1. Early Life and Education
Megan McInerney was born on July 6, 1990, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. She attended the McDonald Performing Arts College in Sydney, where she honed her artistic skills. Initially, she began a degree in digital media, but she soon discontinued her studies in this field. She then moved to Perth, Western Australia, to pursue her passion for music, enrolling at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) to study music. After completing her degree, Mac recorded her song "Known Better" and submitted it to Triple J Unearthed, a platform for emerging Australian artists. She later decided to relocate to Melbourne, Victoria. During her road trip east with friends, she discovered that the national radio station Triple J was planning to play her song that evening, marking a pivotal moment in her burgeoning career.
2. Musical Career
Meg Mac's musical career is characterized by her distinctive voice, evolving sound, and a growing focus on themes of empowerment and social commentary.
2.1. 2013-2017: Career Beginnings and Low Blows
The initial exposure on Triple J significantly propelled Meg Mac's musical career. She was recognized as the Triple J Unearthed Featured Artist of the Week in 2013 and subsequently named the Triple J Unearthed Artist of the Year in 2014. In July 2014, Mac announced her first national headline tour to promote her debut extended play (EP), MegMac, which was officially released on September 12, 2014, through littleBIGMAN Records. Her recognition continued to grow, with Marie Claire Australia selecting her as an "Artist to Watch" for 2015, and she received a nomination for Rolling Stone Australia's "Best New Talent" Award.
Mac's music garnered international attention, leading to reviews from publications such as The New York Times, BuzzFeed, and Daytrotter. She also gained experience touring as a supporting act for the British electronic music group Clean Bandit. On August 15, 2015, her single "Never Be" achieved her first top 50 chart appearance, entering the ARIA Singles Chart at number 39. This surpassed her previous single, "Roll Up Your Sleeves", which had peaked at number 80 in August 2014. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2015, Mac received nominations for Best Female Artist for her EP MEGMAC and Breakthrough Artist for "Never Be". "Never Be" further solidified her presence in the Australian music scene by reaching number 11 on the Triple J Hottest 100 on January 26, 2016. Mac's debut album, Low Blows, was released on July 14, 2017, and debuted at number 2 on the ARIA Charts.
2.2. 2018-2021: Hope
In October 2018, Meg Mac released the single "Give Me My Name Back", a song she described to Billboard as a powerful anthem for those who have experienced emotional and physical abuse. She stated that the song is for women speaking out, for individuals discriminated against within the LGBTQI community, for the indigenous people of Australia, and for children abused by the church. It aims to empower anyone who has lost a part of themselves and seeks to reclaim their identity, dignity, and self-worth to move forward. Her second studio album, titled Hope, was announced on April 12, 2019.
During this period, Mac also collaborated with Australian musician Dan Sultan on his EP Killer Under a Blood Moon in 2018. The EP, produced and recorded by Jan Skubiszewski, was nominated for two ARIA Music Awards and debuted at number 5 on the ARIA Albums Chart, further showcasing her versatility and collaborative spirit.
2.3. 2022-Present: Matter of Time and Recent Activities
In March 2022, Meg Mac released the single "Is It Worth Being Sad". Mac reflected on the song's meaning, stating that it represented her initial steps towards sorting out her life and finding peace after a period of running from her troubles. This was followed by the release of "On My Mind" on March 30, 2022, alongside the announcement of an Australian tour set to commence in May.
In July 2022, Mac revealed details about her third studio album, Matter of Time, which was released on September 16, 2022. The album was preceded by several singles, including "Is It Worth Being Sad", "On Your Mind", "Only Love", "Letter", and "Understand". Matter of Time achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number 1 on the ARIA Charts, marking a career highlight for Mac.
On November 29, 2022, Mac released a five-track live EP titled Live At Golden Retriever, capturing her dynamic live performances. Looking ahead, Meg Mac is scheduled to perform at the After Race Concert of the Adelaide 500 motor racing event in Adelaide, South Australia, on Saturday, November 16, 2024. She will share the stage with other notable acts, including Crowded House and local hip hop artist J-MILLA.
3. Discography
- Low Blows (2017)
- Hope (2019)
- Matter of Time (2022)
4. Tours
- Headlining Australian Tour (2014)
- Low Blows Australian Tour (2017)
- Give Me My Name Back Tour (2018-2019)
- On My Mind Tour (2022)
5. Awards and Nominations
Meg Mac has received various awards and nominations throughout her career, recognizing her contributions to the Australian and international music industries.
5.1. AIR Awards
The AIR Awards (Australian Independent Record Awards) is an annual event that recognizes, promotes, and celebrates the success of Australia's independent music sector.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | herself | Breakthrough Independent Artist | Nominated |
5.2. ARIA Music Awards
The ARIA Music Awards is an annual award ceremony celebrating the Australian music industry.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | MEGMAC | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
| 2015 | "Never Be" | Breakthrough Artist | Nominated |
| 2023 | Matter of Time | Best Solo Artist | Nominated |
5.3. J Awards
The J Awards is an annual series of Australian music awards established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's youth-focused radio station Triple J, commencing in 2005.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | herself | Unearthed Artist of the Year | Won |
| 2017 | Low Blows | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2022 | Matter of Time | Australian Album of the Year | Nominated |
5.4. MTV Europe Music Awards
The MTV Europe Music Awards are presented by Viacom International Media Networks Europe to honor artists and music in pop culture.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | herself | Best Australian Act | Nominated |
5.5. Music Victoria Awards
The Music Victoria Awards is an annual awards night celebrating Victorian music, which commenced in 2006.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Meg Mac | Best Female Artist | Nominated |
5.6. National Live Music Awards
The National Live Music Awards (NLMAs) broadly recognize Australia's diverse live music industry, celebrating the success of the Australian live scene. The awards commenced in 2016.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | herself | International Live Achievement (Solo) | Nominated |
| 2017 | herself | Live Voice of the Year | Nominated |
| 2019 | herself | International Live Achievement (Solo) | Nominated |
5.7. Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition
The Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition is an annual competition that acknowledges great songwriting while supporting and raising money for Nordoff-Robbins music therapy. It is coordinated by Albert Music and APRA AMCOS and commenced in 2009.
| Year | Nominee(s) | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | "Roll Up Your Sleeves" | Vanda & Young Global Songwriting Competition | 2nd |
6. External Links
- [https://megmac.com Official website]
- [https://www.youtube.com/user/MegMacMusic Meg Mac] on VEVO
- [https://www.instagram.com/megmac Meg Mac] on Instagram
- [https://twitter.com/megmac Meg Mac] on Twitter
- [https://www.facebook.com/MegMacMusic Meg Mac] on Facebook
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20161020210518/http://megmacmusic.tumblr.com/ Meg Mac] on Tumblr
- [https://soundcloud.com/megmac Meg Mac] on SoundCloud