Based in the Upper Keys, Mack Meadows is a diverse guitarist in genres across the spectrum. Mack has always loved sharing the gift of music and has built his career performing before audiences and teaching guitar professionally. In addition to his command of contemporary music, he has studied with acclaimed classical guitarist, Dr. Stephen Robinson.
Prior to managing music stores across the Southeast for several years, Mack appeared as a solo recitalist and chamber musician. He played three seasons at Seaside Music Theater in the pit orchestra as a guitarist, in such shows as Evita, Anything Goes, and Little Me, as well as flamenco guitarist in Man of La Mancha. He has also worked as a studio session musician in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee.
Recently, Mack had the privilege of recording songs written by Grammy nominated songwriter Dennis Morgan, and other outstanding songwriters for his CD “Carry Me Home“. It is a blend ouf Country, Blues and a little Rock ‘N Roll. “Good music is good music in any genre” has always been Mack’s philosophy.
In this interview spotlight, we chat with Mack about music, motivations, the new project, and more.
Q&A, links, and streams can be found below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I’m from North Carolina originally, then moved to Florida when I was twelve and called it home ever since. I create music in many styles, but the one constant is the nylon string guitar. I just love the sound it makes, so I apply that sound to many genres. I dabble in country, folk, bluegrass, rock, tropical rock, classical, and instrumental Latin jazz.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to stay the course?
Obsession, really. I used to tell my guitar students that great players have an obsession to play the borders on being unhealthy. I am led by that nylon-string sound.
Who or what are your biggest influences when it comes to your creativity?
There are many. As a kid it was Beatles, Jackson 5, and Four Seasons. I studied classical music in college and was blown away by Bach and Charles Ives. Ives said if you create music that resonates in your own soul, then it is bound to resonate with the rest of the world due to our common humanity. I admire songwriters such as Jimmy Webb, who can defy traditional song structure, and David Byrne, who can seemingly write a song about anything.
How is your new release different than previous ones? Did you set out to accomplish anything specific?
“Carry Me Home” is a collection of songs by the great Dennis Morgan and his friends. Some of these songs, especially “Smoky Mountain Rain”, were the reason I began playing music in the first place. I love songs that have the power to transport you, to make you feel things like yearning, bittersweetness, or joy. I also love songs that make you want to sing along, swing your beer and dance. My goal with this recording was to pay homage to some truly great songs. That’s really why I play music, to present to you a piece of music I love and try to get you to feel the same way about it as I do.
Do you face any challenges as an indie musician in a digital age? On the flip side, how has technology helped you (if it has)?
Boy, what a double-edged sword, but I’m coming around. It’s still a rush to record in a pro recording studio but now everyone has the potential to create decent-sounding recordings. I don’t like social media but it does seem to help with promoting your music and performances. I believe it’s not done evolving yet.
How do you feel about streaming services? Any romantic attachments to the physical formats: vinyl, 8-track, cassettes, CDs?
I miss big album covers and liner notes! I love reading about who played on what track, and who engineered, and which studios were used, etc. Streaming is not tactile, and I don’t get to learn those neat little bits about what I’m hearing. We also have a long way to go to paying songwriters fairly.
Where can we follow you online and hear more music?
My new recording “Carry Me Home” is available on ITunes and CDBaby.
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mackmeadows
CDs are also available on my website mackmeadowsguitar.com
I have some teaching videos and performances on my YouTube page: http://www.youtube.com/user/MackMeadowsguitar/videos
Anything else before we sign off?
Thanks for the interview! Live long, prosper, and pass the mustard.
