Meredith Shock
Photo credit: Tory Lava
Following “This Is Why We Can’t Be Friends”, singer/songwriter Meredith Shock is now releasing her new single “Maybe This Isn’t Home”.
Produced by Jay Tooke and James Robertson, the song describes the feeling of going back to your hometown and not feeling like it’s home anymore.
“I wanted the song to feel nostalgic, a song you would listen to in your car while driving around a place from your past,” says Shock.
As part of the LGBTQ+ community, the Nashville-based artist hopes to make people feel heard and seen with her music.
“Maybe This Isn’t Home” is now available on all digital platforms.
Photo credit: Tory Lava
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
I grew up knowing that I wanted to be a singer/songwriter from a very young age. I would sing along to every Country song my mom would play in the car– that’s mainly what we listened to, since my mom is from Texas. I’m one of six kids, a definite middle child, so I often felt a little left out. Music was my own way to express myself and something that was distinctly mine in the family, since none of my siblings sang. I was an Air Force brat, so we moved around state to state every couple of years growing up. I was fortunate to have music with me, along with my family, whenever we moved. When I was 9 years old, my mom got me my first guitar and I fell in love, even though my hands wouldn’t quite fit around the neck of it. I started writing lyrics around that age as well– my first song was about my sister not getting out of my bed, and yes, I still remember how it goes. When I was younger I wanted to be a Country singer/songwriter, that was my dream. That was even what I told people when I chose to move to Nashville after graduating college in 2017. After moving here, I realized that maybe Country wasn’t the right fit, it was just what I was used to. There’s endless music to explore and more genres that I felt were a better fit to who I was becoming. I know I’m heavily influenced by the Country music I grew up listening to, and you can hear that in my songs, but my lyrics and songs have evolved with the influences of other genres. I continue to learn that I don’t necessarily have to fit myself into one box or genre of music– I just strive to stay genuine to who I am.
How would you define Meredith Shock, the artist?
Probably a little bit more confident than Meredith Shock the person, haha. I allow myself to be a lot more vulnerable as an artist– showcasing all of my emotions in each of my songs. I mean, I’m a sensitive person in general but I try to make jokes, and bring in the lighter side of things, even as an artist.
"Maybe This Isn't Home" is your new single - what's the story/inspiration behind the song?
I wrote Maybe This Isn’t Home while I was back visiting my hometown of Burke, Virginia for a long weekend. It’s hard to have just one place to call home when you grow up moving around a lot, but Virginia really did begin to feel like home when I lived there through middle and high school. When I went back to visit, so much had changed. My sister rearranged our shared bedroom, my friends were all spread out– no longer right down the street like they used to be– and the house felt different. I suddenly felt like a guest in the house I had spent 12 years of my life in. I found myself missing Nashville and the community I developed there. I remember telling my friend that maybe Burke isn’t home anymore and that’s when the song was born.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create it?
I wrote this song basically in one sitting on my bed in Burke– it flowed out of me as soon as I started writing. Whenever I write a song, it’s just me and my guitar, strictly acoustic. After I wrote it, I kept it to myself for a bit until I felt like it was a good time to share. I worked with two amazing producers, Jay Tooke and James Robertson, who really brought the song together and created this awesome track. It’s crazy how they helped transform my simple acoustic iPhone recording into a song that captures the feelings I was having while being home. I wanted the song to feel nostalgic, a song you would listen to in your car while driving around a place from your past.
What did you feel when writing this song?
It was weird, almost like a full circle moment. I was writing a song about not feeling like this place was home while sitting on a bed that I grew up on– the same bed I had written so many of my first songs on. I think I was a bit surprised too, it’s sometimes a feeling that you didn’t know you felt until it’s all out there on paper, in lyrics and chords. I know I love that town, I love my family and friends, I just wasn’t expecting to miss Nashville as much as I did. I was also sad because I didn’t want anyone to think that I hated Burke, but I guess I just outgrew it.
What do you like the most about this song?
This song is full of all my emotions and I didn’t shy away from that but the bridge is probably what I like most, the line, “I don’t know if I belong there but I know I’ll miss you.” It makes me emotional when I sing it live because it’s true, I always think about how much I miss my family and friends when I sing that line, but I also know that moving to Nashville was the right thing to do.
What made you want to release "Maybe This Isn't home" as a single?
Releasing this song during the holiday season just made sense to me. That nostalgic feeling I tried to capture hits us the most during these months, while we are visiting family and places from our past. Also, most of my recent singles I have released have been sad relationship songs. I really want to show my fans that I’m more than just a sad lesbian singing about my exes and heartbreak– even though this is still a heartbreak– in a different way.
What is your goal for this single?
I would love for this song to reach people all over the world because I know it’s not just me who feels this way about a hometown. I also think it would fit really well in a cute Hallmark movie or something, which may be a stretch but I’m working on it, haha. Who wants to help me with that?
What does music make you feel?
Everything. My gosh. I have felt things I didn’t know I could feel by listening to some songs. I think music just heightens any emotion you may be feeling at the time. Like when I’m sad and I listen to a sad song, I just feel it tenfold. It’s not like I’m torturing myself to be more sad, I’m allowing myself to feel something fully, and it’s therapeutic in a way.
What's the hardest part about being an artist? And what is the best part?
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the hardest part is actually making a living from music. Once you’re on the grind as a musician trying to make it, your outlook on the industry changes. It’s hard not to constantly compare yourself to other artists, especially in a city as rich in talent as Nashville. The best part is everything else. I’ve met so many other amazing singer/songwriters, I’ve had people cry at how my music makes them feel– it’s just so cool to write something that is so personal to you but still have people relate to it. I also love that I can be myself as an artist and not have to try to be someone else.
Why do you make music? What keeps you going?
I make music because it helps me personally. It’s like my own journal– selfishly it’s my way of getting my own feelings out there. If someone else can relate to my own personal experience then that makes it even more worth it and keeps me going. I write to know that I’m not alone and to reassure anyone who listens that they are not alone either. I want to bring people together with my music.
What do you want to accomplish professionally and personally?
Professionally, I would love to make music my full time career. I want to keep writing songs and sharing them whether it’s through streaming, movies, TV shows, radio– I just want my songs to be out there. I would also love to work with more people, continue loving what I do, and make a living doing it. That’s my vision of a successful musician. For my personal aspirations, I want to travel and explore new places, especially with someone I love. It’s hard for me to leave my comfort zone sometimes so I think traveling would help me both personally and professionally.
What advice would you give to the LGBTQIA+ youth?
It’s okay to be confused and not 100% sure– you don’t have to label yourself if you don’t want to. There may be some people who don’t accept you but I promise there will be a lot more people who will accept all of you, like me. Also, you don’t have to be out yet and coming out doesn’t necessarily have to be a big thing if you don’t want it to be. I never officially sat anyone down and told them I was gay, I just started dating girls. Everyone is different and I know it’s easier said than done, but try to not compare your journey to other people’s stories.
What major life lesson have you learned this year?
I learned how to be okay with being alone. As an extrovert, I love people, so this pandemic has been difficult as we are unable to see that many people. I learned to enjoy my own company and keep myself busy. This was a really big accomplishment because I always felt uneasy on my own. But I’ve grown, and although I may not always like it, I’m a lot better at being alone than I was before.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
The world would be a better place if people began to realize ‘it’s not always about you.’ That might sound rude, but I think we can all use the reminder to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a change. Think about what others go through and what they might be struggling with. Ignorance is a choice, you can educate yourself and others by being more aware of the world around you, not just yourself.
What message do you want to deliver to the world?
Only you can say who you are, no one else can. Be unapologetically yourself and be kind to yourself.
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