Interview: Meg Mac talks Lost Picnic
Bohemian outdoor music experience, Lost Picnic, returns for an epic day of live entertainment and great food in Melbourne and Sydney. It will make its debut at Melbourne’s Flemington Nursery on 7 October, before returning to Sydney’s Domain on 13 October. One of the must-see acts this year is Meg Mac. Cherry Anna Brearley had a chat with her for Something You Said:
Hi Meg! How are you? Up to much this week?
Heyyyyyyy! Yeah, good thanks. I’m just in Melbourne at home, working. It’s a pretty regular week, which is really nice. I just got back from a trip to Sydney, actually, I travelled up to catch the Bob Dylan show at The Enmore, which is a venue that I played at last tour and that I just love. It was all sold out in Melbourne so I made the trip especially, I couldn’t miss that show!
Wow, cool! How was Bob? I’ve heard it’s sometimes an unexpected experience seeing him live nowadays…
Well, I was standing so it was pretty hard to see, but yeah, I knew to come with no expectations, not to have in my head that he was gonna play every single one of my favourite songs, in the way I’d heard on record. He didn’t have any interaction with the crowd… not one word… but regardless, there was a great vibe running through the crowd of people who love him having gathered together, watching his every move so closely. I developed my love of music through listening to my Dad’s records… and he was a huge Dylan fan, so I grew up appreciating his songwriting so much.
You’re second on the line up at this year’s lost picnic festival, just below Tash Sultana. Whats your opinion on her as one of your musical peers, and who else do you admire?
Yeah, I’m really excited to play Lost Picnic this year. I’ve not seen Tash play live yet, so it’ll be a great opportunity to do that, too. I hear she brings such a dynamic live element to each of her performances, totally changing and twisting how her songs sound, kind of like Dylan actually, so that’s exciting. And in terms of other artists, man, I just love Solange. I just love that ‘Seat At The Table’ album so much. Unfortunately, I missed her at the Opera House earlier this year at Vivid festival – I was so jealous of everyone’s photos and Instagram stories!
What’s been your favourite tour that you’ve been on since beginning your musical career? Do you prefer festivals, your own tours, or small gigs?
I just love singing anywhere! If it was just an intimate gig in my lounge room at home, I’d be in love with that, obviously, but festivals have a certain vibe about them. It’s something about them being during the day, the feeling of the fresh air, of really feeling alive. I try to create my festival setlist specifically to be less intimate, and try to capture as many people as possible whilst still individually reaching everyone in the audience. But when I do my own shows, I get to curate the performances more, and I do have those intimate moments on stage, where I can strip a song back and play keyboard on my own or speak softly to the audience or whatever.
I might possibly be debuting new music! Definitely compared to my album it’s moved away from that… but you’ll be hearing it really soon.
You toured the Low Blows album in 2017, what have you been up to since then?
I’ve mostly just been writing and recording, that’s pretty much in my focus. I’ve been working on some really cool new music which I might, possibly be debuting at Lost Picnic, it’s really moved away from the sound of the last album…
I also moved house, something that’s always tiring, but it’s been lovely to move into a new creative space. I’ve set up a new writing space, a new place for my piano. I’ve been a bit quiet for the last few months, but come Springtime, my new music’ll be out, and I can’t wait for people to hear it. It’s been a while since a new song broke, and I’m so looking forward to seeing what people think.
Can’t wait to hear your new stuff either. Just one final question, Meg. With all this talk of picnics and summer and festivals, I can’t not ask, what’s your favourite thing to take to a picnic?
I am addicted to corn chips! They’re always on my rider for EVERYTHING, along with hummus and guac. In fact, I don’t even care if I have actual guac, just a strait avocado, scooped on top of a bunch of corn chips, I am happy!
YUMMmmmm! Looking forward to seeing you at the picnic, Meg.
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LOST PICNIC 2018 – LIVE IN THE DOMAIN AND FLEMINGTON NURSERY
Tash Sultana (extended festival set)
Meg Mac
Marlon Williams
Odette
Sons of the East (Sydney only)
Big Words (Melbourne only)
Hot Potato Band
With fine food, kids’ entertainment and roving performances
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Early bird – $89 +bf, Kids – $25 (under 12), $69 (under 18), free (under 3)
www.lostpicnic.net
7 October, 12pm-8pm: Flemington Nursery, Melbourne
13 October, 12pm-8pm: The Domain, Sydney
Interview by Cherry Anna Brearley. Meg Mac photo by Adam Davis-Powell.
