Dumaguete’s Hidden Gem, Meagan Trees and Her Debut Single “Haven”

The melancholy sweetness of Meagan Trees’ voice cannot hide the force of nature in her quietly confident delivery and rock-steady guitar playing. Music pours out of this young girl like a cool breeze on a summer’s day, but is lyrically and emotionally delivered as a dramatic mountain landscape. Meagan’s first single “Haven.”

Nature and love of life influence this Dumaguete-based singer-songwriter, who cites Lisa Hannigan as her biggest songwriting influence. Though some have compared her sound to that of Australian electronic duo Vallis Alps, few who have heard her can really compare her to any other artists.

Meagan Trees. Photo by Miles Brandon.

As a child, Meagan always loved singing. While she took some formal guitar lessons at age 11, she soon stopped and instead played along with Youtube videos. “Having a guitar teacher felt like an obligation to learn, rather than doing it because you love what you’re doing,” Meagan explains, “but it helped me start up my interest of playing the guitar.” While growing up, she listened to 80’s music her father played, along with Jack Johnson, Norah Jones, John Mayer, The Beatles, and Irish indie singer Lisa Hannigan.

For a long time she mostly played covers, her favourites being old songs from the likes of blues artists like Nina Simone, Peggy Lee and The Beatles, but also Frente, and Sixpence None The Richer. As a Biology student living in Dumaguete, she would jam with local artists regularly including members of a blues and jazz fusion band, a reggae group, and local indie artists. However, after attempting to audition for a spot on a compilation project album run by The Belltower (an organization that supports local artists), she was motivated to work harder towards a goal of being an original songwriter.

Cover Art Painting and Design by Jofre

A big break came when Meagan spontaneously performed with Dragonfly Collector, when he passed through Dumaguete on his Philippine tour, The World Is Your Oyster eventually leading to a single recording project.

Meagan’s first single “Haven,” is available as of March 10, 2017 on digital stores worldwide.


Listen to Haven on Spotify


BUY THE DIGITAL SINGLE:
iTunes
Lilystars Shop
Bandcamp

FOLLOW MEAGAN TREES:
Official Site
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