From folk roots to 'forest pop

ROB FIDDAMAN this week chats to singer-songwriter Megan Dixon Hood about the influences behind her 'forest pop' as she prepares to perform in Nantwich

- 

Megan Dixon Hood. Picture: Free the Tribe

(Free the Tribe)

Hey Megan, great to finally be able to chat to you. Tell us where you're from.

Yes, lovely to have the chance to chat with you. I currently live in a leafy little town called Bollington, near Macclesfield.

Are you from a musical family?

Sort of. Neither of my parents are musical, although my dad is a huge music fan. However, my grandpa was a musician back in the day, so I imagine it might have been him who passed down the musical genes. My siblings both also create music in different ways, and we're all very creative.

What do you think made you want to be a singer?

If I'm being honest, I wouldn't really call myself a singer per se. Of course, I do sing, and I really love it, it's very cathartic, but I think primarily I'm a songwriter who happens to love singing too, which I use as a magical tool to help tell my stories.

So are you mainly a singer songwriter?

Yes, exactly!

Describe your sound.

My sound has evolved over time, and many of its roots come from folk, but I often describe my current sound as 'forest pop'. To me, this has so many possibilities - it dabbles in all kinds of genres from alternative, pop, rock, and folk.

Are you a solo artist or do you have a band that supports you?

I guess both. I'm a solo artist in terms of writing and singing the songs solely myself, and I can perform them live on my own with my keys for smaller intimate gigs, but my favourite way to share my songs on stage is with my band who join me for live shows. We've known each other for more than a decade and I feel very lucky to have shared many stages with them over the years - and hopefully many more to come!

Talking of gigs, where do you really love to perform?