Megan is a musician and popular culture exposer. In her recent youtube series, Adulted, she brings to the viewer the harsh realities of being a modern adult- the things we’re expected to know in adulthood but aren’t always taught. Modern yet classically relevant to most generations, she says ‘I was inspired when I found myself in the deep end of adulting. There are obviously some great books and podcasts on growing up, but I loved the idea of a series that took this big idea of “adulting” and broke it down one subject at a time.’. With an expert leading the series, you immediately trust all advice you receive in your culturally relevant, modern day adult(ing) dilemmas. Her hope for the show is that people can learn something new and practical, each episode.
As a musician, she was influenced by Stevie Wonder, Maroon 5, and Queen growing up, putting her in the right track for good music. She grew up right outside of Houston, Texas but as if by coincidence, had to move with her family (father’s job) to California just as she was about to start her music career there.
Were your aspirations always directed towards the entertainment/media business, growing up?
Not at all. I always enjoyed music from a young age, from playing piano, to karaoke, to even listening to my dad play saxaphone, but it wasn’t on my radar as a career choice. When I got older though, the passion for it ran deep enough to where I couldn’t see myself trying to pursue anything else. Even if I wasn’t the best singer in the room, my love for it pushed me to go for it.
Even if I wasn’t the best singer in the room, my love for it pushed me to go for it.
Were you nervous interviewing Michelle Obama?
It’s one of those moments that you think of every once in a while and are like, “oh yeah! That was a real thing that happened and that’s pretty cool”. I’m very thankful to have gotten an opportunity like that. She even invited me to visit afterwards, so I got to take my sister to tour the white house later that year. I thought she was joking because she literally said something along the lines of, “come visit me at my house”, but then someone handed me a business card so we could make it happen. I always want to use my platform to shine a light on things that are important to me, like I got to do that day.
How did social media help your growth?
It’s how I connected with people outside of my hometown. It opened a door to a whole new audience to share my music with. I just didn’t know at the time that there would be so many people who actually wanted to listen.
The real challenges of a musician
I feel like there is always a challenge of some sort around the corner. Whether it’s a song not connecting the way you were hoping, or people telling you who you should be as an artist. I’ve had people tell me I need to change my look, but I’ve always stuck to what feels like me and I’m glad that I have.
What do you think contributes to the hard transition of adult(ing)and when do you think people hit the cusp between youth and getting serious?
In some ways, it feels like it hits all at once. After high school you kind of leave the bubble and you are fully immersed into the real world, so to speak. I also think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to “have it all together”. We need to have the job, and the life partner, and know how to cook a decent meal, and working out and so on. It’s a lot! I hope Adult(ed) can help people not only learn something new, but realize that we are constantly learning and don’t need to have it all figured out.
Do you think it’s a generational thing? Has media influenced the way we ‘mature’?
In some ways, I’m sure social media has made people mature even faster, because most 15 year olds seem to know way more about things like doing their make-up than I ever did. I also think that it can contribute the pressure part of it. Looking at someone’s highlight reel could make you feel like you are behind or need to have life more figured out when you don’t.
Looking at someone’s highlight reel could make you feel like you are behind or need to have life more figured out when you don’t.
What’s the next step for you?
I’ve been working on a lot of original music lately. I’m getting really excited. I hope to have something new for everyone early next year. Maybe even sooner. I want it to be some of my best music yet.
A favorite quote?
One of my favorites is still “Think less, thank more.” Don’t focus so much on the negative and take more time to be grateful for the little things in life.
