Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Gunderman.
Hi Megan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember– learning piano as a child, playing saxophone in school band, taking guitar lessons, realizing I could sing and connect with all of the songs I loved through covers. I have journals full of poems and songs dating back to elementary school. I was a weird kid without a ton of friends, and I expressed myself this way (a common story– I wish I’d known how many other kids were probably doing the same thing; maybe I wouldn’t have been so lonely). I played in a rock band in high school, learning to love the stage despite it being a school auditorium or church basement. In college, I played piano in an incredible band and got my first taste of “real” shows in bars and at small festivals. I fell in love with it. When I graduated, I planned to move to Thailand and teach for awhile before coming back to the US and becoming an English teacher, but I instead posted on Facebook looking for bandmates. I wanted to perform MY songs that I’d been writing for years, I wanted to be the front person. Our first rehearsal was in my basement, our first show at the Driftwood, and I knew immediately that this is what I wanted to do. I’ve never regretted that decision; it’s brought me to incredible places and to incredible people. I never imagined the community I would find could be so vibrant, the lessons I’d learn about being a leader would influence every aspect of my life, that I’d never feel lonely again, and that I could help other people through my music. Writing songs is how I’ve helped myself heal from severe depression, toxic relationships, substance abuse, loss, and so much more. It’s shown me the good, the bad, and the ugly of who I am. And it’s shown me how to have fun, how to let go and just exist in the moment. As I write this, my band “afters” is gearing up to release our first full length album. It’s been years in the making, and I don’t care if it reaches one person or a million people. I just hope that it influences someone to hold on to hope that there is beauty and joy still to be found in our world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It certainly has not. Being an artist is the most difficult job I’ve ever had. A very personal struggle I’ve dealt with from the beginning is lack of stability. I’m a type 1 diabetic, so having good health insurance is life or death for me. Being an artist (and a bartender on the side) means that I don’t have a job that covers that, so I pay for everything myself. Being disabled and keeping myself alive is already difficult enough, and having to spend thousands of dollars every couple of months definitely doesn’t add ease to my lifestyle. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I wake up and choose this life every day. There are times when I fantasize about having the benefits that come with a nine to five desk job. But there are a lot more times when I fantasize about playing on bigger stages for bigger audiences, and sharing my music with the world.
Another struggle that I consistently deal with is feeling like I have to make myself available at all times, and to really put my heart and soul online for others to observe. There’s no clocking in and out of being an artist. I didn’t have/ use social media until I realized that it is absolutely crucial as a musician to have an engaging online presence. It’s objectively a very silly thing to feel devastated when a post doesn’t get the “likes” that I hope for, but it’s a reality that we all deal with in the age of social media. On top of that, being a woman in the industry already has a plethora of downsides, and to feel that my appearance plays a large role in my success is disheartening. The posts that get the most likes are the ones that I’m the subject of, and responding to DMs is a dangerous game of finding the line between being appreciative of my audience’s comments while not inviting flirtations. The same goes for face to face interactions at shows. The uncertainty of not knowing if someone is actually interested in my music or simply just interested in me is frustrating.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m the singer/ songwriter of an indie pop band called “afters”! We are known for making music that will have you crying during one song, and dancing during the next. I believe what sets me apart as a songwriter is my ability to write music that is deeply personal, but speaks to the greater collective consciousness in a way that makes it relatable for all listeners. I’m most proud of our album “Everything Was Beautiful”, which is in the final stages of production and set to be released this fall! It came into existence after a long, depressive drought that had me believing I’d lost my ability to write, and lost myself. The second single off of the album, “PAINKILLERS” (coming out in August 2024), is what brought me out of my writer’s block and reminded me that I hadn’t lost what is innate in me. I was just in a bad place. I’m so proud of that song and the way it reminds me that I can always come back, that the music (and life) is always patiently waiting for me to find myself again.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is to let go. There are so many ways that this has been essential to my growth over the years. Recently I had to let go of one of my bandmates, who’d been with me since the beginning, and who was my best friend. The way that they treated me had become cruel, and made me into a tiny shell of myself. I didn’t trust myself anymore, I felt that I had no control of the project I’d worked so hard on, my self worth was disintegrating, and they made me feel like I couldn’t be an artist without them constantly criticizing my work. I was so afraid to let them go, even though I knew how negatively they were affecting me. But standing up for myself and making that jump was the greatest decision I could’ve made. There’s been many times over the years where I’ve had to let go of people I’d clung so tightly to both personally and professionally, and I’ve never regretted trusting my gut with those decisions. Alongside those very concrete examples, I’ve learned to let go of my fears, and just trust that the universe will take me to where I need to be. Being afraid of judgment, or criticism, or failure has only held me back. Letting go of those emotions and existing for the moment has brought me to a place serenity that allows me to be proud of myself for my accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem in the eyes of others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aftersmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afters.mpls/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560790047246
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oh-shpMjLtI
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A4nYc6bclnCzIytFOOXKi?si=syqH8RHTQly_Q-X0GdanMw
