Artist Interview: Meiko

By JAMIE GRISWOLD
MyNorthwest.com

Listen to interview | Meiko

Cafe style songstress Meiko, the latest in a number of artists to emerge from the Los Angeles based Hotel Cafe, has been on the move since her self-released album gained popular attention on itunes. “It’s almost like being away from reality, playing shows every night, which is an awesome thing, and I feel real lucky to do, but I’m definitely not home ever,” says Meiko.

Meiko’s next stop lands her in Seattle for two free performances February 4th and 5th, at Snoqualmie Casino, and one date at Neumos with Tyrone Wells, February 6th.

Meiko will share the bill on her upcoming tour with fellow Hotel Cafe artist Joshua Radin. The Hotel Cafe served as a launching ground for many now well-known performers, including Radin, Katy Perry, and Ingrid Michaelson.

Meiko claims the Hotel Cafe as her launching ground, but her beginnings with the establishment were more intimate than other acts that rose from the Cafe stage. “I’m probably the only person that I know of right now that started working there. I was cleaning up broken beer bottles while a lot of these people were playing shows,” says Meiko of her start as a server at the venue.

Meiko’s wait service and familiarity with the house gained her access to the highly respected stage at the Hotel Cafe. “Working there you become a part of this little Hotel Cafe family…Anytime something got canceled, or they were in a rut, or there was a cool opening spot for someone big, they would always come to me, because, you know, they would see me every day, and I guess I was kind of fresh on their brain, so that was a big advantage to working there.”

Meiko’s access to the owners and bookers at the Hotel Cafe weren’t her only means of self-promotion. Meiko worked to consistently update her artist profile on MySpace. “I was unsigned and all I really had was my MySpace page, so it was good for me to keep it up and write people back, and try to get as many friends as I could, and I was checking my plays every day, and seeing what happened with that.”

When MySpace records came knocking, after Meiko’s initial release began picking up interest, the artist signed with the online media company, along with DGC. MySpace’s influence in the online medium weighed heavily in her decision. “When I was deciding between labels and deciding what I wanted to do, and where I really wanted to go professionally, I went with them because marketing alone was huge, and they had that outreach to so many people.”

Her experience with the label thus far has included some of the advantages she found among her Hotel Cafe family. “It’s been really cool for me…It’s a really good company, and it’s not a super-big major label, so they have time for me, and I can call the big guy over there and ask questions if I have them.”

New fans popping up have increased the activity on Meiko’s page, “I’m getting a few more messages than I used to, or a few more comments than I used to, but I do try to read everything and I try to write people back and I love writing blogs and I try to keep that up…I try to make time for stuff like that.”

Meiko also plans to make time for songwriting between her scheduled 2009 tour dates. “I write a lot on the road..It gets a little lonely sometimes…It’s a lot easier, and more time efficient to just sit down and try to write.” Meiko plans to begin work on a new release toward the end of 2009.

Meiko will be performing two free shows at Snoqualmie Casino February 4th and 5th, and at Neumos
February 6th.