Meiko (American singer)

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Meiko

Meiko at the Transmission Showcase festival
Background information
Born Roberta, Georgia, United States
Genres Adult alternative, indie pop, folk
Occupations Singer-songwriter
Instruments Voice, guitar
Labels Fantasy Records / Concord Records
Website Official site
MySpace page

Meiko (/ˈmiːkoʊ/) is an American singer/songwriter, currently residing in Los Angeles, California. She independently released a self-titled album on September 1, 2007. All of the tracks from the LP have been featured in major network TV shows.Her song "Bad Things" has been featured in the episode "The Guilty Girls Handbook" of Pretty Little Liars.Her sophomore full-length, titled The Bright Side, was released through Fantasy Records on May 15, 2012, and a single from the album, "Stuck On You", reached #1 on the combined Japanese AirPlay Chart and #1 on the International Chart in Japan.

Early life

Raised by her father in the small town of Roberta, Georgia, Meiko first stepped in front of an audience at the age of eight, singing “White Christmas” for parishioners of a Southern Baptist church. In the years that followed she performed everywhere from talent shows to Little League baseball parks. When she was not performing, she was practicing - spending countless hours singing into the family's clothes dryer. "Great acoustics," she insisted.[1] She soon developed an interest in writing songs and enlisted the help of her dad, who taught her how to play guitar on his old Gibson six-string. When she was thirteen, he bought her one of her own. A flood of songs followed. "As soon as I learned a new chord," she says, "I wrote a new song."[2]

Music career

At eighteen, Meiko left her hometown to showcase her talents to a wider audience. After a brief stop in Miami, she set down in Los Angeles and began her career in earnest, playing venues all over Southern California and writing at a prolific pace. She performed (and bartended) at Hollywood's Hotel Café (where she still performs regularly).

In early 2007, Meiko performed at the Sundance Film Festival and caught the ear of Paste Magazine editor Josh Jackson, who declared her a "big success story" waiting to happen, predicting it was "only a matter of time" before she found her way onto Nic Harcourt's influential “Morning Becomes Eclectic” radio program on KCRW.[3]

In September 2007, she toured nationally with Brett Dennen and in October, toured the U.S. as the opener for Mat Kearney.[4]

In 2008, Meiko performed at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW, and participated in the nationwide Hotel Café Tour, which also included Rachael Yamagata, Ingrid Michaelson, Cary Brothers, and Sara Bareilles.

In June 2008 Meiko signed a recording deal with MySpace Records/DGC, who released her album in partnership with Lucky Ear Music (Meiko's own indie label). The Lucky Ear/MySpace/DGC release has been remixed, remastered and includes re-recorded versions and a new track, "Boys with Girlfriends". The digital album re-release was August 5, 2008.

Meiko performing in 2008.

Also in August, she toured the U.S. (three dates in Southern California) with Joe Purdy, Chris Seefried and Jay Nash.[5] In the fall of 2008, Meiko joined another Hotel Cafe Tour - this time around the trek featured an all-female lineup. Meiko was the only artist performing all dates of the tour. From February–March 2009, Meiko performed on a string of U.S. dates in support of Joshua Radin.[6] In May 2009, she embarked on her first-ever headlining U.S. tour.[7] In June 2009, Meiko hit the road with Eric Hutchinson,[8] and in July 2009, she performed a string of shows in the UK before playing in the United States territory of Guam.[9] In October and November 2009 Meiko toured the U.S. with Jewel.[10]

Meiko's album was digitally released in Australia on October 9, 2009 and reached #2 on the iTunes Australia Singer-Songwriter Albums chart. The album was physically released October 23, 2009.

After spending most of the first half of 2010 writing new material, Meiko entered a Los Angeles recording studio in September 2010 with producers Styrofoam (Jimmy Eat World, Postal Service, Of Montreal) and Jimmy Messer (Kelly Clarkson, Neon Trees) to begin recording songs for her second album.[11]

She signed a new recording contract with Fantasy Records/Concord Records in late 2011,[12] with her sophomore album titled The Bright Side released on May 15, 2012.[13]

Origins of name

Meiko is one-quarter Japanese, on her maternal grandmother's side; in an attempt to get in touch with their Japanese heritage, she and her sister, designer Kelly Nishimoto, adopted the nicknames Meiko and Keiko. While those names are pronounced "May-ee-ko" and "Kay-ee-ko" in Japan, she and her sister pronounced them "MEE-ko" and "KEE-ko". They didn't learn of the mispronunciation for some time; and "didn't have the heart to change" the spelling after.[14]

Instruments

Meiko has played a Gibson 1951 J-50 and has played many live shows with her Gibson 1942 LG2 which "doesn't have a pickup."[15] Meiko currently plays a Gibson B-25.

Discography

Albums

Singles

  • "Maybe Next Year (X-Mas Song)" (2007, self-released)
  • "Boys with Girlfriends" (2008, Lucky Ear/MySpace/DGC)
  • "Under My Bed" (2009, Lucky Ear/MySpace/DGC)
  • "All of Me" (2009, Lucky Ear/MySpace/DGC)
  • "Leave The Lights On" (2012, Fantasy/Concord)
  • "Stuck On You" (2012, Fantasy/Concord)
  • "Bad Things" (2013, Fantasy/Concord)

Guest appearances

Compilation appearances

  • Penelope soundtrack (2008, Lakeshore) (song: "Piano Song")
  • Hotel Cafe Presents: Winter Songs (2008, Sony), (song: "Maybe Next Year (X-Mas Song)")
  • His Way, Our Way (Sinatra Tribute) (2009)

Music videos

  • "Boys With Girlfriends"
  • "How Lucky We Are"
  • "Under My Bed"
  • "Leave The Lights On"
  • "Stuck On You"
  • "Bad Things"

Television performances

Television song appearances

Feature film song appearances

  • Pants On Fire (song: "How Lucky We Are")[47]
  • Pretty Ugly People (song: "You & Onions")[48]
  • Wake (song: "Heard It All Before")[49]
  • TiMER (song: "Piano Song")[50]
  • Silverlake Video (songs: "Piano Song", "Reasons To Love You", "Heard It All Before", "Boys With Girlfriends")[51]
  • Into The Cold (song: "Hawaii")[52]

References

  1. ↑ "Meiko". AskMen. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  2. ↑
  3. ↑ Jackson, Josh. "Blogs :: Ctrl-V :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  4. ↑ Gibson, Donald (2009) "An Interview with Meiko", Blogcritics, 19 May 2009, retrieved 4 October 2009
  5. ↑
  6. ↑ "I’ll Be There: Joshua Radin & Meiko in San Luis Obispo". Buzzgrinder.com. 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  7. ↑ "Meiko unveils inaugural headlining run". Livedaily.com. 2009-04-02. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  8. ↑ "Meiko". The Dead Hub. Retrieved 2013-08-01. 
  9. ↑ Leaudouce Live. "Meiko Live In Guam". Meikoguam.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  10. ↑ "Archives". The Dead Hub. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  11. ↑ Mike Savage Artist Management (1999-02-22). "Meiko Begins Recording New Album". Mike Savage Artist Management. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  12. ↑ "RM64.blog » Blog Archive » Out on the Street: Meiko to release new album on Concord, Interscope head scratchers & more". Rm64.com. 2011-12-12. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  13. ↑ "The Bright Side : Meiko". Concord Music Group. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  14. ↑ starbug. "::starbug::.. - Meiko". Starbug.hu. Retrieved 2013-10-25. 
  15. ↑ "Meiko Breaks Out With Two Vintage Gibson Acoustics (Free MP3s!)". Gibson.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  16. ↑ Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart Listing For The Week Of Okt 20 2007
  17. ↑ Billboard Top Heatseekers Chart Listing For The Week Of Aug 4 2008
  18. ↑ "Heatseekers Albums". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  19. ↑ Telepictures Online. "Telepictures Productions". Bonniehunt.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  20. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1289040/
  21. ↑ "Meiko Heads To Alabama". popdirt.com. 2008-10-19. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  22. ↑
  23. ↑ "Last Call with Carson Daly - All Videos - Newest - Video". NBC.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  24. ↑ " ". Wgntv.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  25. ↑ "NY PIX Morning News Blog – WPIX-TV". Weblogs.wpix.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  26. ↑ "Meiko". YouTube. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  27. ↑ "Music Lounge - Meiko - WGN". Wgntv.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  28. ↑ "Meiko – "Leave The Lights On" 6/12 Leno". Retrieved 2013-01-24. 
  29. ↑ "Meiko". 
  30. ↑ "Meiko to perform at Summerfest". Retrieved 2013-01-24. 
  31. ↑ "Meiko - 07/06/2012 - Entertainment News from WindyCityLive.com". Retrieved 2013-01-24. 
  32. ↑ "Meiko, Dawes, Masked Intruder, Train - JBTV Music Television". Retrieved 2013-01-24. 
  33. ↑ "Guitar Center Sessions on DIRECTV". Retrieved 2013-01-24. 
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 "Grey's Anatomy Music Season 04 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  35. ↑
  36. ↑ "Kyle XY Music Season 02 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  37. ↑ "The Cleaner Episode Music Season 1". Thecleaner.info. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  38. ↑ "One Tree Hill Music Season 06 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  39. ↑ "The Hills Music Season 04 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  40. ↑ "Privileged Music | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  41. ↑ "Grey's Anatomy Music Season 05 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  42. ↑ "One Tree Hill Music Season 06 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  43. ↑ "90210 Music Season 01 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "Kyle XY Music Season 03 | TV Show Music | Music From TV Shows". TV Show Music. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  45. ↑ "music from Ghost Whisperer - Thrilled to Death". heardontv.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  46. ↑
  47. ↑
  48. ↑ "Slideshow". Pretty Ugly People. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  49. ↑ "Wake is an independent film starring Bijou Phillips, Danny Masterson, Ian Somerhalder, Marguerite Moreau and Jane Seymour". Wakemovie.com. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  50. ↑ Mike Savage Artist Management (2010-05-21). "More Meiko Music in Film & TV". Mike Savage Artist Management. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
  51. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430508/
  52. ↑ Mike Savage Artist Management (2010-05-16). "Meiko Song Featured In Sebastian Copeland Documentary". Mike Savage Artist Management. Retrieved 2012-05-25. 
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