FEATURE: Spotlight: Mega — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Mega

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AS a new fan…

of the supreme and queen Mega, I did not catch her 2022 E.P., Colour Your World, first time around. I have heard it since, yet with songs like Be Good Be Kind guaranteed to inspire and stick in the mind, everyone needs to check out this wonderful London artist. There is a new interview that I am going to work forward to. I want to go back to last year and some of the press around the E.P. Before I get there, here is some biography about a Soul artist who is going to grow bigger and bigger and take the world by storm:

“Mega is one of the strongest voices to surface from the contemporary soul scene in London. She made an instant impact with her debut single “Chariot” – which has amassed over 25m streams across Spotify, quickly cementing her status as a star.

Mega has gained early support from influential online platforms Mahogany, NME, Wonderland Magazine, The Clash Magazine and The Independent, as well as recognition from BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC London. Her follow up single, “Let me Let You Go”, was picked by Jack Saunders for his Future Artists on BBC Radio 1 and was chosen by the Brit Awards for their Sunday Spotlight. Both singles appear on Mega’s 6-track EP ‘Future Me’, released at the end of 2020.

Taking inspiration from her past, she often takes themes of self-esteem, self-love and growth and turns them into emotive songs with enchanting melodies. She draws influence from the music that surrounded her growing up; power-soul songstresses such as Amy Winehouse, Aretha Franklin, Nina Simone, Lauryn Hill and Whitney Houston have deeply inspired her through the honesty they convey in their music.

In 2021, Mega signed with Nettwerk Music Group, since then she has been playing festivals and recording new music, set to arrive later in 2023.

Earlier in the year, Mega supported the Mercury Award winning artist ‘Self Esteem’ in her Headline UK Tour”.

Such a stunning artist with a pure heart, enormously powerful voice and sublime music that crosses genre boundaries and has this nourishing quality, it is no surprise that many were intrigued by Mega last year. The Line of Best Fit talked about a wonderous artist on the rise. It was interesting reading more about her childhood and musical upbringing:

“As a child, she began attending an opera choir in Highbury at nine, then going on to a gospel choir in Angel at twelve. She had followed her sister, also a singer, to these choirs, and the two would perform in from of their families: made-up songs, plays, and whatever was on MTV. Also, “anything that was on the radio – Britney Spears, Destiny’s Child – whatever was popular was what I loved,” she says. “But I also grew up listening to Ugandan and African music.”

Mega cites other British-Ugandan artists like George the Poet and Michael Kiwanuka as influences in a recent essay for Clash. You can hear the vibrant guitars in songs like "Smile" similar to bands like Afrigo Band that she also names as an influence. “It makes me happy – it’s just really happy-making, that kind of music. You know, high life, sunshine. It’s been very fitting now that we’ve had more sun, although climate change…”

As she got older, Mega was certain that making music was what she wanted to do. “I was so excited to do it properly – I was going to study, get the education under my belt at sixth form,” she recounts. “I’d often go to the studio on the weekend with some friends of mine who were producers, and we used to make music all the time. It was like, finally: I can start doing this full time and pursue it and see where it goes.”

But soon after, she lost her voice: “I was originally diagnosed with nodules, it turned out not to be nodules. They thought it was a phonatory gap, turned out not to be a phonatory gap – I mean, it was a bunch of things they thought it could be.”

As time went on, Mega gradually became more and more unable to sing. “It’s like breaking a leg and trying to walk or whatever it is, trying to learn to use that thing again,” she explains. “For me, it was trying to figure out how to get back into doing music. After not singing for so long, it was quite terrifying. I remember my voice therapist said she thought it might have developed into a fear. Every time I tried to, I was just super fearful, so sort of relaxing the mind and healing that first and foremost.”

During the period where Mega couldn’t sing, she resolved to go off to university. Like many, university was a time where you learn more about yourself – and for Mega, this was no exception. “I always loved psychology,” she explains. “If I wasn’t singing, that would have been my career path.”

Studying at university helped her to discover other talents that she had. “In that time, I was really forced to look inside. I feel like a lot of our identity is sometimes put into the things that people praise us for”

“Because I had the music there, it was sort of easy to hide behind that. It was like, now that I can't sing, what am I going to do? I put everything into this music career. And I just discovered my love for psychology and people and humans. I tried all different kinds of jobs. I did things that I probably wouldn't done if I was just doing the music straight away.”

It makes sense once you meet her – Mega's voice is soothing, her presence calm, yet confident. She makes you feel like you can open up about anything, and that clearly had an effect on the work she did during university – volunteering, charity work with teenagers, the elderly, mentoring women in prison. “I love humans! It sounds really cliché, but I do, I’m such a lover of people. I’m so blessed to be able to connect to them through my music.”

Mega even managed to win an award for her dissertation on the unspoken burden of Black British women. The dissertation helped her to find out more about herself; it’s hard, however, to generalise or even define for an article.

“I don’t know if it’s definable. I can just say that I’m Mega first. People always want to discuss race all the time, and it’s not necessarily something I want to discuss. I like to focus on the music. I make music, I happen to be Black”.

I think that there is a healthy and growing Soul scene in London. In fact, the U.K. Soul scene is impressive and deserving of more attention. Mica Millar is one of my favourite artist. Putting Soul of the North (she is Manchester-based) on the map, Mega is very much representing London. CLASH gave the spotlight to Mega so that she could tell, in her own words, her story and journey:

“Hey, my name is Mega. I’m a singer from North London. My music journey pretty much began here too. At the tender age of nine I attended an opera choir in Islington. I’d travel there every Saturday morning; often waking earlier than necessary as I couldn’t quite believe that I was going to be able to sing and perform – just like the artists that I’d always wanted to be like.

This was the first time that I experienced performing to a crowd of people; I remember feeling liberated and in awe to be able to perform at beautiful venues such as The Royal Albert Hall. A few years later, I then joined a gospel choir at St. Mary’s music youth where I explored more solo opportunities, such as performing in various venues like Hackney Empire (which was awesome). St. Mary’s was a great and supportive place to create music, frequently putting on shows to showcase the talent that it produced, such as gifted musicians like the incredible Little Simz and Inflo who also attended. It has been so inspiring to see how they have carved careers for themselves, and have managed to keep true to their art; an important but difficult thing to do sometimes. My art and my music is a reflection of who I am, and I hope to be able to continue to stay true to that.

I find everyone’s unique music journey very interesting. Mine has been somewhat interesting to say the least. Shortly after finishing sixth-form, I had vocal issues which meant I physically couldn’t sing for three years. I graduated in that time with a Psychology degree, which was a slight detour from the route that I expected to take, but nonetheless educational and character building. The recovery journey is a story within a story, but upon getting my voice back it was great to receive support from MOBO Unsung to get me back on my feet again, as well as support from BRITs Spotlight Artist to give my first project a platform.

It has been amazing so far to have opened for such incredible artists and to play at many festivals and venues. But I have to say it is extremely special to be able to play in venues in my hometown such as; the Jazz Cafe, Islington Assembly Hall, KoKo, Clapham Grand, OMEARA and The Grace. Cross The Tracks was definitely a memorable festival for me that showcases many established artists within the same scene, and quite a few underground artists from the capital too including London’s African Gospel choir.

I find as human beings we are often used to categories and labels, and musically there is the pressure to feel the need to do that. I personally have been inspired by all kinds of music, soul in particular yes, but I prefer not to use genre to describe my music. Someone once described my music as taking themes of: self-growth, self-love and self-esteem – and turning them into emotive songs with enchanting/catchy melodies – I thought that was pretty accurate and interesting, and have now stolen that description for myself. Some of my music also incorporates some musical influences from my Uganda heritage, such as my ‘Colour Your World’ EP that has just been released.

It’s inspiring to see someone of Ugandan heritage too such as Michael Kiwanuka who is a native North Londoner produce such beautiful and authentic music – I love his sound. Other powerful artists from London that I admire include Lianne La Havas, Cleo Sol and George the Poet. George is a native Londoner with Uganda heritage, and someone I have previously worked with quite a bit. To be able to see him create a completely new avenue for himself, and to express his true authentic self has not only been inspiring but very encouraging.

I’m very excited about my new EP ‘Colour Your World’, which is a product of my journey so far. It is an honest and raw exploration of my journey through self-acceptance, growth and healing; and my realisation of the power that lies within me. The process of creating this project has been empowering and I hope that when people listen to it that they will feel empowered too”.

I am going to finish with a new feature from The Line of Best Fit. I ama new lover of Mega’s music. It is great that her new E.P., Honour and Glory, is out there in the world. Whilst her 2022 E.P., Colour Your World, was colourful and quite playful, Honour and Colour seems more stately and vintage with its black and white cover. Whilst this does not represent a radical shift in sound, one can hear the differences in sound, confidence and tone on this E.P. I think this is Mega’s best release yet:

“As things began to open up, she released the graceful Colour Your World in the summer of 2022, continuing to grow with her music. While new EP Honour and Glory, out next month, demonstrates her talent for confident, elegant and edifying artistry.

Opening with recent single “Let You Down”, birdsong serenades the glowing guitar intro. While finalising parts of the recording with co-producer Ed Riches in her flat, Mega heard the bird-call out her window and decided to capture the moment. Incredibly, their song fit perfectly in key with hers. “It was just serendipitous, it was amazing. And it was raining, so we recorded it on the mic and it just so happened to be perfect timing as well,” she smiles.

The track itself has both a strong and delicate message, its vulnerability embraced by the tender, organic production. “I just feel like sometimes in life, when you lose a bit of confidence, everyone else’s voices feel a bit more important and louder and sometimes it's difficult to hear your own voice and trust that. ‘Let You Down’ is, it’s still there, even if it feels quite quiet and just to trust it,” she explains.

On lead single “Don’t Get Too Close,” Mega channels inspiration from her early love of Nina Simone to create a track that’s equally defiant and vibrant. “I feel like there’s different parts of me on this EP that are coming out, it’s not static,” she says. “Growing up I listened to everything. People can’t quite place the sound but they’re all me and I feel like you listen to ‘Don’t Get Too Close’ and it still sounds like Mega. I hope so anyway.”

Working with a small team of trusted producers across the EP, she brings together sounds and styles that reflect her childhood love of pop, soul and gospel as well as her Ugandan heritage. From contemporary beats to highlife guitars, Mega believes her music reflects the many facets of her personality. “In a lot of the production, I’m always very much involved in every part of it. I’m one of those people where every single thing, I want to be involved to the very end,” she says. “ The more you work with someone, they understand who you are.”

That sentiment is echoed on new single “Moment For You”, out today. From its delicate opening verse to its powerful chorus, it brings together subtle and soaring elements creating a work that’s mature, vulnerable, modern and empowering. “Again, it’s all exactly what I am - Ugandan heritage and then I’ve grown up listening to a lot of ballads, so to me, this is so me,” she says. “I don’t want to create songs that all sound exactly the same. It’s really important to express yourself and these are all still very much me. It’s just different sounds. I think this is exactly the same as stuff I’ve done, just a bit more evolved”.

The remarkable and hugely talented Mega is an artist I cannot recommend highly enough. Listen to her music and do keep your eyes peeled as we look towards 2024. I know that she will be touring widely and touching people around the world with her astonishing voice and hugely captivating music! I have said this about a few artists I have recently spotlighted, though it very much applies to my newest inclusion: the staggering Mega is someone who truly…