We all need something to blow away the January blues this month and at Punk Rock Philosophy, we think we have just the thing. We caught up with the ray of Cali sunshine that is punk’s fiery super-brat MEGG to talk about the cultural clash between LA and Nashville, finding your voice by embracing your instincts and how it felt to grace the stage of punk’s most prestigious festival…
The PRP chat with MEGG took place on an evening at the onset of a typical UK winter- it was dark despite only being late afternoon, it was cold and it was drizzly. Enter MEGG- dialling into the Zoom call from a bright and sunny Nashville with an equally bright and breezy, chatty demeanour.
MEGG’s warmth and energy comes from a place of confidence and excitement and based on the couple of years the LA artist has had, it is not hard to understand where that excitement comes from. 2025 was a good year for MEGG. She released her fantastic EP ‘Low Life Club’ in October, six tracks of unapologetic and spiky punk that combine her beloved West Coast pop punk scene with a hint of country and a whole lot of attitude. MEGG has called it some of the best music she has put out and she is understandably immensely proud of the release- and the doors it is opening.
One of those doors leads to that most sacred of punk festivals- the Vans Warped Tour. The American punk tour- founded in 1995 by Kevin Lyman- has seen a who’s who of modern punk on the lineup when it was in operation until 2019. Vans Warped Tour alumni includes Alkaline Trio, Blink 182, Bad Religion, New Found Glory, NOFX….in fact it would probably be quicker to name the punk acts that HAVEN’T played the tour at some point in its existence. And now, MEGG can put herself on that list of performers, having graced the stage during the 30th anniversary shows in 2025 and the significance of this is not lost on her:
“It was a dream come true in every way. I grew up going to Warped Tour with the guys in my band and dreamed of playing that stage and when they stopped doing it, I crossed it off the list of things I could dream about.
To be seen that way by Wyman for the anniversary shows was a dream in itself. And then to get to play this thing that really shaped my band… me and those boys have played together for 15 years so playing together on that stage was a huge moment for us as friends and for me as an artist.
It was so fucking FUN and to see 100s of people that I do not know and who may not know me watching my set is such a mind blow to me. It is surreal to be considered a Warped Tour artist! That is a wild thing to say! Getting that contract was stamp of approval I didn’t know I needed. It was like fuck yeah I am doing this!”
It’s been a fun road for MEGG for sure, and one that is paying dividends now. But that doesn’t mean there are not huge challenges in basically doing everything yourself. MEGG is playing a multitude of roles to propel her music forward and get it in front of the right people and her authenticity is a result of being a master of her own destiny. But no one can pretend it’s an easy thing to have to spin so many plates:
“I teach piano and voice, I do vocal sessions, I play shows, I work in a restaurant…..I do A LOT.
There is a beauty in being able to do things your own way but there are pros and cons for DIY. I don’t have to answer to anyone, there is no boss so I can do whatever I want. You always have to eat a plate of shit no matter what you do, but at least it is my own shit!
I am trying to enjoy the fact there are not any rules rights now. I am trying to enjoy every chapter of this journey and life is weird! I am enjoying where I am now. Life is too short to focus on the shitty things in life”.
MEGG’s music reflects her tenacity and confidence, confidence that has been hard earned through years in the industry and a lesson learned about leaning into her creative process and sticking to what works for her. The result is a more self-assured and relaxed performer and a brazenly striding EP. Across tracks like ‘Get Over It’ and ‘IDC’ you hear a defiance- not in an aggressive or confrontational way, but a way that celebrates throwing off the weight of other people’s rules, opinions and expectations. It is a middle finger put up in empowerment rather than anger, anthems for the ‘lowlifes’ and misfits whom punk has always championed. MEGG’s confidence is engaging and inspiring…and ultimately relatable.
“I think my bratty confidence comes from just doing this for so long and finally feeling so grounded in the sound that I have created and leaning into just being myself. The theatrical aspect held me back for a while because I was used to playing a character and performing as this other thing and saying other people’s lines. Once I allowed myself to be me and lean into what that meant instead of creating a character, I think that confidence came from feeling authentic in myself and what is real or me. Writing songs that are unapologetically me.
For so long I was making music for other people making the kind of music I thought people wanted from me- and that it is not real. So just leaning into making music for myself has brought out this confidence and happiness and validation that this is what I was supposed to be doing. The writing is better because it is honest and that makes me more confident happy and inspired”.
‘Low Life Club’ showcases the different musical cultures that MEGG is imbibed within as she splits her time between the sun soaked, laid back California and the rugged, country-loving Tennessee. She is currently splitting her time 60/40 with Nashville, TN getting most of her time but she makes the journey back and forth between her beloved LA and her new adopted city 2000 miles away about once a month. MEGG grew up in Redondo Beach, an idyllic beachside childhood holding a special place in her heart, but there are inspirations to be had in other places and MEGG is open to allowing wider influences to round her out as an artist:
“My heart is in Cali forever and ever. But I guess I get different nuggets from the different cities. California is in my blood, it is my heart and soul. What I get from Nashville is something I didn’t expect- Nashville is about the song more so than any place I have ever been and it pushes me to be a better songwriter lyrically. Nashville pushes me to be a better songwriter whereas California reminds me who I am and really brings that authenticity.
I didn’t move to Nashville to do country. I am still wearing vans and high socks and my vibe is very much the South Bay- so I kind of stick out here! But that has made me proud of who I am and with that pride comes a different sort of writing. I feel like ‘whether you like me or not this is exactly who I am’ and that was a freeing feeling to just own all of my shit and be proud of it. The good and the bad motivated and inspired the rest of the EP”.
MEGG’s sound embodies the musical environment of her youth. Growing up in Redondo Beach was the American dream and a very West Coast experience- her childhood was sun-kissed and chilled, defined by hanging out with friends and feelings of fun and safety. It is also a great place to come of age as a punk rock fan, the area has a strong punk rock pedigree, particularly in the 90s when West Coast punk bands become THE sound of American alternative music:
“Punk rock really originated in East Coast but there was a punk scene happening in Hermosa Beach in the South Bay. I grew up with four brothers so I was obsessed with Britney Spears and the Spice Girls and then my brother introduced me to Static X, Rancid, Descendents, Pennywise and all that. Obviously Green Day and Blink 182 were huge. There was also a lot of reggae and ska alongside punk rock in my community and I was listening to a lot of pop music and I was on stage doing theatre. I really wanted to fuse these sounds and influences together but that took a while. It has really been over the last couple of years that I have created this sound that really incorporates my upbringing- it’s heavily influenced by the community based, DIY, scrappy IDGAF attitude that I think is very authentic to the West Coast for sure”.
The future for MEGG looks bright for sure, building on the success that she’s worked so hard to achieve. She’s been deemed pop punk’s new ‘IT Girl’ penning songs that are equal parts fun party anthems and cathartic grit. And whatever the tone of the track- angsty heart in single ‘Clarity’, campfire singalong of the EP’s title track ‘Low Life Club’ or the taunting snark of ‘I Bet You Like That’- MEGG’s bold swagger is irrepressible. And it sounds like there’s going to be a lot more where that came from in 2026:
“I’m so proud do this EP and happy people can see every piece of me as a person and artist. I am just taking each day and making choices, I am just showing up and doing my best!
For 2026 I am looking for management to help me kick down some more doors, I would love to tour and we are trying to book as many shows as possible in the States. I’m also hoping 2026 is the year of my full- length debut! I am at the point where I know where the sound is and what I want to do, so that is the goal” .
You can stream/buy ‘Low Life Club‘ HERE.
You can follow MEGG on IG HERE.
Photo credits: Feature Pic by Sarah Rosin
Other pics by Studio TM
