Tune your ear to Megan Brickwood with her latest album, Fifth Mile!
California native songbird, Megan Brickwood crossed my path in 2021 leading me to share my discovery with you. You know me, I’m just a girl who loves to share new music discoveries. Just imagine how flattered I was when Megan reached out to me a few days ago after her Internet search found that archived post featuring her? I was honored. She was kind and gracious thanking me for the spotlight. In her email, she wrote about her new EP that released earlier this year and naturally, being Curious as a Cathy, I had to learn more. Come on, what kind of friend would I be if I kept this to myself? I invite you to turn your ear now to listen to the title track, Fifth Mile.
Megan says this about how Fifth Mile evolved into musical piece for one enjoyment.
One night I decided to try out the CGCFCE tuning and this picking pattern started taking shape. Once that was written, the story for the song just opened up and the song kind of wrote itself from there. The lyric structure of the song is pretty simple – when I see it written out I realize just how spare the lyrics are – and for someone who is generally a pretty wordy songwriter it was kind of a treat to write this dreamy, abstract tune and really just dig into the vibe and feel of it. I think that the production honored that intention so well, and I think as the title track it’s a good representation of a running theme in the EP, which is giving permission to oneself to dream and go off into the unknown….throwing caution to the wind. This track really embraces that on a number of levels.”
Megan’s sophomore EP, Fifth Mile has three other tracks. Let’s listen to and learn the inspiration behind each one.
The first song title listed on her Fifth Mile YouTube playlist is the first song Megan says she wrote in an open tuning pattern DADGAD. It completely captured her imagination. The idea to write a song popped into her head while on a walk around Trinity River. Her environment fueled her creativity as she soaked in the lonely and melancholy of her surroundings. Once back at her home studio in Los Angeles, she used the tuning pattern that sparked it all composing what she initially envisioned as “Colors in the Stream” but it was after she finished the song that she realized that what she she wrote was Trinity River Blues.
The second song is Hey Little Darling. Megan explains this song is special to her because it’s kind of like a letter to her younger self in which she tells herself to not be afraid to talking the chance she wants the most and to not let time slip away without really living. This is something we all can relate to and wished that we could tell our younger self. She says it also serves to remind herself now to not lose heart but keep taking those chances no matter what. I think these are wise words for anyone.
The third track on this album is You’ll Never Find A Girl Like Me and while I don’t have the details on what prompted her to write it. I think you’ll enjoy the melody as much as I did.
I don’t know about tuning patterns or how to makes lyrics and music work together but one thing I do know is if music moves me then that’s all that matters. Megan’s vocal style and music arrangement embodies that folk rock vibes from the 70s I heard in my teen years flooding my senses with feelings and memories. It’s refreshing to see young talent nurturing this genre like Megan. I hope success follows her in her musical story telling journey. You can keep up with Megan Brickwood on Instagram, her Website, and on Facebook to learn when she releases her next new album.
Many of y’all have toned down social media sharing, including myself. But, if you want to tell your friends about Megan Brickwood then you know what to do with the share buttons. 😉
You’re the best and most loyal friends ever! Thank you for taking time to stop by to read today’s unplanned post. I’ll be back with Monday’s Music Moves Me where you’ll find me boogieing on the dance floor. If you have music to share or you’re a music lover then this is the party for you, so come join the fun. This is CAAC signing off, have a tunetastic day! X💋X💋, Cathy
16 Comments
Alana Mautone
What a beautiful voice, and classy as a person, too, which I can tell just from your interactions with her. Thank you for sharing the music! (My favorite, incidentally, was the first song but they were all good.) Alana ramblinwitham
Cathy Kennedy
Alana,
You’re so right Megan is nice person and I enjoyed putting this post together for her. Maybe, someday I can say I knew her when. giggles I’m happy you enjoyed her music. Thanks for dropping by, darlin’!
Megan Brickwood
Thank you so much for sharing my music on your awesome blog, Cathy! I’m honored to be featured here on what is clearly a wonderful community of music lovers. It warms my heart. I’m so glad our paths crossed!
Cathy Kennedy
Megan,
I’m thrilled you stopped by and I ditto about our paths crossing. The Internet can be a mix either blessing or curse but in this case a definite blessing! Have a songsational day, my dear!
Birgit
She has a lovely, almost melancholy voice. I enjoyed listening to her.
Nicole/DVArtist
I have to agree. She has a most fabulous voice. Hope all is well with you.
Cathy Kennedy
Nicole,
Thank you for peeking in to check out Megan’s amazing voice and latest album. I’m happy you found her music style enjoyable. She’s a gem of a find!
Brian
Her latest? We didn’t know she had a first. She does have a fabulous voice.
Cathy Kennedy
Brian,
You’re so funny! Well now you know. MOL I’m glad you enjoyed Megan. She has a nice voice.
indrekwilliams
She has an amazing voice! Thank you for sharing
Cathy Kennedy
Thank you for checking out today’s feature guest and her latest album. Listening to her is comforting, taking my mind back to simpler days. I love how the folk genre does that but more importantly is her voice captures that quality purrfectly. Have pawsom evening, Indre!
Birgit Bedesky
She has a beautiful voice and, yes, reminds me of the 60s and 70s like a Joni Mitchell. Wishing you s great day.
Cathy Kennedy
Birgit,
In her publicity info, I read that she studied Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake open tunings patterns. You’re so right, she has a beautiful voice. Thanks for dropping by for this mini concert of sorts, darlin’! 😉
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
As you know if you read my reply last night to your comment on SPMM, I am mourning the loss of another pet today, but having pain in one’s heart is an inescapable part of life. The more you love and care for an animal companion that has been a part of your family for years, the more it hurts to say goodbye. Death is part of life, and life goes on.
The music you presented this morning, that of rural Northern California singer/songwriter Megan Brickwood, sooths my soul. I went to her bio page and read that her musical style is influenced by roots, folk, blues and rock and speaks to the human condition. I love her pure, clear, soulful voice, her sincerity and unpretentious, no-nonsense acoustic recordings. These songs are all gems. “Hey Little Darling,” a letter to her younger self, is wonderful – my favorite of all.
Megan reminds me of a female John Denver in the sense that she sings songs that reveal love for her native soil. She also reminds me of singer/songwriter Tom Rush whom I very much admire. It’s exciting that you had a “Brush With Greatness” when Megan noticed that she was featured in one of your posts and reached out to you. That kind of thing has happened to me a few times in my life and it’s always a thrill. I hope Megan sees this new post and contacts you again. If she happens to read my comment, I urge her to listen to two Tom Rush albums that meant a lot to me in my youth, Tom’s self-titled 1970 album and Wrong End Of The Rainbow, the follow-up Columbia album released that same year. I believe those two Tom Rush LPs will inspire her. It is indeed exciting to encounter a talented young artist like Megan who is carrying on the tradition of Joni Mitchell and other great singers and songwriters of the 20th century.
You hit a home run with this post featuring the songs of Megan Brickwood. I wish her tremendous success. Thanks for the introduction, or re-introduction as the case may be. Now it’s back to work for Mrs. Shady and me as we face another long day of planning and packing. Yesterday, along with having to witness our beloved pet die from a lethal injection, we were treated to a video walk-through tour of our new house 1000+ miles away. It was exciting, and I hope you and DH will soon be experiencing this rush as well. Enjoy the rest of your week. My next post hits Saturday and I’ll see you Monday on the 4M dance floor. Take care, dear friend Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
Oh my Cathy! I’m soooo sorry to read of your family loss. It’s not easy when a furbaby falls ill suddenly leading one to the decision that you and Mrs. Shady had to make but it was the right one. You both are in my thoughts and prayers.
I’m glad you found time to stop by for a bit emotional healing as you tuned your ear to Megan’s latest album. I totally agree with you, she’s a female John Denver vocally but a whole lot prettier. lol You cracked me up with had a “Brush With Greatness”. I certainly was flattered that she reached out to little ole me. I’m a sucker for music that moves me. She does her job well and I in turn wanted to share with my friends.
Taking a virtual tour of your new home sounds exciting. I know that helped to lighten your alls mood. Thanks for the reminder of your upcoming post and for taking time from packing your house up to check out today’s post with Megan Brickwood, dear friend. I’ll see you on Monday!
Megan Brickwood
Tom,
Thank you the very sweet comment, I appreciated that very much as well and now I’m thinking I’ve got to cover a John Denver song!