We were lucky to catch up with Merry Jane recently and have shared our conversation below.
Merry, thrilled to have you on the platform as I think our readers can really benefit from your insights and experiences. In particular, we’d love to hear about how you think about burnout, avoiding or overcoming burnout, etc.
I am able to overcome/avoid the burnt-out feeling because the one thing that has always kept me level-headed when times are tough, is my love for music. Music has been a major part of my life ever since I was a little girl. I played the guitar and bass guitar, as well as the viola, at a very young age and have been attending shows and festivals since the age of 16. My brother was also a very talented guitarist and singer but unfortunately, his life was taken in 2016. I knew from that moment that I was going to pursue music as a career in honor of him and my family, along with my personal interests. The happiest moments of my life are when I’m on stage playing the music that I love for people in the community that attend shows as an escape from reality and a chance to just be themselves. Of course, there will always be days filled with self-discrimination and/or overthinking but, the great days of happiness that come from music, forever outweigh the bad days since there is truly, no feeling like it.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
About five years ago, I decided to purchase a beginners DJ controller just to learn how to mix for fun. I was able to teach myself and fall in love with it immediately & I’ve been dedicated ever since. A year later, I was booked my first gig in 2021 when I was 21 years old. From there, my career began to take off. I started getting booked shows all around Dallas, TX until eventually, I learned how to produce my own music to mix live and have been trying to grow my brand as “Merry Jane” ever since. I created the artist name “Merry Jane” because my first name is Meredith and my middle name is Jane, so I thought it was perfect for the scene. Some may think I created the name for other reasons but it was too perfect for me to consider anything else. I spend everyday in my studio creating beats and putting my ideas into play for the rest of the world to enjoy.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I believe that my quality to learn and catch on quickly is one of the most impactful skills I’ve had along my journey. I was able to learn and teach myself almost everything I know about mixing and producing music, which is not an easy task. Another one of my favorite qualities is my energy about music and connecting with the crowd at shows. I have always been pretty shy when it comes to public speaking, but when I’m on stage playing the music that I love, I feel right at home when I get on the mic. My third favorite quality of mine, is being able to read the crowd’s energy and what type of vibe they are truly enjoying at that show or in that moment. I could spend hours/days/weeks planning out an entire set for a show, but when I’m on stage, I could play something that I never planned to be a part of my setlist.
Some advice I have for folks that are early along in their journey, is to just be patient and have as much confidence in yourself as possible. Many people try to pursue this dream but get too caught up in worrying about what others think, which leads them to give up sometimes. It is important to remember that you started this because you have love for it and as long as you’re able to remind yourself of that consistently, you will be just fine! (:
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
My great friend, Aviel Samuel (aka Gunpoint) has been extremely helpful with tips and lessons when it comes to music production. He is a graduate from Icon Collective in LA and is blowing up in the scene right now. I went to middle school with him and was able to get him booked for one of his first shows in Dallas, TX for HAM Promotions and is currently touring the states with big names artists, well deserved.
My inspiration comes from my all time favorite artist, “Charlesthefirst.” I was able to meet him at Lights All Night in Dallas, TX in 2019 and tell him that myself. Unfortunately, his life was taken just two years ago and I was able to perform at the same festival in the same spot, two years later. What a magical feeling that was for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/merryjanemusic?utm_source=linktree_admin_share
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merryjanemusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MerryJaneMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ2bpFDPA4ejUBhb4Yy5eVA
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/meredithjfoster
Image Credits
Chilly Media, Dunham Visuals, Kinyau Photo, Simbolizm
