Megan Nic Ruairí has made the big leap of pursuing a full-time career in music.
A singer songwriter from North-West Donegal, telling stories of romanticised love and self-exploration, Megan realised during lockdown that now is the time to give everything to what she loves
The young singer embodies a massive sense of pride for her Irish heritage despite being born in London and raised in Nottingham, England.
Her Irishness resonates confidently in her compositions without swaying far from a unique contemporary sound. You can clearly sense a patriotic love for the Irish language and poetry which enriched her young life in Donegal.
Megan is deeply influenced by nature, sense of place and its effects on one’s soul. With most of her songs written from a piano facing the sea, the musician has always struck inspiration from the beautiful landscapes of her home in Rann na Feirste.
So much so, that the seascapes heard on her debut single (Can’t Trust The Moon) were recorded below her house tying her art to that which inspires her, accentuating an integral aspect of the song.
MUSICAL FAMILY
Aside from performing alongside her family, Megan has appeared on many BBC productions performing ‘Can’t Trust the Moon’ and has sung on national radio gaining her a vast universal following as a solo artist.
Unfortunately, like all musicians in Ireland, a lot of her plans for the summer were placed on hold this year.
She said: “Clann Mhic Ruairí’s missed out on tours and shows abroad and for myself, I missed out massively on festivals and the likes. I feel like people will have developed a new love for music and the arts after all this and the music industry will spark back up again once it can.
“I bloody can’t wait to be able to stand in the pouring rain surrounded by my close friends listening to live music at a festival again though that’s for sure.”
Megan considered herself extremely lucky to get home to Rann na Feirste from Dublin just before lockdown started. “I found it both comforting and overwhelming to be there for such a long time, but it definitely inspired me to write a lot of music that I’m very exciting to perform once I can.
“I tried to really reconnect with myself without the pressures of work and having to be social. So I used the time to go for walks on the beach with my family, watch films, listen to music and read and that ignited a lot of creativity for me that I hadn’t been able to access for a long time.”
DEBUT SINGLE
Megan released her debut single, Can’t Trust The Moon, at the height of lockdown in April, but said it was ‘actually a blessing in disguise’.
“I had a lot of anxiety surrounding the release as I was doing and planning everything on my own. Having to organise a launch gig etc scared the hell out of me because I was worried no one would buy tickets, as people hadn’t really heard my music yet.
“So once that pressure was gone I just fully immersed myself in doing what I thought would be the most beneficial release for me.
“Thankfully, the track and video had been recorded before lockdown. So I worked close with Cian Synnott and Ryan Hoban (who are just legends) over e-mails and texts to turn it all into something I’m incredibly proud of.
“My family did all my photography for me and helped me with press releases and e-mails. So it turned into a wee family affair that makes it all the more special.”
Megan is working on a lot behind the scenes at the moment and hopes to make a number of announcements very soon. “I’m writing constantly and building up a repertoire of songs old and new. I’m getting back into the swing of things in regard to gigs too, which is exciting.
“Being in lockdown made me realise that now is the time to give everything to what I love instead of working a job that drains my energy. So I’m very excited to get back into the music industry and start performing live again.”
RCC SOUNDS 028 – GOOD FOR MY CHROÍ – CURATED BY MEGAN NIC RUAIRÍ
‘Good for my chroí’ is a collection of music that simply just does something unexplainable to her heart, Megan said.
“Every song on this playlist accounts for a memory, a person, or a feeling. From dancing to China Girl drunk with my family in the kitchen, to thinking my soul is going to explode when I hear The Whole of the Moon for the hundredth millionth time.
“From watching my mother sing ‘City of Chicago’ in a state of pure happiness after months of pain, to singing ‘The Auld Triangle’ down some random street in France with Clann Mhic Ruairí at 5am. I can’t even begin to write about all the countless nights in and nights out with my beautiful friends dancing to these songs.
Ultimately, Megan said, every record brings her to a moment of feeling pure love. “From those I love and guarantee you’ll not find me too far away from dancing, crying, singing or laughing, to this playlist because it’s just what’s good for my chroí.”
LISTEN TO RCC SOUNDS 028 – GOOD FOR MY CHROÍ – HERE
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The Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny is proudly funded by Donegal County Council and Arts Council Ireland.