Being motivated by the trials and tribulations of life and sharing them through music has been an engine that most talented musicians have used over the years. Such a musician is Meg Whalen who has scratched the surface of the music scene with her unique style. A NJ native, she has dug deep into her soul to offer us a taste of her heart with her folk-rock sound. Meg was surrounded by music at three-years old when she sang with her siblings and her mother was a classical pianist and choir conductor that created the base for her love of the arts. In school she studied classical violin, theatre, and dance with goals to become a working actress.
Meg did not delve her way into the arts at first but attended college and worked in the marketing field till she married and opted to raise her two boys. But after moving to Asbury Park and taking in the music scene something happened and a light bulb when off in her mind and heart. In 2016 she made more of a concerted effort to connect with local musicians to collaborate with. She would hone her songwriting and learned to play the guitar. When COVID hit in 2020 she doubled-down on the work and she sent tracks to producers and performed with her guitar via a live stream. The seed was planted, and she was ready to sprout. In 2021 she began as lead singer with a working band then going on solo to play a three-hour mix of covers and her own songs. It turned out she would be booked weekly. In 2018 she did release a single titled “Talking in My Sleep” which she followed up with “Goodnight to Love,” and “Bleed.”
“Musically I have broad influences. From belting along to Barbra during my childhood to high school with Lauryn Hill on repeat. But women like Alanis, Fiona Apple, and Natalie Merchant certainly influence my singing style. Brandi Carlisle is without a doubt an inspiration for her themes, modern Americana sound and authenticity as an artist. I’m a Jersey girl through and through. There’s a bit of grit and confidence that feeds the culture of Jersey. A necessary element for sharing your art. It’s a small place, chock full of people from so many cultures and experiences. That vastness fuels creativity but the “small world” reality of NJ provides a solid base to give you the confidence to go for it. Someone is a cousin of someone’s girlfriend…and they made it! So why not you…???”
Meg has performed at many venues and has been blessed for those opportunities. Yet one place does stand out for her, The Wonder Bar in Asbury Park, which has become an iconic locale, and the crowd welcomes original artists with a warm embrace. She recently took the stage on June 21st at the Asbury Underground for North2Shore and on the 22nd at Sunset Riverfront, Neptune City, NJ.
On June 20th she released a new single titled “The Break” which Meg explains its message – “is about self-preservation in a tumultuous time. Identifying what you can and cannot change and find peace within yourself without necessarily having a solution for anything. I think I wrote this after a “win”. It’s a positive message that anyone can relate to. She penned the lyrics to the track in 2021 and only now shared it with her fans and the music scene. That specific track is part of a new string of songs she is looking to compile into a debut album by the end of 2025. Currently, she is gearing up for a few new shows on June 29th at Joe Pop’s, Long Beach Island, July 2nd at Asbury Hotel, Asbury Park, NJ, July 12th at the Sandbox at Seastreak, Highlands, NJ and many more. Be on the lookout for this emerging talent and if in NJ check out her unique performances.
WEBSITE – megwhalen.com/home