SONGWRITER PROFILE
[ MEGHAN TRAINOR - FROM INDIE ACOUSTIC SONGWRITER TO TOP OF THE POPS ] Bruce Adolph + Doug Doppler
At [ GTR ] we are missional about helping equip songwriters . While artists like Meghan Trainor seem to explode out of nowhere , this is not always the case , especially with Meghan . We love her story because it reminds us how important it is for kids to play music , that music needs to be taught in public schools , and that we can break preconceived notions about what women have to look like to be commercially viable in the music business .
THE REST After finishing High School , Meghan traveled around the country producing and singing on songs she ’ d penned with various artists . In 2013 , she met producer Kevin Kadish with whom she co-wrote all the songs on Title including “ All About That Bass ”.
MUSIC STARTS AT HOME Meghan Elizabeth Trainor was born in Nantucket , Massachusetts in 1993 . Her father was a musician , and with his encouragement she got her start singing at church . After “ messing around ” with piano when she was seven , Meghan wrote her first original song when she was eleven .
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS Noting that she had her first hit by the time she was twenty , it ’ s no surprise that Trainor used her High School years to seriously hone her craft . Meghan played in the High School Jazz Band , studied guitar with Johnny Spampinato of NRBQ , and did four years of club gigs with a local band . She also started writing and producing music in GargageBand on her laptop , and went on to release three self-produced records before graduating . The video below was shot when Meghan was a sophomore , and you can already hear her signature sound taking shape .
Meghan Trainor // Take Care of Our Troops
Not content to let summers pass her by , in 2009 Meghan studied Pop and R & B vocals at Berklee ’ s Five-Week Summer Performance
Program , returned in 2010 to study Jazz vocals , and was a finalist in their songwriting competition .
SONGWRITING COMPETITIONS During this period , Meghan entered various songwriting competitions , and in 2009 she won the Best Female Artist at the International Acoustic Music Awards . Other awards include the 2010 New Orleans Songwriter ’ s Festival and the 2011 Tennessee Concerts Song Contest . Meghan leveraged these experiences to develop her craft as a performer and gather feedback on her songwriting .
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS At the Durango Songwriter ’ s Expo , Meghan had a chance to perform for Big Al Anderson , Johnny Spampinato ’ s former bandmate in NRBQ . Anderson was so taken with Meghan that he introduced her to Carla Wallace from Big Yellow Dog Music , who signed Meghan to a publishing deal . In the following video Meghan visits the Expo and shares how one handshake changed her life .
" I didn ' t think that handshake was important , and it was my life "
All About That Bass
Rumor has it that numerous labels turned the song down , so Kadish arranged for Meghan to perform it on ukulele for former Epic Chairman L . A . Reid in early 2014 . In a few short months the single was released and rocketed its way to the # 1 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 . More singles followed before Title was released , debuting at # 1 on the Billboard 200 chart . Title bumped Taylor Swift ’ s 1989 from the # 1 spot , sold over a million copies , and set the stage for three Grammy nominations . Meghan deservedly won the Grammy for Best New Artist , and in her acceptance speech she had this to say about Reid , “ I have to thank L . A . Reid for looking at me as an artist instead of just a songwriter .”
NO SOPHOMORE SLUMP HERE It appears Meghan was paying close attention in High School as her second album Thank You charted and sold quite well . She also recorded the single , “ I ’ m A Lady ” for the film “ Smurfs : The Lost Village ”, and continues to tour , write and be an encouragement to us all . Thank you , Meghan !
Bruce Adolph : President + Publisher , Adolph Agency Inc . Doug Doppler : Editorial + Advertising Director , Adolph Agency Inc .
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