A CONVERSATION WITH
MYRA FLYNN BY ASHLEY GOLL
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MUSIC? “I WOULD LIKE TO DESCRIBE MY MUSIC AS INDIE SOUL. I AM HALF IRISH AND HALF AFRICAN AMERICAN AND I LIKE TO THINK I CAN DESCRIBE BOTH SIDES OF IT VERY WELL.” IF YOU COULD PICK ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE WHY YOU STARTED CREATING MUSIC, WHAT WOULD IT BE? “I DON’T THINK IT’S REALLY AN OPTION- ITS SOMETHING THAT’S INSIDE OF YOU THAT YOU HAVE TO KIND OF JUST DO IT. THAT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF CREATIVE BULLSHIT BUT ITS NOT.” WHO IS YOUR MUSICAL INFLUENCE? “JONNIE MITCHELL” WHY? “BECAUSE SHE IS LYRICALLY PROFOUND AND SHE’S THE PERSON IN MY LIFE WHOSE ABLE TO DESCRIBE HER FEELINGS IN THE MOST ARTICULATE WAY.” I NOTICED MANY OF YOUR SONGS ARE VERY EMOTIONALIS THERE ONE PERSON YOU ARE DESCRIBING? “NOT REALLY- I TRY TO WRITE LOVE SONGS, ANGRY LOVE SONGS AND TRY TO STICK TO THAT AS A THEME. I DO IT UN APOLOGETICALLY AND I WON’T BE CHANGING ANYTIME SOON.” WHAT IS YOUR OUTLOOK ON THE RECORD INDUSTRY TODAY? “OH MAN, HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU HAVE? THE RECORD
INDUSTRY IS OPERATING ON A MODEL THAT DOESN’T WORK ANY LONGER. SOMETIMES I THANK GOD FOR THAT BECAUSE AS AN INDEPENDENT MUSICIAN WHO IS VERY BUSINESS SAVVY IT’S A COOL THING TO NOT BE BEHOLD TO ANYONE.” WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR AUDIENCE TO GET OUT OF YOUR MUSIC? “I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO FEEL IF PEOPLE ARE FEELING WITH MUSIC THAT’S GOOD FOR ME. I AM ALSO A PRETTY LITERAL SONG WRITER SO I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO IDENTIFY WITH THE LYRICS.” WHAT AGE DID YOU START CREATING MUSIC? “I STARTED PLAYING THE PIANO AT THE AGE OF 4 AND STARTING SONG WRITING 11 YEARS AGO.” BACK HOME IN VERMONT DO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS SUPPORT YOU? “MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ABSOLUTELY SUPPORT ME. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN AN AMAZING HELP.” WHAT MADE YOU REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE A MUSICIAN? “I USE TO BE A JOURNALIST- AND THEN PEOPLE STOPPED READING THE NEWSPAPER; I GOT LAID-OFF SO I DECIDED TO BE AN ARTIST. MY MOM USE TO SCREAM AT ME TO TELL ME TO SHUT UP WHEN I USE TO SING IN THE HOUSE.”