Review Fix chats with singer/songwriter Megan Slankard, who discusses her new album, “Running on Machinery,†which is set for a May 19 release. Breaking down the inspiration behind the project and some of its key songs, Slankard gives us an inside look at her process and the album. Slankard also has a bit of fun, discussing her goals for the future as well as what’s on her musical bucket list.
Review Fix: What inspires you to write?
Megan Slankard: I have always had a love for film noir, suspense novels, and wild news stories. I think my brain has always tried to recreate these stories in song form.
I try to leave space every day to create. I think just having space around me – not in front of a computer screen – lets my mind drift off to wherever it goes when it finds inspiration. I also eat copious amounts of sugar.
Review Fix: What was the creative process for this album like?
Slankard: My new album, Running on Machinery, was created, in part, by necessity. My manager decided to book me a big album release show; this, however, was before we even had songs to record. Good incentive.
I took two months off from touring and a social life and just wrote. Luckily I felt like writing. Ideas overflowed. As the songs came, my band (of 7 years) got together to arrange and rehearse them. We hired Alex Wong to produce and kick everything into shape.
We recorded the songs live in San Francisco (eating a lot of burritos,) then took the project to Nashville to Alex’s studio for overdubs (switching to tacos,) and mixed the whole thing on a gigantic SSL in Los Angeles (back to burritos.)
The creative process for each one of my albums has been wildly different, from recording in my living room, to recording in a metal workshop that created gigantic Burning Man statues, to recording with people located in different studios and sending tracks remotely. It’s fun to change up the experience.
Review Fix: How do you think it made you a better musician?
Slankard: I feel like I learn a lot every time I go into the studio, and working with a producer was such a great learning experience. He asked us a lot of questions (“Why do you play it like that?” “What does this mean to you?”) He was very hands-on and pushed us to make every part of the song intentional.
Review Fix: What song are you most proud of on the album?
Slankard: It’s hard to pick favorites, because they are our “babies,†but I’m particularly drawn to “Diving In,†“What a Way to Fail†“Can’t Keep It In” and the weird robot voice chorus on “Next to You (A Nuclear Love Song)”.
Review Fix: What’s on your musical bucket list?
Slankard: If there was only one thing: I would like to meet Paul McCartney.
Then:
– Tour with the Foo Fighters
– Sing a duet with Michael MacDonald
– Write a song with Prince
– And tour the world with the guys in my band
Review Fix: What was it like to work with Alex Wong?
Slankard: Alex really made the record cohesive and brought a lot of extra magic to it. I can see how getting the right producer, like Alex, (who is also a good hang, and lets you have a voice) is a critical part of making your record. It made me realize the merits of having that outside-of-the-box perspective. Every bone in Alex’s body is creative; on top of that he’s a really great person. I’m looking forward to our next project together.
Review Fix: What are your goals for the rest of the year?
Slankard: I’m going to take my new album on the road with me and share it with people across the country, make a new music video, continue to work on my YouTube web series, “inDIYe”, learn how to do the Hustle, and please see above musical bucket list…
Review Fix: Why is this album special?
Slankard: This record feels extra special to me, because I got the band more involved in the writing process. Co-writing had always seemed like it would be a little scary — opening up creatively in front of other people — but it was actually less frightening that I thought. I love the songs we created together.
Review Fix: What’s next?
Slankard: 1) Quick nap. 2) World Tour.
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