Q&A: Singer Megan Dawson on finding love, writing bops, and eating popcorn
Photo by Emma-Lee Photography.
To love fun country-pop music is to love Megan Dawson.
Currently up for three awards at the 2023 Country Music Alberta Awards including Horizon Female Artist of the Year, the Calgary-based singer has been climbing up the ranks in the independent music scene in recent years. Her small, but mighty catalogue of tunes includes “Kissed Me Like That” and “Influence” and has led her to a collective stream count of well of 1.6 million…and counting!
Her brand new single “To Fall in Love” was produced by Dan Swinimer (Madeline Merlo, JoJo Mason) and penned by Dawson herself along with fellow singer-songwriter Hannah Gazso and Cheslea Heaslip. A catchy chorus and lovey-dovey lyrics make its release feel perfectly timed with Valentine’s Day being just around the corner.
From her impressive songwriting output to a new outlook on love and more, our recent chat with Megan Dawson has left us real excited to see what the future holds for the rising star.
We know you always come through with a country-pop bop and “To Fall In Love” delivers! How did you wind up writing it?
After I went through a heartbreak, I took some time to just focus on myself. I reinvested in my passions, the things that make me happy, and I have also surrounded myself with good people.
Falling in love with myself gave me so much perspective on what love can mean, but also provided clarity on the kind of love I wanted to find in a person. When I met the right person, I had never felt more confident entering a new relationship because I trusted myself enough to give my heart to someone again.
You’ve written plenty of your own music (like “To Fall In Love"), and you’ve released songs penned by other folks like Madeline Merlo. What’s different about releasing a song you wrote compared to one you did not write?
I have a lot of love for both of these scenarios, but the main difference between a song of my own and someone else’s is found in the process of recording.
Bringing the song to life in a way that is both authentic to me while doing justice to the story the songwriters have created is always very important to me. I am so grateful for songs like “Kissed Me Like That” because they’re so well-written and I am so happy I could be the voice on them!
Photo by Codi McIvor.
If you listen to "To Fall In Love” 10 years from now, what do you think an older Megan Dawson will think of it?
I hope to look back and remember the feelings I had in the moment of writing it.
I think it will bring back the memories of the journey I had been on to get to this [current] place of being happy and so in love, but I know in the future there are still many lessons I will have to learn. That means everything from heartache, to self discovery and finding happiness in different parts of my life that I couldn't see at the time.
How many songs do you write a year versus how many get released?
I write about 80 songs a year—both for myself or for other artists. Within this amount I would say that only about three or four of those will be released in a year.
That may seem crazy, but you never know if or when one of the songs you’ve written will wind up having its moment and get released further down the road.
Much like chicken and the egg, what comes first for you when creating a song: the melody or the lyrics?
I am a sucker for a great melody! It’s always the first thing I notice in a song, but I have noticed recently that a lot of my inspiration has come from writing down concepts and lyrics as poems first, then finding the perfect melody second.
This process is different from what I have done in the past, so I guess it depends on the phase of life I’m in.
What's one song by an independent Canadian artist that you wish you had written?
"Boys' Night" by my girl Brettyn Rose is my current favourite, for sure.
Musical style is a culmination of personal interests and influences from the world around you. What's something non-musical that has helped to shape you into the artist you are today?
I would say playing volleyball growing up. I played for almost 10 years and it really taught me the values of resilience, strategy and teamwork, as well as the importance of training and honing your skills.
I’m always so grateful for the time I had in the sport!
Photo of Megan Dawson by Emma-Lee Photography.
You know we love our food! What's your favourite post-show, late-night meal?
Popcorn is my favourite thing after a show, hands down! That, or some french fries with an obscene amount of ketchup.
Give me one of those things to eat and I will be the happiest gal!
We're directing a Megan Dawson biopic! Who's starring as you?
I am obsessed with Anne Hathaway, so I would choose her first because she’s amazing. For someone more my [musical vibe], I think Mandy Moore would be super cool.
Sum up this interview in two-line verse.
We’ve covered everything from popcorn to Anne Hathaway,
please go stream “To Fall in Love” to make my day.
Love,
Meg
