Megan Slankard has got the edge of Alanis Morrisette, the rhythm of Ani DiFranco, the soul of Patty Griffin and the cute girl-next-door voice of Lisa Loeb. In her all original songs, she weaves together rhythmic guitar, perceptive lyrics, her “passionate, gorgeous and bluesy voice” and “the kind of melodies that shift records by the vanload”. “Slankard's sound is vibrant, emotional, and very addicting.” [See quotes page for credits.]
Slankard, a Northern California native and 21 as of June 6th, has self-produced and independently released two CDs. Her latest, Freaky Little Story (September 2003), is backed by her acoustic driven alt-pop band and is already garnering acclaim on a national level. One song from the CD qualified her as a finalist in the Pantene Pro-Voice Competition out of almost 2,000 entries, and Slankard was the featured artist this past January (as well as October 2003 and September 2003) on Demodiaries.com, an online industry resource for music business executives. She is also featured on Local Scene, the latest compilation from the San Francisco radio station KFOG. The KFOG compilation, released in July 2004, includes "Too Bad You" from Freaky Little Story.
Megan’s debut CD, Lady is a Pirate (August 2001), is solo acoustic; three songs from this album qualified her as a semifinalist in the Independent Music Awards’ performing-songwriter competition. Sales of her two albums have reached nearly 7000 copies.
Other recent accolades include being named a final selection artist for RPM Direct Presents: Unsigned Artists Volume 3 compilation CD; an A&R Online featured artist; a Song and Film Spotlight artist; and, an Acoustic Cafe featured artist on the “One to Watch” syndicated radio program (sponsored by the USA Songwriting Competition). Megan has performed in over 60 cities in four different countries, including showcases at the NEMO Music Conference (Boston) and NXNE Music Festival (Toronto), two tours as support for David Knopfler (Dire Straits, Germany), a Pantene Pro-Voice concert (New York City), and a performance at the international festival InGuitar in Zurich (Switzerland).
On a lighter note, Slankard was recently selected for The Learning Channel’s reality-type makeover show “What NOT To Wear”. Her hour-long episode aired nationally in July of 2004 and will air again in the months ahead. The episode has gained her overnight national popularity, including a large following in Canada where the show is also aired.
Megan, who has lived just outside the small, valley town of Tracy, California all of her life, began guitar lessons at the age of ten when she received a Beatles songbook as a gift. A few years later she started singing and composing her own songs, and at 15 landed her first paying gig at the local bar and grill. Her love of music grew from the Beatles to encompass a wide variety of styles, from the acoustic rock sounds of Counting Crows and John Mayer, to the modern jazz of Al Jarreau and blues feel of Blues Traveler.
"She could make the OED [Oxford English Dictionary] sound melodious." -- Good Times Magazine
