 3 (12m 29s): Okay. 5 (12m 30s): I was supposed to go to college for music. Yeah. I kind of got here and I started working. I started working downtown originally like as a karaoke host when I was like 18. Yeah. 3 (12m 44s): I think I read where you were. Yeah. Where were you? You're right north of Broadway, right on church or the oh yeah. Okay. That's where it was. I, I saw that you like working there. I'd never been there, but I've heard like that. It's really like a cool thing. 5 (12m 59s): It's cool. Yeah. I enjoyed it. I remember going in there, like when I was, I just got to town and I met this girl and she was kind of wild, but she was older than me. And she was like, Hey, she was like, you just got to town, you need a job. And I was like, yeah, she like, you know, she's like follow me into this app. 3 (13m 18s): Okay. What is this job? 5 (13m 23s): What does this job? And it kind of looked like printer's alley. It's funny that I ended up there as far as alley is really like the part of Nashville that actually looks like new Orleans. So it was like this little, like, yeah, it's a really cool spot. It's changed a lot. I mean, it's very developed now, but at the time it was just like all these old rundown bars, but like, you know, the cobblestone and the whole thing. And I was like, oh, this is cool. This was like home to me. So she was like, yeah, come in here and meet Lonnie's I've met Lonnie. And then I'm sitting there and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is like an episode of ER, it's like, it's like the movie coyote ugly, like all the bar singing and then like took a down turn and make tips. And I was like, okay, well this seems, you know, at 18 I thought that was going to be really fun. 5 (14m 5s): Like sign me up. I can do it. It doesn't make money. Great. So yeah, I just got blonde. He's like, can you sing? And I was like, yeah. And I was like, it was literally like moving. He was like, well, get up and sing and I'll give you a job. And I was like, okay. So I just got up and sang and he gave me a job 3 (14m 19s): And yeah, 5 (14m 22s): God, that's a good question. I remember, oh God, I don't remember Susan Tedeschi. It hurts so bad a lot. I used to do that while I used to do my, I did a version of steam roller. That was kind of my own version, but a lot of like, like real singing stuff I would do just to make tips, you know? 3 (14m 43s): Sure, sure. What did you ha you hosted right? Karaoke night. Yeah. So was that kind of like, I'd imagine you have to go, you know, get on the mic quite a bit and bring people up and orchestrate the whole thing. Was, did that help with, you know, being like state intelligence and stuff or was that something you already kind of had? 5 (15m 0s): Because like, I was so used to being, like, I had been in a band at that point for like, I guess five years or something like all through, like from the time I was like 13 to 18. So I was used to having like support and backup, I guess. And then when you do the karaoke thing is like, you don't have anybody else on stage with you. So I felt like I did learn a lot just like having to be up there and talk and like entertain people without any assistance, you know? 3 (15m 28s): Sure, sure. Well, I don't, I don't want to stay long in this at all. I'm just curious. Cause I know it's part of your story with, can you do it, I mean, obviously you're on the show and then that was with your band steel Magnolia. And what was it like, just kind of like, how did you get on that show? Like how did that work and then we'll move along. I didn't know if it's a weird thing 5 (15m 50s): In printer's alley at karaoke. Like he came in and sang and that's how we met. So It's a good segue, but, But yeah, we met, we, you know, we started dating before we were doing music together. He had like a three-piece rock band and I was kind of trying to do the country thing. And so we were kind of doing different things and then we started writing together and the songs were more, I mean really the thing, the thing we kind of started doing Estelle Magnolia was like indie rock. Like we ended up in London recording with this producer who had, who produced like the test sense, like produced a Dell at the time he was producing James Morrison. 5 (16m 31s): And so we were open there when I was like, I mean, I must've been like 20 years old, 21 3 (16m 36s): That must've been a pretty cool, you know, experience like rockstar experience. 5 (16m 42s): Like we went, we had this crazy manager. I know this is a lot of information, but 3 (16m 47s): No, no, this is what I love. That's what I love. But I just didn't want to pry at you. 5 (16m 51s): Oh, we got this. We, I mean, we had this guy we met, you know, through, I don't even know how we met this guy, but he was, he was from London and he was, he had managed some bigger bands back in the day. And so we're like, oh cool. Like our first big opportunity. And we met this guy and he was like, I want to send you over to London. And he's like, you know, this guy owes me a favor and we're like, oh, okay, cool. And so we just go over there. I mean with no money, like no money, like the eight subway every day in London, like, cause we had that was it, you know? And he's like, and they put us up in a, it was like an partment above a bar that his friend owned and they were having like illegal poker running like downstairs every night. 5 (17m 32s): And the guy Picked us up in a Bentley with like, I mean a full fur ring. Okay. I'm not even like registering that, like this is weird at all. And my ex is like, I think he's like in the mall and I'm like, 3 (17m 49s): And they 5 (17m 49s): Were like pavers. And then we find out while we're there that our manager had been at Spanish prison for four years. And then he was in the mob and it was a crazy, but you know, we got some good recordings And that was kinda how, I mean, that was like our, that was kinda how we started. And then we broke up with that manager and we're like, what are we going to do next? And we got, you know, I working downtown, you know, Lonnie's I met some guys who were doing the production on Kenny duet and they're like, well, we don't have any involvement in the, in the casting. So they're like, if you want to, but if you want to audition, come over. 5 (18m 30s): And so I just, like, we waited in line, did the whole like cattle call audition and made it through and kept going on that until, you know, then we ended up winning and getting a record deal. But 3 (18m 42s): Huge. I mean, that must've been a big, I mean, you've obviously succeeded through two of these shows now. Yeah. So crazy. And you know, you finished, you get a record deal, a big machine, which is huge. I mean, at the time they probably still had Taylor swift and you know yeah. These big names and it's like, was that overwhelming? Like, okay, we just, not only are you on a show, which was probably overwhelming in itself, then you win the show and then they're like, here's a deal. Like, were you guys able to process that pretty easily? Or is that difficult? 6 (19m 15s): Nothing beats grilling on a Sunday afternoon. Oh man. We looking at John finally did it. 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There's a new victim of identity theft. A criminal could be applying for loans in your name or even selling your personal info on the dark web. Protecting your identity can be easy with LifeLock by Norton, LifeLock, monitors, your info and alerts you to potential identity threats. No one can prevent all identity theft or monitor all transactions at all businesses. But with LifeLock, it's easy to help protect yourself. Save up to 25% off your first year at lifelock.com/aware. 5 (20m 46s): You gotta just go with it. Know you don't really like, we weren't really thinking about it at the time. We were just like, okay, well here's our shot, you know, and this is what we have to do. And so, and I was so young that I could just do it. I had so much energy at the time, you know? I mean, I think I stopped good energy, but you know, not like that, like it was crazy, but yeah, you kind of just go with the flow and do whatever they tell you to do. Cause you're like, well, this is huge. And you know, they're putting so much money into you and like you're getting to do all the things. Like I literally had a bucket list of like, you know, all the things that I wanted to do in the year. I mean, not even in the year. I think I had like written it as like my life goals. 5 (21m 26s): And like it ended up, I ended up checking all the boxes within a year. Wow. Like everything I wanted to do, like I wanted to play the Opry. I wanted to play at Titan stadium. I wanted to like be on Letterman and like all these things I did within one year, just kind of just, and I didn't, I was always an out of body experience. Cause it's like, you're just going so hard that you're not really, like, I was so tired. I wasn't as present as I probably would have liked to have been. But yeah. I mean, it was like, it was great. It was awesome. And then it was also like, there was that whole like crazy like, oh God, you know, am I even like enjoying this really kind of feeling as well? You know, 3 (22m 7s): Do you remember writing that list? Like when did you write that list? Was it pre the show or 5 (22m 11s): Right before, can you do 3 (22m 14s): Oh wow. That's 5 (22m 16s): I got really into like, you know, the secret, like the 3 (22m 19s): Manifesto, 5 (22m 20s): All vision boarding. And I was like, I'm in, like I'm saying my vans now my monitor is every morning and reading my list and then I just, I just did it. It was crazy. 3 (22m 30s): That's so cool. That's what I, it's funny. You're the, I just interviewed someone the other day and they had similar, similar experience. And I mean, I've heard this a lot of times. I even created a vision more like two years ago. Cause I'm like, this seems to be working. This is crazy, but I don't. And I talked to somebody that isn't in a numerology and this is a couple of times brought this up twice now. But do you know anything about numerology or it's like, you take numbers for your name and then it like somehow figures out this weird algorithm of how, who you're supposed to be. And I'm just, I don't like buy into it, but it's weird in certain aspects, 5 (23m 8s): Five 11 have been a thing for me. 3 (23m 11s): Is it? Oh my no way. Okay. So I'm an 11. My wife is an 11. 11 is like the number of like, you can kind of see things happen. Like, you know, they're going to happen and they happen. 5 (23m 26s): It's 3 (23m 26s): So weird. That's so weird that you just said 11. My mind is like, 5 (23m 31s): Now that was a thing. Like when I, when I did the voice, so like I was not planning on doing the voice. Like I didn't even know what I was doing. I was kinda lost to be honest with you. I was trying to do my music and put it out solo. This is after the steel Magnolia stuff dissolved. And I was in line at a Panera bread ordering and I got a phone call from one of the producers of the boys. And she was like, Hey, I just watched a YouTube video of you singing natural woman. Like, we love you. Would you want to come audition for the voice? And I was like, I don't know if I qualified. So I've had a record deal. Like she was like, well, do you have one now? I was like, no. And she's like, well then you qualify. And I was like, okay, well let me call you back because I'm about to check out and literally 3 (24m 17s): Broccoli Cheddar's coming up. 5 (24m 20s): I got a sandwich, apparently I really bad. But I, she checked me out and my total was 1111. And I was like, Hmm, maybe I should go. You know, cause I have it on my neck. It's like a thing 3 (24m 32s): You really, whoa. Did you know you, do you know that? Are you an 11 when it comes to the numerology thing, You should look it up. 5 (24m 43s): My friend, Julie who's I write a lot of songs with that stuff. It was a thing for her. And then I started seeing it and you know, I'd go to that station and I'm thinking about something. And then my total would just stop at 1111. And it was like my gas tank wasn't in full like crazy stuff like that. It was just like signs, you know? So I kind just sign that leg. It's the right thing to do. Like I need to move on that track. So I called her back and that was on like a Thursday. And she was like, okay, we're gonna fly you out Tuesday. You know? And I just went and I wasn't really, I didn't know, you know, I didn't know. I was like, so like, oh God, what am I doing? But I just did it. 3 (25m 19s): I'd be so curious if you did that test. If, if you were an 11 also like my, like it would make it, it would be way too weird. I'd be like, are we like in some simulation here? Like, oh, wow. Okay. So I mean, steel, you know, a steel Magnolia ended up, you know, you guys broke up or you went in your solo career and how much, how many years passed between that? And then getting the voice call? 5 (25m 45s): Well, we, we broke up and oh, actually we broke up while we were in the middle of touring. So we were actually supposed to be going out with Reba in like two weeks to open. Yeah. And my ex you know, he had some substance abuse issues and so he ended up going to rehab and Scott's like, okay, well you're still going to do the tour. You know, Scott Versetta and I'm like, great, how am I going to do this? I'm like, you know, I'm just heartbroken in the middle of like the worst time of my life. Like just so gutted. And I'm like, okay, great. Now I have to go do this by myself while he's in rehab and calling a friend, James Otto, who was a country singer. 5 (26m 27s): So he real soulful great voice. So he came out and did a few songs with me and then I did the rest of the show. But so that was, that was helpful. But I mean, it was brutal like going through that and having to get on stage every night. And then at the time, like you were kind of at the height of our career where we had like, you know, in a top five single on country radio. And so people are like, actually talking about the fact that he's in rehab, you know, and you knew who he was and all these things then. So I was doing these shows every night and then I'd have to go out and do meet and greets and talk to people and smile. And I was just, I was so, you know, I was like 23 years old or something 24. So it was, it was hard, really, really hard. 5 (27m 7s): And once I was done with that, we ended up, you know, we ended up leaving our, our deal and we were going to just end the whole thing and not to her anymore. And then I think about a few months passed and we were like, okay, like we need money. Like we have to get back out and tour. So we went back out together for, I don't know, maybe a year of dates. And then I finally had to make that decision, like, okay, if I want to have a solo career, if I want to like break away from this like toxic thing, you know, because it was very, you know, even so toxic, I was like, I have to make that far decision and just do it. And so, yeah, I think we played our last, our last gig was like a cruise ship. 5 (27m 55s): So we, we did that. And then when we, when we got back, I was like, I made that decision. And then there was like, I mean, I don't know, maybe a year that passed where I was like, what did I do? Like, was this the right decision? Cause I'm just like trying to, you know, nobody knows me, they know the band, you know? And so I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to have a career now with no support. And like, you know, I'm not on big machine anymore. I don't have the luxury of like having these insane budgets. And, but I'm still trying to do everything at that level, which is really hard as an indie artist. You know, when you have, especially when you're like in your twenties and you, you know, I don't at that time, I don't think I had a job. I think I was just trying to do like little gigs to make money, you know? 5 (28m 36s): So that was, it was a struggle, but I, you know, I think it was probably a year or two after we broke up that I got that call to do the voice like broke up. And I just was like, you know, what, what am, what am I doing? You know, why not? Like there's part of me that was very apprehensive about it. Cause I'm like I already had a career. People know who I am. If I go on there and I don't get a chair, like my career's probably over. That's probably the end of it. You know, that's like in my head, that's what I'm thinking. Cause I had seen, I'd had friends that had gone on who had, had record deals and didn't get a chair, you know, didn't get anybody to turn around. 3 (29m 16s): I mean, it's, that's such a weird thing. Obviously it shouldn't dictate how your career can continue, but I would imagine it would be very heartbreaking to be like, oh, you know, obviously, you know, I don't have this or whatever, 5 (29m 30s): If you were like a new artist that no one had ever heard of, like, I don't think it would be that big a deal. Cause it's just like, okay, whatever, try it. I'll try it again. But if you're like, if you had had hits on the radio, I feel like it's like, okay, like 3 (29m 42s): You think it would just be like, yeah, you should make it through. Right. Right. Wow. And I would think like, even just going and doing that tour after, you know, he had gone into treatment and having to do the meet and greets and probably magazines and all these people are having, you have so much attention just asking you constantly about that. Like, so blah, blah, blah. And you're like, oh my gosh, like, how do I answer this stupid question for the 10 million time? Like I would have bet that that had to just be so draining. 5 (30m 11s): It was really, I really felt like I had the weight of the world, like on my shoulders at that time, I think I was really, really exhausted. And just emotionally and physically everything, I was just so tired. I wasn't eating. I was like, I was going through like, eat that, you know, you just go through this terrible breakup and you're like twenties with the person that you think you're like, so in love with it was like that. But like, I didn't have the luxury of just like going to my bedroom for two weeks and crying. Like I had to like go 3 (30m 43s): Out and 5 (30m 44s): Be on constantly. And so it was really, really hard. It was really, really hard, but it was probably good for me though, because I wouldn't have thought like I could do that and you tell, you just have to do it. Then you're like, okay, well I'm, you know, I'm a bad bitch. 3 (30m 60s): Yeah, for sure. Yeah. Right. And so you, you move on to your, your, you get on the voice, you make it past the chair you get on for Eve, choose for L Williams, I think. Right. Which is awesome. And then some you do what the battle and then you didn't win, but then Blake Sheldon pulls you back. Like tell me that a little real quick. I mean don't 5 (31m 23s): But 3 (31m 23s): I'm just curious. 5 (31m 24s): I went on wanting to be on Burrell's team and then they waited obviously. So the last fricking note of my blind audition to turn around, which was terrifying, but, But I got, I got three chairs. I clicked Pharrell. And then yeah. And then I, I ended up, you know, not winning the battle and I got three people who wanted to steal. I was Christina Aguilera, Adam Levine, and Blake, all we were trying to steal, man. I was like, you know what, I'm gonna go with the, I'm gonna go with Blake because he's, he's just a good, he's a good dude. You know, you just know he's a good person. And like, he'll take care of you. And I don't know, it just felt like the right thing to do. 3 (32m 5s): And then you make it all the way until you get second. I mean, how crazy is that they wanted to vote you off in the battle round. They get saved by. So obviously something three people there or like, yo, we need to take her. And then you make it all the way to the very end. That's crazy. 5 (32m 20s): It's crazy. Yeah. I didn't know how it was going to go. You know, there's so many good. The thing is like, you don't even see all the talent, that's actually on the show. Like there's so much on this that makes the cut and then there's so much that it doesn't, that doesn't make any sense because you're like, oh my God, person's amazing. And they didn't even make it past whatever. So it was like, you just really don't know what to expect. I was like, oh God, you know, knows, you know? Yeah. 3 (32m 40s): Those are interesting show. I mean, I forgot who it was. There's been a couple people that I've talked to that were on like American idol that like didn't make it the first two or three times and they go back and then they're like almost the winner. And it's like, how did that, it's crazy how that even happens. So you perform, you're the only one, I don't know that this point, but to date when you did it, you were the only one to do an original song at the end, right? 5 (33m 5s): Yeah. 3 (33m 6s): That's a bold move. 5 (33m 8s): Yeah. Yeah. About the bold moves. Yeah. I was just on, I was on there and I was like, you know, it got to the, it got to the finale and I was like, I really want to perform my own songs. I feel like it, to be honest with you, I can serve myself as much a songwriter as I am a singer and an artist at that point, I had a publishing deal and written, saw Britain, a lot of songs, you know? So I just went to Blake. I sent him the song and I was like, look, I really, really want to do this in the finale. I'm like, you know, and he was like, let me hear it. You know, see if it seems like a good finale song. And he was like, yeah. I was like, this is, he was really encouraging. Was like, he's like, this is as good as anything we would give you. 5 (33m 49s): He's like, I don't know why you couldn't do this. So he kind of went to bat for me, with the producers on allowing me to do that. And yeah, it was cool. It was a really cool moment for me, you know, as a songwriter and the, my co-writers, it was really cool, you know, for them as well. 3 (34m 5s): That's massive. Right. I mean, a lot of people would assume that it's kind of on song choice. Who advances? I think a lot of it, I mean, at least for, I remember for American idol, some people at guide, I remember a guy, he had a really good voice. This is 10 plus years ago. He's saying like a Ryan Adams song that like I knew, but probably 90% of America was like, what is the song? And then yeah. And then he didn't advance. I'm like, well, yeah, cause you gotta sing something that people like, if people can move, they know. And so choosing a song that was your own that's really, it was a bold move and amazing that you were, that he like co-signed and was like, yeah, this is great. Go ahead and do it. 5 (34m 43s): I think that the key was like the point in the show when I decided to do it. Cause I was like, well, I'm already like in the finale. So at this point it's like, even if I don't make it any farther, I'm cool with that. And at least I go out like being authentically myself, like totally me, like this is who I am as an artist, you know? So that's kinda how I was looking at it. But yeah, I wouldn't have probably done it for my blind with it. 3 (35m 8s): Yeah. It might've been a full even more, but yeah. So after the show, you just go back and hit the pavement, writing more and more songs. Is that kinda what happened? 5 (35m 19s): Yeah, I kind of, you know, before I had gone out there, I was working on an EAP and so I was pretty much, I had that pretty much in the bag, like done, ready to go. So that was kinda my, my goal was to get my EPE out as soon as I could, after the show ended. Cause I feel like a lot of people, a, my goal was to not win P my goal was to not get the records. My goal was to put out my own music independently. And so, and I do think that is the luxury of being like a little bit older and having been in the music industry that I kind of knew all of those things, you know, a lot of people go on there and they're like 16 and they just are like, oh, this is the greatest thing ever. I get to like be on the show. And they don't think about like the fact that they shelled all the artists that they signed, you know, and they don't put any music out. 5 (36m 6s): And then it's just becomes this thing where you're like, you're just sitting and waiting and nothing happens. And so it wasn't the deal that I wanted. And it also, they have that option. They can sign you. Like, I think they have like six weeks to sign you after the show heads. 3 (36m 23s): Can you deny the offer or 5 (36m 25s): You sign in at the beginning. So it's up to them if they want to option it or not. And so my, it was funny cause my husband, my husband was my boyfriend at the time. Or like coming up with ideas for like, just tell him you're pregnant. They won't want to sign you. It's cool. Just tell me Any reason to get them to not want to deal with 3 (36m 49s): So that's, I didn't realize that they sign, do they sign probably everybody or do they sign everyone that's in a certain makes it to a certain level. 5 (36m 57s): They sign anybody. And the top 10 who is 16 years old 3 (37m 3s): Really are 5 (37m 4s): My Good. Yeah. So I was 29. I think they weren't interested. She can go out and like crate. So I just, I put my EAP out and it ended up like, I mean, I sold a lot like the first week, cause it was like right after the show. So it was great. Like I, Well, no, I, it was, it was believer. It was Either, yeah, it was like five or six songs. And I, I think I landed at like number three on the overall iTunes chart and the number one, just super cool. Yeah. So it was great. It was a great release to be independent, but it was like, it was just because I did it right on the heels of the show, you know, 3 (37m 45s): Brilliant move. I mean, right. Yeah. It's like, okay, I have the attention now and I don't have to deal with this record label. I'm going to just do this on my own. And people are paying attention because I just came off the show at number two or, yeah, that's awesome. Did you tour the record as well? And just kind of keep ongoing. 5 (38m 4s): I had an agent and I was, I went wouldn't, you know, that was the other thing I was, I was making moves. Like I wasn't like waiting for the show to end. I was like taking meetings and doing things in between the times when we're flying to LA and back. So when I was coming back, I was working on this, this EAP. And then I was also like taking meetings with CAA and William Morris, which is, I don't know if you're supposed to, but I'm like, I'm not signing anything. And then, 3 (38m 30s): You know, 5 (38m 32s): They don't care about you, you know? It's like, you have to care about yourself and make moves that are good on your behalf. And so I, yeah, you know, I even put a single, I probably shouldn't have done this either, but I even put a song out right before I signed the contract because I knew I was going out there and the highway Sirius XM was playing it all through my 3 (38m 53s): Whoa 5 (38m 56s): Totally probably gets the most as well. But it was, I was before I signed the contract, so I didn't handle, it was like, I didn't agree to that to laughter. So I was like, well, I can't help it if they already have it and I'm playing it. 3 (39m 6s): Right. Right. Exactly. That's crazy. That's so crazy. So you said your husband now is where's your boyfriend at the time, did he help you work on that record? I know he helps you write a lot of the newer songs, even with bold like line. Was that something that you both worked on together, 11 (39m 21s): Whether you're buying a new car or used one, it's a big investment, which is why you should choose Pennzoil platinum. 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Until you get back to your room where a fallen doll waits to greet you, 13 (40m 15s): Don't let a suitcase full of dolls, ruined your vacation, go on a real vacation, go our.com. 11 (40m 21s): Whether you're buying a new car or used one, it's a big investment, which is why you should choose Pennzoil platinum. It helps extend the life of your engine and protected up to 15 years or 500,000 miles. Whichever comes first guaranteed that's because benzos base oil is made from natural gas and 99.5% free from engine clogging impurities. The proof is independent oil enrollment required. Keep your receipts of the conditions apply. See pennzoil.com/warranty for full details. Find it at Firestone complete auto care. 5 (40m 51s): Yeah. He produced it that we've, we've been writing together since we got, since we got together. And he's an amazing like producer, you know, he just worked on, you know, a Grammy nominated album this year and does a lot of, he produces a lot of artists, but at the time, I mean, he was like, you know, a touring musician, you know, playing guitar. I think he was playing guitar for like big and rich. And then he played with Billy Currington. And so we were apart a lot, like I was doing my thing and he was doing his thing and we were trying to figure out how to see each other. But yeah, he kind of decided he didn't want to be on the road as much and got into production and just really did, has done really well with that 3 (41m 36s): With, with both like a lion that's that sound changed quite a bit. You know, it was more like a pop record, right? 5 (41m 43s): Yeah. I just kind of wanted to do something that I could really, really sing on and just kind of wrote the songs and didn't really try to think so much about like what it was just was kind of inspired. I'm I've always loved like girl pop. I've always wanted to make a record like that. And so we just kinda went with it and did it. And my friend Julie wrote a lot of the songs with us. She's, she's kind of, she, she wrote the current single with us too. So it's like, I've always had a kind of like a team and we kinda just do our thing. So, 3 (42m 16s): And that record's still doing stuff. Right. I saw that it was it's on station 19. Like you're getting sinks. 5 (42m 22s): Well, things will just come out like, like, and then like they don't do anything. And then like, come back, like, you know, however many it's probably been five or six years since that record came out. And then I got a call about, you know, this placement and yeah. I wasn't even trying to get a placement. It's just like, it's always the things I'm not trying to do that work out. So 3 (42m 42s): Yeah. That's amazing. And the queer eye thing with the theme song, like, was that something that was like random or how did that happen? 5 (42m 50s): It's all relationships. Like I, my friend Jen is the executive producer on queer eye, but I mean, we were hanging out when she was, you know, still trying to figure out what her next move was and you know, how, you know, she was gonna, you know, what she was going to do. And she, I remember her telling me, you know, she was telling us when we were, we stay at their house and we're in LA a lot. She was like, yeah, I'm going to bring queer eye back. And she was telling us about, you know, the idea for what she was gonna do. And I was like, well, that's cool. You know, you wasn't really thinking much about it. I was like, yeah, I didn't really watch that show back in the day, but I'd watched this version that you're telling me about. Cause it sounded really cool. Just the moral compass of it all. 5 (43m 31s): And so she obviously she's brilliant and it worked out great and it became huge. But yeah, she was like, in the beginning she was like, Hey, do you guys want to take a stab at the theme song? And so we were like, cool. We went out and he, I mean, we did, we did it so fast that I listened back. I was like, oh God, I don't know if this is like, if years later I'm listening back. And I don't know if this is great, but she came back to us. They, they passed on it, but they put it as a bumper on an episode. And then this season, they came back and they were like, Hey, you know, you guys kind of did a cool like country disco version. They were like, we were going to Texas. It makes a lot of sense. They were like, can we use the song? So that's kind of, it kind of just came back around like four years later. 3 (44m 12s): Wow. That's cool though. That's really cool. And w okay, so the pandemic happens, like where you have a song that came out the morning, obviously in 2020, but where were you guys at when that happened? And then is that what kind of allowed more time to write the songs that you did re right with your husband, the duets on that, and then the new as well? 5 (44m 32s): Yeah, it was, you know, I was like with everybody, it's like, we had this whole year plans and like shows and all these things, and then, you know, everything canceled in a day. So, you know, what do you do? We actually had, we had a recording studio in Berry hill that we were renting, But we, you know, we had the, we had the tornado in Nashville and then the next week, I 3 (44m 55s): Think 5 (44m 56s): We had the duration. It was like it, which nobody talks about because everybody remembers the tornado, but it was like, it was like 95 mile, per hour straight winds that came through. And I think it took six trees down at our house. 3 (45m 8s): And I didn't hear about this. 5 (45m 9s): Oh, it was nuts. We were in our closet with our dogs, like freaking out. Cause I could hear the trees going. I'm like, oh God, I hope you treat us and go through our house. And then we 3 (45m 18s): Were 5 (45m 19s): Like, we gotta go check the studio. So we went to the studio and a massive tree went through our studio, like right above our, you know, in our control room, like right above our equipment or board everything, 3 (45m 30s): The one at Berry hill. Oh wow. 5 (45m 34s): So it was a flat roof. So when the tree went through, like all the water that it pulled on top of the roof just poured into our equipment. 3 (45m 43s): Awful. 5 (45m 44s): So, but the pans and this was right when the pandemic started. So it was like, all of our businesses canceled. All of our equipment is ruined, just treat their, our studio. And at the time we were like, wondering like, oh God, we just signed this three-year commercial lease on the studio because we were doing so well. And we had a lot of business. We were kind of like, oh God, what are we going to do? We can't pay this rent without making money. You know? So we, I think the ups man is here. So we, we were like, oh God, give us the sign. You know, what should we do? And then the tree went through the studio and it was like, well, I guess we're out of our lease at least, 3 (46m 23s): You know? 5 (46m 25s): So we just started to, you know, dryer, we dried our equipment out, moved our stuff out and then decided we should buy a place and build a studio. And that's what we did during COVID. 3 (46m 36s): Wow. So did you, you're able to salvage some of their gear 5 (46m 40s): We were, and then the stuff we weren't able to salvage, actually music cares was super helpful. The ACM lifting lives, like we had a lot of support from those organizations. I think music cares like re like they paid for all of the equipment that was lost. So we were able to, yeah, we were able to replace all of our stuff when we weren't, you know, we had two years of not working, so that was super nice. 3 (47m 4s): Wow. Yeah. I forgotten like Nashville had so much happen in that year and then the bomb and What is going on. 5 (47m 15s): Yeah. So it was, it was, it was good though. We tried to make, you know, eliminate, you know, we're just like, okay, well we know we're not going to work for however long. We didn't know at the time that was going to be as long as it was, but we were like, well, if we can like pull everything, we can together to get a loan and buy a house. Like this would be the time because we can that we made money Thinking like that. And so we kind of just went for it and it kept us really busy during the, the, you know, the lockdown and everything to be, you know, building the studio and everything. So that was good. And we, you know, as soon as we got the student on, we started working on music. And so we had a lot of time to write songs. 3 (47m 55s): So the songs that we're hearing now, or were those, some of the first ones you wrote in this new studio that you built? 5 (47m 60s): Yeah. Yeah. We wrote, we wrote, it's funny. I, Tyler makes fun of me cause I write a lot of stuff in the bathtub. 3 (48m 7s): That's awesome. 5 (48m 8s): Like I wrote that song in the morning in the bathtub and woke him 3 (48m 10s): Up. 5 (48m 12s): I woke him up at like midnight. I'm like, we have to go put this down right now. And 3 (48m 15s): He hates me. 5 (48m 17s): Thank you. Yeah. He hates it when I do that, but he got up and he did it and it ended up, you know, it was probably the biggest TV placement I've ever had. I mean, we've ever had together. Cause it was like just this minute and 30 part of it was station 19 and it, someone had died on the show and it was like, there was no talking over it. It was just like, it was almost like a mini music video for the song, which was crazy. I felt like it was like my Grey's anatomy moment or something, but, but it was like just the song that I was just feeling super IM I mean, I was crying when I wrote I was so emotional and I just wrote it all down. I think I wrote it in like 20 minutes. It was just like, it wasn't, it was like channeling more than it was me, but yeah. 5 (49m 1s): And I just won't Tyler of put this down, he put one, one piano part. I sang it and that was it, you know? 3 (49m 6s): Wow. That's incredible. 5 (49m 9s): How a lot of songs happen though? I feel like I was just like, and I just sit, I kinda just didn't care. And not that I didn't care, but I just was like, I'm just gonna write stuff and record it and see what happens. And it really, I think with COVID it was like, everything's stripped back. Like you don't like, I felt like I didn't really like, I'm like, what is my identity? You know what I mean? Like who am I feel like we were all feeling like that because I'm like, who am I without like being on the road and interacting with people and like, you know, as a, who am I, if I'm not an artist, you know? And so I kinda did a lot of a deep dive into that. And that kind of brought me back to like my roots and like being in, you know, from new Orleans and like, you know, how special that is. 5 (49m 54s): I'm like, I really need to be showcasing that more because that is honestly the truest, you know, thing for me as an artist, like that's, that's where I'm like really, truly myself is when I'm doing this kind of music, you know, and it's easy. Okay. 3 (50m 9s): Yeah. Is that something you've ever like wrote and or dive into or like, or was it mainly in the country lane and then the pop record, but like that more new Orleans style, like, was, is this the first kind of go at it or did you have other songs that you were previously 5 (50m 27s): That influence in them, but I've never like really gone this far into it, like, okay, I'm just stripping it all back. I'm doing something that's completely authentic. And I don't like, I'm not worried about country radio. I'm not worried about, you know, I'm not thinking an agenda. I'm just going to music that I really want to make. So this is, I mean, truly this is the first time I've truly done that. Like I said, I've done it before, but I'm always in the back of my head going, oh God, can we get this plate on? You know, whatever, can we get this? 3 (50m 57s): You kind of have to think that way. Right? I mean the way to survive and the, 5 (51m 4s): But if you're ever in the middle of COVID and there's no work anyways, it's like, okay, well let's just make a project that's completely authentic, you know, and not worry about it. And honestly, I feel like those kinds of records are the ones that resonate the most and people people know like when you're not being completely yourself, you know? So I think it re I think it resonates better with people when you're just being your true, authentic self. Anyways, 3 (51m 31s): It's a great song. And wow. Does it showcases your voice so well, it's like, whoa. Okay. If you didn't know that Megan could sing like that, now you do like, it's like, whoa, like it's such a cool and the videos rad, like the sheer swinging on that chair. And I'm in your, husband's what? Playing piano and the video, 5 (51m 50s): My friend Jeremy is he, 3 (51m 51s): Cause I can't see him cause there's the back of his head. 5 (51m 55s): No, it was kind of a joke cause he was there and I was like, dude, you should just put a jacket on and play for you. And I like, 3 (52m 2s): This is Cindy as your husband. I'm like, oh, that's the back of somebody's head. It's probably him. That's funny. That's funny. So sorry. Go ahead. No, I was going to ask you about the songs that you've released with your husband. Are you working on a project? Does it do that together? Cause those are great songs. 5 (52m 24s): You know, we just like go write something and we're like, Hey, we should put this out. You know? And we started out doing a duet and then I don't know, we've done so much to this leg. Oh, we're going to do our thing. And then like, why would we do a dual thing? So we both have like our own things that are doing like do really well. We have followings on Spotify. And so then we started doing it as like Tyler Kane featuring Megan Lindsay or Megan Lindsay featuring Tyler Kane. And that seems to be like a smarter idea. Yeah. We're kind of, we kind of just do it like here and there. Like we're like, okay, let's put this, like this song we wrote is a duet and we'll put something out, you know, but we're not like, we're not like focused on like, this is a project we're doing. 5 (53m 5s): It's more like I'm going to do my thing. He's been doing his and then sometimes we'll come together and do stuff. 3 (53m 10s): Okay. Yeah. Because your voice is on so great together. I mean, I'm like, well this is, this should be like a project. And I didn't know if her argument was her, but yeah, it's really good. 5 (53m 19s): Thank you. 3 (53m 20s): You're welcome. So the new, the, the song, the most recent one, is that going to be a part of an EAP that you have together as it you're just going to be putting singles out or what's the problem? 5 (53m 30s): It's kind of just a single we put out, he wrote that song. It was, has anybody ever told you, is that the one you're talking about? 3 (53m 37s): No, I'm talking to actually sorry. If you know, if you need me don't know mean I know I'm all over the place. 5 (53m 45s): No. Has anybody ever told you or if you need me don't oh my gosh is that's the single right now, but that is like a part of a bigger project I'm going to, I'm actually going to put a full album out at the end of the year, 3 (53m 58s): But 5 (53m 58s): Yeah, I'm going to have a couple of singles and then put the, I think I'm going to put the album out, but I just have so many songs and like I have so many songs. I just have been working on it for like, you know, a year and a half. I'm like Atlas, put it on an album. Why not? 3 (54m 12s): That's cool. Cause not a lot of people are doing that anymore. So I, I respect that. No, no, no, no. I think it's rad. And then I love because I love listening to a whole album and I love the song placement and the, the amount of like, like detail, that'll go into why, you know, this song goes into this song or why you picked this is the lesson I'm like, I think there's something so special about all that. 5 (54m 32s): Absolutely. No, I agree. Totally. And I obviously, as a kid, it's like, I was so into albums and listened to the entire thing and reading. I mean, I was like a kid in my bedroom reading the liner and I was like, who worked all those, you know? 3 (54m 45s): Right, right. Who, who are they thinking in here? Cause I don't have to go look those bands up. 5 (54m 50s): Exactly. Yeah, 3 (54m 52s): Exactly. It's awesome. Well, that's so cool. And thank you so much, Megan, for doing this. I really, really, really appreciate 5 (54m 58s): It. I appreciate you having me on. It's awesome. 3 (55m 1s): I have one more quick question. I want to know if you have any advice for aspiring artists. 5 (55m 9s): I made a lot of mistakes, but you know, I do a program at the country, music hall of fame with high school kids. I actually been doing it a lot lately where I go, my husband and I both go and we bring recording equipment and we write with them or record a song with them and then like an hour. And they always ask me, they're like, do you have any advice for us? And I think the main thing I always say is to just so much of this business is relationships and how you treat people. I mean, it's just, it sounds cheesy, but it's true. Like it's like truly every good thing that has ever happened to me was because of a relationship that I made. And it may have been with someone who like wasn't in their position at the time, you know, but they ended up at this, in this position, you know, people want to work with their friends and they want to help people who are kind and I feel like that's super, super important. 5 (56m 4s): And then the other thing obviously is to just, you know, figure out what your thing is and do that, you know, and do it be the best at that. You know? Cause I feel like a lot of times artists are trying or I'm guilty of this as well as like I'm trying to follow a trend or like, I'm like, oh, well right now whispering like whisper singers are in. Like I can do that, but is that who I am? You know, it's like, my voice is like really big and soulful and that's what I do. And that's where I, where I'm my best, you know? And so like I'm probably best to like, not dress trying to be like, there's a whispery, you know, singer songwriter is not my thing. So yeah, I think that's kind of the two pieces of advice I would, I would give is to just, you know, kind of figure out what you do and do that.