Biography
Though only in her early 20’s, this ambitious “star” has independently sold 22,000 CDs while playing 100s of cities across the United States and Europe.
Megan self-produced her first CD at age eighteen, her second a few years after that, and recorded her third with help from Counting Crows’ guitarist Dan Vickrey. Currently reequipped with a guitar, soaring vocals, and now a new band—who are so tight they might as well be brothers—Megan has been hard at work since last fall finishing up her fourth CD, an edgy alt-rock record, bursting with stories told from unique perspectives which will be released in the Spring of 2009.
Megan and her music have appeared on TLC’s “What Not To Wear”, which generated purchases by TV viewers that placed her CD “Freaky Little Story” on the #5 spot on Amazon.com CD sales charts and on the Top-10 Rock Bestseller list on CDBaby.com. Because of the episode’s popularity, the show’s producers featured her in a follow-up episode a year later, bringing “Freaky Little Story” and her third release, “A Little Extra Sun” back into the Top-10.
Her recent songwriting has received a lot of industry attention: She was selected as a semi-finalist in Discmaker’s 2007 Independent Music World Series and the 2007 International Songwriting Competition and selected as a finalist in the 2008 and 2009 Musician’s Atlas/Borders Books Independent Music Awards. Megan also won the 2009 IMA Vox Populi for her cover of Paul Simon’s song “America” and earned the January 2009 Top 5 artist in the Famecast.com Competition.
In addition to TV, Slankard’s music has also been featured on San Francisco AAA station KFOG's compilation CD. She has been featured in Rockgrl Magazine, Owl Magazine, The Synthesis, Fresh Tracks and Women In Rock, in addition to Acoustic Guitar magazine – whose editors named “Freaky Little Story” one of their top albums of 2005. She was 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). Slankard also co-wrote and performed on the title track of Dire Straits founding member David Knopfler's new record, “Ship of Dreams”.
Megan has performed in over 100 cities in five different countries, including at showcases in Boston (NEMO) and Toronto (NXNE), on three tours as support for David Knopfler (Germany and England), and at the international festival InGuitar in Zurich (Switzerland). She will resume touring after the completion of the new CD.
Instrumentation
Megan Slankard - vocals, acoustic & electric guitar
Danny Blau - keys, guitar, harmony vocals
James Deprato - electric & acoustic guitar, mandolin, lap steel, harmony vocals
Jeff Symonds - bass, harmony vocals
Kyle Caprista - drums, harmony vocals
Megan has had the opportunity to perform or record with or open for many fantastic musicians and artists, including,
Dan Vickrey - Counting Crows
David Knopfler - Dire Straits
Dishwalla
Hootie and the Blowfish
Rob Hotchkiss - Train
Patrice Pike - Sister 7
UB40
Ronnie Spektor
Discography
New Album in the works for February 2009!
A Little Extra Sun (September 2005)
Freaky Little Story (September 2003)
Lady is a Pirate (August 2001)
streaming - TBA
radio - TBA
Links
| http://www.meganslankard.com |
| Visit Megan on Myspace |