Biography

Music is a very personal thing. Its a medium of communication that can cross barriers with ease. Its hard to talk to someone you just met about an real addiction, life struggle, or an imminent failure….but you can sing those struggles to a stranger with no introduction. Thats one thing I love about music. 

In my songwriting, I am always chasing that musical moment that makes you want to listen deeper. That ‘goosebumps’ moment that brings you back, that evokes emotions rooted deep. It can be hard to find a balance between that and something less special, but you know it when you hear it...

My name is Joey Meador, and I am a musician from Portland, Oregon. 

My obsession with guitars started only a few years ago, and have been playing my dad’s Gretsch Tennessee Rose ever since. He hasn’t fully given her to me yet, but I am still hoping he forgets I have it, and get ‘grandfathered-in”. It could happen. It wasn’t until I was 18 that I had the chance to play, sing, and lead worship at my home church, where my dad was the senior pastor. I didn’t want to be that pastors kid (PK) who was up on stage because ‘daddy let him up there’ but the actual musical abilities wasn’t there. I’ve heard horror stories of how the PK was given free reign prematurely at the permission of his father, while everyone knew it was too soon, not the right fit, or stench of entitlement was as pungent as the formaldehyde of the lady in the front row. It was something I wanted to earn, not just handed to based on the coat tails I was riding. 

I am always wanting to get better at whatever it is that I am doing. I don’t think anyone is ever "done" learning a craft like singing, songwriting, or playing guitar.

Its an amazing think to be able to work on and get better at, and growing up in the church was a great place for that. Being able to sing and play guitar without the pressure of people judging my performance or songwriting abilities was huge. I understand that not many people get the chance to play on sound systems I have been blessed to play on using equipment that I have been able to use until way later in their music carriers. 

When it comes to writing, it wasn’t until December 30th, 2016 that I wrote a song that I felt was complete. Most writers have varying routines of channeling their writing style, but when I found what worked for me, I ran with it. I have heard it said that artists never finish, they just run out of time. I took that saying to heart and applied it to my writing style. I sat down and wrote song after song. I challenged myself to finish each song in one sitting, or at least get 90% of the way done. Little tweaks could come here & there, but the bones of the song needed to be in place. Thats what this record is composed of; all songs that have been written by me in the same sitting, hashing out the details and being a perfectionist. 

What was amazing was to hear the response to these songs of my close friends. They were quick to encourage me, but that encouragement was balanced perfectly with constructive criticism. I knew that playing, singing, and writing was what I needed to do, and it was a skill that could be perfected. I am still trying to find what works. I am still hunting for that guitar riff, that melody, that trite phrase that cuts to the quick…

I am excited to be able to play these songs live, in front of people, and with my friends.