Megan Wilder, a 25-year-old native of San Ramon, California gained massive exposure on season 13 of The Voice. She credits a strong line of female country artists such as Shania Twain and Martina McBride melded with pop influences like Lennon Stella and Julia Michaels; she’s created her distinctive sound.
Her rich, warm, classic country tones mixed with her California pop influences have landed her multiple opportunities starting at an early age. Wilder built a solid fan base in and around Northern California singing the National Anthem at the San Francisco Rock ’n Roll Half Marathon and many other events, playing Campbell, CA’s Oktoberfest in 2018, opening for Warner Music Nashville’s “The Last Bandoleros” on the West Coast leg of their tour, playing the Kenny Rogers Children’s Telethon in Sikeston, MO and eventually landing her own headlining slot at The Hotel Utah in San Francisco, CA.
All of this only continued to fuel her hunger to perform on bigger stages. “I’ve wanted to write songs and sing them for people for as long as I can remember. I don’t have a plan B”.
Exactly one month after graduating from San Francisco State University, Megan packed up her Honda Civic, and drove from San Francisco, CA to Nashville, TN where she currently lives. Since arriving in Nashville, Wilder has hit the ground running, writing and playing more than ever. She co-wrote and released her first single, Hopeless Romantic, in February 2021. Her bubbly, candid, straight forward personality and relatable storytelling, continues to win over the hearts of new fans as she pays her dues as the new girl on Music Row.
What first got you into music?
Growing up, my dad was always picking a guitar or playing the piano and singing songs around the house. We would sing together at home or in the car and if the song wasn’t over by the time we got to where we were going, we would sit there and wait for it to be done so we could keep singing. So, from a really young age, I knew that I loved to sing, and I think that was definitely influenced by my father. It’s kind of just kept going from there. My parents put me in choir and musical theater, and then I started doing a lot of singing competitions, and then I eventually discovered that I could write my own songs which helped me process my emotions in a new way that I hadn’t ever experienced before and there was no going back after that haha
If you could go open a show for any artist, who would it be?
There are so many artists that I admire and would be so honored to open for, but if I had to choose one it would be Maren Morris. I admire her as a woman, a songwriter and an artist so much so to open for her would be an absolute dream.
Are you finding the isolation of the pandemic conducive to your writing or is it hindering the experiences you can write about?
While the isolation over the last couple of years has been hard, I do think that it’s been beneficial to a certain degree when it comes to my writing. For me personally, not having as many new experiences to write about has forced me to dig up a lot of unresolved feelings and experiences from the past that I hadn’t totally worked through yet. Writing has always been the way that I process my emotions, so it’s been cathartic, and I think I’ve gotten to know myself a little better too.
What is the best advice you’ve been given?
One piece of advice that I’ve heard from multiple successful people is to stop trying to get in the room with people who have “made it” already. Build your tribe of people who you know you work well with, and make music that you love and believe in. The rest will follow.
What does your music say about you?
With me as a person, what you see is what you get, and I think that comes through pretty clearly in my music as well. I’m kind of an open book haha
The core of my music and writing has always been super honest and open and raw. There was a time when I was much younger that I had all of these feelings and energy that I didn’t know how to channel or put words to until I discovered songwriting. So being as open and honest in my music as I can is something that has always been really important to me, and hopefully it can help other people feel seen, heard and understood as well.
What’s your favorite children’s story?
“Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life?
Jen Coolidge for sure. She’s hilarious and I would love to see her act out my life lol
What makes you nostalgic?
Honestly, any music from the late 90s/early 2000s makes me so nostalgic. I literally have a playlist on Spotify that I created called “nostalgia” to listen to specifically when I’m stressed or overwhelmed and need to get my head right again. It’s got everything from Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and Jewel to No Doubt and Sublime. It just makes me happy and takes me back to the good ole days.
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I do! It depends on what I have going on that day haha if I’m getting ready to sing somewhere I usually do my warmups in the shower which is boring but v important! If I’m not getting ready to sing, I’m usually singing whatever has been stuck in my head but one that’s on constant rotation is “As” by Stevie Wonder.
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself?
Stop worrying so much and have fun!! You’re going to be fine. 🙂
Megan has released your new favorite country sad song, “If I Knew.” The single is available now on all streaming platforms.
There are songs that are written well, and then there are songs that cut to the bone. Her voice not only washes over you, but seeps deep in and infects you with emotion. The pain in her voice is evident as she sings extremely relatable break-up lyrics. This is one of those songs. For Megan, this song is about rising from the ashes of a toxic relationship, but the duality of the hook line makes this relatable for just about anyone.
https://www.meganwilderofficial.com/
