This week Roni Glasthal is joined in the studio by Megan Wardroper.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 - Hello and welcome to "Based in Kent."
00:17 I'm Ronnie and I'll be chatting all things music
00:19 with artists from all across the county.
00:21 They'll be performing live right here in the KMTV studio.
00:24 This week, I'm joined by Megan Wardropper from Ashford,
00:28 whose music is described as a blend of traditional folk
00:31 with a more contemporary indie style.
00:33 Welcome, Megan, thanks for being here.
00:35 - Thank you for having me.
00:36 - So why don't you tell us a bit more
00:37 about this music style that you've created for yourself?
00:40 - So I think I grew up listening
00:42 to very traditional folk music
00:43 and I liked that they told stories.
00:46 And I sort of, but I wanted to make it a bit more current
00:49 and a bit more personal to me now,
00:51 living in the 21st century.
00:53 So I've sort of tried to blend it with, as I said,
00:55 a bit more of an indie style to, yeah,
00:58 create some songs that mean something to me.
01:00 - So are all of your songs storytelling
01:04 or are some of them just based off of,
01:08 you know, elements of life?
01:10 - They all sort of focus around elements of life
01:13 in some way.
01:14 Some are my stories,
01:15 some are kind of stories of other people.
01:17 But yeah, I try to make them relevant and relatable
01:21 as much as possible and kind of steer away from love.
01:24 Although I think I'm doing two loved ones today,
01:25 so that doesn't add up, but.
01:27 - That's all right.
01:30 So do you find that a lot of people at your gigs
01:33 come up and talk to you afterwards, you know,
01:35 sharing whether or not they relate to the songs and stories?
01:39 - Yeah, I think I certainly get people coming up
01:41 and saying that they've enjoyed
01:43 having something to think about from the words.
01:47 I think probably the most comments I get
01:48 will be about the lyrics and about how they enjoyed, yeah,
01:52 that they could understand what I was saying
01:53 and that they could feel something,
01:55 some sort of connection, so yeah.
01:58 - So why don't you tell us a bit about the first song today?
02:00 Tell us a little bit about the story behind it.
02:02 - Sure, so the first song's called "How Did You Know My Name?"
02:06 Actually, it was a bit of a random one.
02:09 I went on a walk and I found a sign on a gate
02:12 and it said, "How did you know my name?
02:13 "100 pounds if you come and find me,"
02:15 which is quite a weird thing to find on a gate.
02:18 But I really liked "How Did You Know My Name?"
02:20 So I sort of thought,
02:22 I'm gonna turn that into basically a love song
02:24 about kind of meeting someone
02:26 and they're so similar to you
02:27 and you're kind of like, "Oh, how do you know this?
02:30 "How are you like this?"
02:32 So it's kind of a sceptical love song, I would say.
02:35 - A unique and interesting take on the love song then.
02:39 So yeah, I think that accomplishes your goal
02:42 of maybe not quite the traditional love song.
02:44 - Maybe, hopefully.
02:46 - Well, I'm very excited to hear it.
02:48 Take it away when you're ready.
02:49 - Cool.
02:50 ♪ How did you know my favourite part of the show ♪
02:54 ♪ Is always the end ♪
02:55 ♪ 'Cause I can pretend that I will be gone with them ♪
03:00 ♪ And when you say things that I've stored in my brain ♪
03:05 ♪ I never shed or even dare to say aloud ♪
03:08 ♪ It's strange ♪
03:10 ♪ Oh, can't you see how you puzzle me ♪
03:15 ♪ Wish it would just make sense ♪
03:19 ♪ And how did you know my name ♪
03:24 ♪ Was it written in the stars or across my face ♪
03:29 ♪ Tell me who you are ♪
03:31 ♪ Should I be scared ♪
03:32 ♪ Oh, I'm really not prepared ♪
03:34 ♪ Oh, how did you know my name ♪
03:39 ♪ 'Cause it's quite a lot to put all that I've got ♪
03:43 ♪ On the line for a guy who seems to know too much ♪
03:49 ♪ And I just don't see ♪
03:51 ♪ Why someone so clearly like me wants to be close ♪
03:55 ♪ Boy, don't they know the trouble that we can be ♪
03:59 ♪ Give me just one clue ♪
04:01 ♪ Anything will do ♪
04:04 ♪ Wish it would just make sense ♪
04:08 ♪ And how did you know my name ♪
04:12 ♪ Was it written in the stars or across my face ♪
04:17 ♪ Tell me who you are ♪
04:18 ♪ Should I be scared ♪
04:20 ♪ Oh, I'm really not prepared ♪
04:22 ♪ Oh, how did you know my name ♪
04:27 ♪ And how can it be ♪
04:31 ♪ That you see the world I see ♪
04:36 ♪ Where did you learn it ♪
04:38 ♪ And how did you know my name ♪
04:42 ♪ Was it written in the stars or across my face ♪
04:47 ♪ Tell me who you are ♪
04:48 ♪ Should I be scared ♪
04:50 ♪ Oh, I'm really not prepared ♪
04:52 ♪ Oh, how did you know my name ♪
04:56 - It's a very sweet song.
04:58 - Thank you.
04:59 - No, I like that.
05:00 So you're from Ashford.
05:02 Is there a big folk or indie scene around there?
05:04 - So I'm sort of from the Romney Marsh.
05:06 So I'm kind of, it's just, I say Ashford
05:08 because no one's heard of Rocking,
05:10 which is where I'm traditionally from.
05:12 But there's a bit of a music scene on the Marsh
05:16 and certainly sort of Folkestone's very,
05:18 very good for music at the moment.
05:20 Ashford is slowly getting there, I would say.
05:24 It's a bit more rock sort of typical cover function bands,
05:29 but any music scene is a good one, right?
05:33 - That's a very, very good point.
05:35 So in Kent, so you mentioned Folkestone.
05:40 Is there anywhere in particular
05:42 that you really enjoy gigging at
05:43 and that you think, you know,
05:45 your style tends to be quite popular in?
05:48 - So recently Folklore has really grabbed my attention
05:52 because it's sort of originals only.
05:54 So that's in sort of the old High Street
05:56 and that's like the creative quarter
05:58 and that's really nice.
05:59 It's kind of a coffee shop.
06:01 So people come for originals, which is quite refreshing
06:04 'cause they kind of know what to expect.
06:06 They know they're not gonna necessarily be singing along
06:08 to Oasis or whatever, so yeah.
06:12 - So were you always interested
06:14 in pursuing the original route
06:16 or did you start out with covers?
06:18 - I've done a lot of covers.
06:20 I used to busk with my friend
06:21 and sort of we'd do the whole Ed Sheeran,
06:24 George Ezra kind of happy songs.
06:26 And I do like doing them.
06:27 I like the reaction, but yeah,
06:30 I just, I feel more connected to my own songs.
06:33 And also I think I always feel like
06:35 I'm not doing the covers justice,
06:36 but with my own songs, no one knows how they should sound.
06:39 So I just do what I like, which is quite nice.
06:43 - So it allows you to have more artistic freedom
06:46 and creativity, you think?
06:47 - Definitely, yeah.
06:48 And not be comparing myself to anything
06:50 'cause it didn't exist before, so.
06:52 - That's a great way of looking at it.
06:53 I like that.
06:54 So do you think maybe someone someday
06:57 will cover one of your songs?
06:59 - I mean, that'd be cool.
07:00 I don't know, but that would be nice if anyone wants to.
07:04 - Well, maybe following this, someone will see it
07:07 and think, yeah, I like that one.
07:09 Maybe.
07:09 - So your next song for us today,
07:10 tell us a bit about that.
07:12 - So this next one is called "Fall."
07:14 Also a love song, but again, quite cynical.
07:17 I've actually just released it yesterday
07:20 on sort of Spotify and all of that,
07:22 and with a music video.
07:25 So yeah, if anyone does like it,
07:27 they can find that on all the usual places.
07:30 - So is the music video like almost
07:35 telling the story of the song or is it more interpretive?
07:37 - So the song is about someone going on a journey
07:40 to find love effectively
07:41 and kind of coming across various obstacles.
07:44 So we filmed it to be like going for a walk,
07:48 but coming across natural obstacles and natural barriers
07:51 that kind of represent someone's dating journey.
07:54 And then will they find love at the end?
07:56 Who knows?
07:57 (gentle music)
07:59 (gentle music)
08:02 ♪ Oh, what a choice ♪
08:09 ♪ What a selection ♪
08:11 ♪ Please come on down ♪
08:13 ♪ And view this collection of beautiful things ♪
08:18 ♪ That will lead you astray ♪
08:23 ♪ And how do you know ♪
08:25 ♪ When you're done searching ♪
08:27 ♪ Does someone show up ♪
08:29 ♪ And say that's the best thing ♪
08:31 ♪ That you'll ever find ♪
08:34 ♪ In this crazy life ♪
08:39 ♪ And I don't expect you to stop when you see me ♪
08:43 ♪ I know there are others shining more brightly ♪
08:47 ♪ Take my advice ♪
08:50 ♪ And find someone kind ♪
08:55 ♪ And oh, be careful where you fall ♪
09:00 ♪ 'Cause some of us are cruel ♪
09:06 ♪ And we'll let you down ♪
09:11 ♪ So come with me ♪
09:14 ♪ Let me love you endlessly ♪
09:19 ♪ I promise you you're safe ♪
09:21 ♪ To fall in love with me ♪
09:26 ♪ And it seems a shame ♪
09:30 ♪ That just to protect me ♪
09:32 ♪ I have to stop caring so deeply ♪
09:36 ♪ I can't be unkind ♪
09:38 ♪ No one taught me how ♪
09:43 ♪ And hearts aren't designed to mend without healing ♪
09:48 ♪ And we aren't designed to live without feeling ♪
09:52 ♪ And nothing's designed to just be cast aside ♪
09:57 ♪ And I feel that love isn't safe for consumption ♪
10:04 ♪ The more that you have ♪
10:06 ♪ The less you can function ♪
10:08 ♪ Lock it away ♪
10:11 ♪ It's safer that way ♪
10:15 ♪ And oh, be careful where you fall ♪
10:20 ♪ 'Cause some of us are cruel ♪
10:27 ♪ And we'll let you down ♪
10:32 ♪ So come with me ♪
10:35 ♪ Let me love you endlessly ♪
10:39 ♪ I promise you you're safe ♪
10:42 ♪ To fall in love with me ♪
10:47 ♪ I promise you you're safe ♪
10:50 ♪ To fall in love with me ♪
10:53 (upbeat music)
10:56 - Hello, welcome back to "Based in Kent."
11:00 I'm joined by Megan Wardroper from Ashford.
11:03 Thanks for being here, Megan.
11:04 - Thank you.
11:05 - So the next thing we're gonna do
11:06 is get into our quickfire question round.
11:08 Super easy.
11:09 A timer's gonna come up on the monitor between us.
11:11 I'll ask the first question, it'll start counting down.
11:14 We'll just get through as many of them as we can
11:16 in the time we have.
11:17 And we'll get started.
11:19 So what is your favorite venue you have played?
11:23 - Probably I did a festival last year called Fountown,
11:27 and that's not quite a venue,
11:28 but yeah, really cute little chapel stage there.
11:31 - And what's the first song you can remember learning?
11:34 - Probably a song called "Home" by Philip Phillips.
11:40 - Okay, unique choice.
11:42 - Yeah, my friend liked it.
11:43 She wanted to sing it, so we learned it.
11:46 - Oh, that's such a sweet reason to learn it, though.
11:48 And ideal gig lineup to see?
11:51 So like three artists you would love to see.
11:53 - That I haven't seen already or just didn't.
11:56 - Just any?
11:58 - Half Moon Run, 'cause they're my favorites.
11:59 Johnny Flynn and Matilda Mann.
12:04 - Okay.
12:06 Your best place for music inspiration?
12:09 - In nature, anywhere in nature.
12:12 - Nice.
12:13 It's the season for it now, isn't it?
12:14 - It is, it is.
12:15 - Yeah.
12:17 Describe your music in three words.
12:19 - Quirky, truthful, and folksy.
12:26 - Good words.
12:28 Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
12:31 - Just to, it sounds cheesy,
12:34 but just be true to what, to you, really.
12:38 Just write songs about things you care about
12:40 and people will relate better to them.
12:43 - I like that.
12:44 And your favorite song you've written?
12:46 - Possibly Fool, to be fair, the one I played earlier,
12:50 just 'cause it is me being truthful, so.
12:53 - And the best gig you've ever been to?
12:56 - Half Moon Run again.
12:58 They're just, yeah, they're amazing.
13:00 - Favorite genre to listen to?
13:07 - Probably indie, but with all the tags of folk indie,
13:11 indie pop, indie rock, all of those.
13:13 - It's broad.
13:15 And what's one music goal you have?
13:18 - I'd love to play a bigger festival.
13:23 You know, one that people have heard of.
13:25 - All right.
13:28 So your next song for us today, tell us a bit about it.
13:31 - So this was my sort of obligatory lockdown song.
13:34 I think every artist wrote one.
13:36 Mine's called Two by Two.
13:38 I had a dream where when we were all locked up,
13:40 the animals kind of came out and they took over the world,
13:43 which they did a little bit.
13:44 There were kind of goats roaming
13:45 the streets of Wales and stuff.
13:48 So this is Two by Two about the animals coming,
13:50 taking over, and then sort of doing better than we ever did.
13:54 ♪ Oh, I am weary ♪
14:03 ♪ Of seeing real life through a screen ♪
14:08 ♪ What strange times we are living ♪
14:12 ♪ Playing out a fantastical dream ♪
14:17 ♪ And oh, I am frightened ♪
14:21 ♪ Of the monsters we have become ♪
14:26 ♪ With our force and our greed ♪
14:28 ♪ We take more than we need ♪
14:30 ♪ Then we head to the hills and we run ♪
14:35 ♪ And one day you'll look out your window ♪
14:46 ♪ To see creatures lining the street ♪
14:51 ♪ We had scared them away with our modern ways ♪
14:55 ♪ Now they're back to reclaim their seat ♪
15:00 ♪ And oh, they'll come running ♪
15:04 ♪ From the mountains, the fields, and the trees ♪
15:09 ♪ And they'll dance until dawn ♪
15:11 ♪ And they'll sing ancient songs ♪
15:13 ♪ The way it was meant to be ♪
15:17 ♪ And they'll come marching two by two ♪
15:29 ♪ Just like the story said they'd do ♪
15:34 ♪ And what a sight it will be ♪
15:38 ♪ I'm sure they'll show it on TV ♪
15:43 ♪ And oh, I'm not frightened ♪
15:49 ♪ Of a world where we are not king ♪
15:53 ♪ 'Cause we had our chance and we blew it ♪
15:58 ♪ So it's time to let others back in ♪
16:02 - I love that.
16:14 It was almost like fanciful in a way.
16:17 - Yeah, it is a bit fantastical.
16:19 - Yeah, especially in today's world, isn't that though?
16:23 - Yeah, definitely.
16:24 - So we've been speaking about festivals.
16:26 You've played a festival.
16:27 It's the festival season.
16:29 - It is, yeah.
16:30 - Are there any festivals we can come see you?
16:32 - So I'm playing, I've got Sandwich Folk now.
16:34 I've got a couple of venues there.
16:37 And then also quite excited about Sunrose Arts Festival,
16:40 which is brand new.
16:41 It's happening across Canterbury.
16:43 I think it's the 22nd and 23rd of July.
16:46 And it's a celebration of poetry, music,
16:49 visual art, theatre.
16:51 So there's gonna be sort of live performances
16:54 in Dain John Gardens.
16:55 And then they're doing this scavenger hunt
16:57 around the city.
16:58 So there's gonna be artists in different venues
17:00 and you can kind of go and meet them,
17:02 learn a bit about why they do what they do.
17:04 And yeah, so it should be a really cool event,
17:06 just celebrating art all across Kent.
17:08 So yeah, I'm excited for that one.
17:10 - So with festivals, do you feel like those kind of help
17:15 spread the word about Kent music scenes
17:18 and all the upcoming original artists that you mentioned?
17:22 - I think so, yeah.
17:23 I think you go to a festival quite open-minded.
17:26 You're kind of ready to experience new music,
17:29 to have new, just new experiences in general.
17:32 Whereas perhaps if you go to a pub on a Friday night,
17:35 you wanna hear some songs you know.
17:37 So yeah, I think they're a really great opportunity
17:39 for new artists, definitely.
17:41 - And do you prefer to be performing at those festivals
17:45 or are you a festival goer yourself?
17:47 - Either, to be honest.
17:49 I mean, I love a festival,
17:51 but yeah, I love performing at them too.
17:53 There's a certain, there's a vibe
17:54 you just can't get anywhere else that you get
17:56 when you're at a festival, I think.
17:58 - With festivals, do you,
18:01 do you tend to feel like almost inspired when you're there?
18:08 - Definitely.
18:09 I always come away with a whole new playlist of people
18:12 like I didn't know about and kind of new ideas
18:15 of how to perform, new ideas of what to write about.
18:18 So yeah, they're so great for creatives, definitely.
18:22 - That's interesting.
18:23 You mentioned about how to perform,
18:26 are there ways that you think performance should change?
18:30 - I don't know.
18:32 I think it's more that just,
18:34 even just little things just down to having more confidence
18:37 to tell the stories behind the songs,
18:39 not being afraid to sort of,
18:41 I mean, I haven't yet ever got the audience involved
18:43 in one of my songs
18:44 'cause they're all a bit dreary and miserable,
18:46 but I'd really like to write a song one day
18:48 that I can teach the crowd a line or two of
18:51 and have them singing with me.
18:53 That would be quite nice.
18:54 - So you've done music videos as well.
19:02 So what other music videos have you done songs?
19:04 - So two by two, I made a painstaking stop motion
19:09 to accompany that 'cause it was locked down.
19:11 What else is there to do?
19:12 So I learned how to do stop motion.
19:15 It's not very good, but that, yeah, that's available.
19:18 I think that's on Facebook.
19:20 And then some of my older songs I've put on YouTube.
19:23 So I did one for a song called "Dance Dance,"
19:27 which is kind of about social media addiction.
19:29 So that was filmed in a garage in Somerset.
19:32 So got a few random videos across the internet.
19:36 - Yeah, they sound interesting for sure,
19:39 but that falls in line with the style of music you do.
19:41 So it makes sense.
19:43 - Yeah.
19:44 - So your final song for us today, tell us a bit about it.
19:46 It has such an interesting title.
19:48 - Yeah, so the title I actually got from,
19:50 I listened to Louis Ferru on Desert Island Discs,
19:54 and he said what scared him most
19:55 about being alone on an island
19:57 was that he wouldn't know if he was thinking his thoughts
19:59 or if his thoughts were thinking him.
20:01 And I was like, oh, that's such a cool way of putting it.
20:03 So I sort of stole part of that and made it into that.
20:07 And then that's actually the name of my album.
20:09 So this is the title track from album of the same name.
20:14 And effectively it tells the story of the album cover
20:17 is sort of a guy balancing on a tightrope.
20:20 And it's about the idea of just if you actually
20:25 had to live your life on a tightrope,
20:26 how difficult it would be to do sort of everyday tasks.
20:29 So the song is about someone on a tightrope
20:33 trying to get through the day and how hard it is.
20:35 So it's kind of a big mental health thing.
20:37 So yeah, that's what it's about.
20:41 - All right.
20:42 (gentle music)
20:45 (gentle music)
20:48 ♪ He woke up one morning ♪
21:02 ♪ Puzzled to find ♪
21:04 ♪ That he was now living his life ♪
21:07 ♪ On a thin line ♪
21:12 ♪ He went down for breakfast ♪
21:16 ♪ Got ready for work ♪
21:18 ♪ But the effort of balance meant ♪
21:21 ♪ He couldn't button his shirt ♪
21:25 ♪ Now everybody's laughing at him ♪
21:29 ♪ And his boss calls a meeting ♪
21:32 ♪ Eric mate ♪
21:34 ♪ What you trying to say ♪
21:38 ♪ He said, oh, my thoughts are thinking me ♪
21:43 ♪ They're crying out incessantly ♪
21:46 ♪ Oh, what a joke ♪
21:48 ♪ I don't feel in control ♪
21:51 ♪ Of the way I'm feeling ♪
21:54 ♪ So please give me a little time ♪
21:57 ♪ To get myself off this line ♪
22:01 ♪ I guarantee ♪
22:03 ♪ That this is just a dip ♪
22:07 ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
22:12 ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ♪
22:16 So Eric left early.
22:20 ♪ He wobbled off home ♪
22:25 ♪ His eyes were brimming with tears ♪
22:28 ♪ He shared alone ♪
22:33 ♪ He's given a warning ♪
22:37 ♪ For indecency ♪
22:39 ♪ Oh, and if by tomorrow ♪
22:42 ♪ His buttons weren't done so was he ♪
22:46 ♪ And life can be so surprising ♪
22:50 ♪ Cruel and uninviting ♪
22:53 ♪ It's no surprise ♪
22:55 ♪ That many leave their lines ♪
23:00 ♪ 'Cause when your thoughts are thinking you ♪
23:04 ♪ It's hard to work out what to do ♪
23:07 ♪ Oh, what a joke ♪
23:09 ♪ I don't feel in control ♪
23:12 ♪ Of the way I'm feeling ♪
23:15 ♪ So please give me a little time ♪
23:18 ♪ To get myself off this line ♪
23:22 ♪ I guarantee ♪
23:24 ♪ That this is just a dip ♪
23:28 (vocalizing)
23:30 (soft guitar music)
23:33 (vocalizing)
23:36 (vocalizing)
23:41 (soft guitar music)
23:45 (vocalizing)
23:47 (soft guitar music)
23:50 (soft guitar music)
23:53 (soft guitar music)
23:56 [Music]
23:58 [BLANK_AUDIO]