MEGHAN TOOHEY ~ multi-instrumentalist,songwriter,producer,performer.
Although she is best known as the guitarist for Nettwerk Recording Artists The Weepies, whose iTunes sales have topped the charts in eight countries, Meghan Toohey is known as a triple threat on the LA music scene. She has toured extensively as a multi instrumentalist with artists including Lenka, Lucy Schwartz, The Saw Doctors, Margaret Cho, Schuyler Fisk, Missy Higgins, and Lori Mckenna.
Toohey's unique playing style has captivated audiences in countless venues all over the world as well as music festivals like Oxegen, Tea In the Park,and Lilith Fair. Her talents have been showcased on The Conan O'Brien Show and Australia's Sunrise morning show.Before moving to LA, she and her band The So and So's were darlings in the Boston music scene. After working with producers including
Viktor Van Vugt (PJ Harvey, Nick Cave) and legendary engineer Eddie Kramer(Jimi Hendrix, Kiss) she released 3 albums of original material that went on to gain the attention of many industry folks, critics and fans alike.
Meghan has switched focus to producing indie artists, including Margaret Cho, Garrison Starr, Vivek Shraya, and Rachael Cantu, and has also scored several films and commercials. Her work has been placed on many TV Shows like ABC's Private Practice, Grey's Anatomy, NBC's Parenthood, Life Unexpected and Army Wives. She also played guitar on a song used in Obama's 2008 Presidential Ad campaign as well as commercials for Chase Bank and Ford.
Currently, Meghan is doing a 36 date US Tour with the Weepies to support the Be My Thrill record, presently #34 on the Billboard Charts. She's also been the workshop guitarist for performances of Duncan Sheik/Steven Slater's latest musical, Alice In Wonderland. Meghan has teamed up with Nicole Fiorentino (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt) for a 2011 release of original music under the name "The Cold and Lovely".
Q & A With M E G H A N T O O H E Y
Q ~ When did you fist pick up a guitar and when did you discover you had songs to write ?
MT ~ My father was a Jr. high band director and used to bring home
different instruments every week for my brother and I to mess around
on. He came home one day with a guitar he bought at a yard sale and it
was love at first sight. It was an instrument I could use in both
melodic and percussive ways, and as a bonus I could sing, look cool
and be the front of a rock band...always important.
Q ~ You use alot of alternate tunings , How has this influenced your song writing ?
MT ~ With alternate tunings I can get more texture and color with less
stretch than I find in normal tuning on the guitar. It also has to do
with my love for jazz music and the inversions used that provide
certain moods. In writing I was first inspired to play in alt. tunings
because of writers like Joni Mitchell and Jonatha Brooke.
Q ~ You also produce , Which do you prefer .... being in the studio or playing live ?
MT ~ I love both. Nothing can match the feeling of being in front of an
audience. Producing, I love the fact that I can take other artists
music and hopefully add my stamp or help them create a sound that they
are really happy with. I also get to play a lot of different
instruments.
Q ~ What inspires you when you're in the studio ?
MT ~ I love gear and I love creating new sounds and beats. It's also nice
to be able to work from lots of different locations and with all
styles of music.
Q ~ Your guitar playing has been sought after by artist such as Lori McKenna, The Weepies , Mandy Moore ,and Jennifer Kimball.
How did you develop your guitar tone ?
MT ~ I think mainly from listening and watching other guitar players I
admire. Starting being 16 and seeing Bonnie Raitt play slide, or
playing in bands with guitar players like Jay Barclay (The Damnwells,
Ben Kweller) that just really know what they are doing. I like to
think I have a certain sound that people can recognize.
Q ~ Any plains for another solo record ?
MT ~ Definitely. Keep an eye out.
Q~ Thank you Meghan.
MT ~ Totally
Interviewed by : MYLOWFREQUENCYSOUND