Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Bouman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Back when I first started writing songs, I could only think about pleasing whoever I was writing for–my perceived audience, I’ll call them. This led me to write songs that were full of fear that they wouldn’t be received the way I was hoping they would be, songs that didn’t mean as much to me personally, songs that felt very surface-level and cowardly in their lyrics. I remember my songwriting mentor telling me on several occasions that I needed to write songs for myself and not worry about what anyone thought of them. I also remember thinking, “that seems dumb, why would I not write for other people?” But when I experienced trauma that I didn’t know how to verbalize, and started writing songs about it and processing through them, it clicked–these songs are for me, this art is for me, and it’s better than any crowd-pleasing single I might write. I kept writing for myself, to care for myself, to say things I didn’t know how to say otherwise, and slowly but surely, I had people telling me how amazing my songs were, how much these songs I wrote for myself meant to them. I am continually shocked and humbled when people tell me that my music is meaningful to them and has touched them, and I never would’ve achieved it if I didn’t let go of my desire for “people-pleasing” music and start trusting that what I had to say mattered, even if it was only for me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I started Wreck Like Me as a one-off performer for a friend’s concert in 2019. I actually didn’t love the writing process at first; that love blossomed in 2020 through a series of circumstances that pushed me to start writing songs as if they were pages in my journal. Those songs became my debut album, “Time Goes On,” which released in May of 2022. The process of creating that record (which took place at Red Bird Studios, located in New Philadelphia, Ohio) showed me how much I loved the nitty gritty of writing, rewriting, getting the perfect take–to some it might be monotonous, but to me it felt therapeutic. I wanted to do justice to the songs that sprang from my heart at one of the lowest points, and make something beautiful from the pain I had experienced. Following the release of “Time Goes On,” I started performing live more frequently, and have been deeply encouraged by the feedback I have received. Performing is wonderful–there’s something so electric about it–but the writing process has my heart, so I started working on my next project. The five songs that are included on the EP “What Do I Do Now?” have been my most honest songs yet. Spanning from seasonal depression to the feeling of being behind one’s peers to complex familial relationships, these five songs hold an abyss of emotions that I find hard to find in much music I hear in the mainstream.
Wreck Like Me’s music is for the deep feelers of the world–the empaths, the down-trodden, the one who wants a sad playlist when they’re already sad to sink deeper into their feelings. These songs with honest yet often simple lyrics are backed by a folk-rock instrumental and highlighted by powerful and expressive vocals.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
A willingness to celebrate the areas you are strong in: if you can’t see the good in yourself, you’ll have a hard time capitalizing on those and leaning into the good while also working on what needs attention. When I stopped fighting against my natural skill and trying to be something I’m not (for me, it was a pop punk artist, if you can believe it!), I broke through in a way I had yet to experience.
A clear perspective of where growth is most needed: if you can’t (or won’t) see where your strengths aren’t, you’ll be hard pressed to challenge yourself in ways that will push you towards who you want to be–both professionally and personally.
A desire to be different: when I made the conscious decision to start writing both what I needed and what I didn’t see being written by many, I saw the most growth. There’s less I was able to draw inspiration from, and it forced me to look within and get more creative than one might have to be to write a breakup song. (But don’t you think I don’t write breakup songs–if that’s what you’re in the market for, you might love “Walk Away” and “Maybe.”)
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My songwriting mentor, my first guitar teacher, my producer, and a good friend, Aaron Troyer. Aaron runs Red Bird Studio in New Philadelphia, OH, and produced my full length album “Time Goes On” and the five song EP “What Do I Do Now?” He has pushed me in ways that have grown me from a kid writing some songs that only a mother could love, to a person who takes much pride in her songwriting prowess. Having someone willing to put the time in because he believed in me, someone who took the time to help when very few would’ve seen that potential, was a total game-changer, and made me the artist I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/wrecklikeme
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrecklikememusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wrecklikeme/about
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKt_2I17WX2-Z_2ZT_aTZ2A
Image Credits
CJ Horton Matthew Jay Ellen Stair
