NEW YORK (Slankard Official Website) - Megan Slankard, a 21 year-old singer/songwriter who is a self-described "fashion victim", will receive a national television makeover on The Learning Channel's
What Not To Wear. The show, which features Slankard's music as she gets the look of a rock star, will air Friday, July 16, at 9 p.m. world time.
Slankard, a Northern California native whose 21st birthday was June 6, will also be featured on Local Scene, the latest compilation from San Francisco powerhouse KFOG. The CD, due for release in July will include "Too Bad You" from Slankard's 2003 release, Freaky Little Story.
With a smooth, bluesy voice rich beyond her years, Megan Slankard weaves perceptive lyrics with the acoustic-driven alt-pop of her backing band. She's got the edge of Alanis Morrisette, the rhythm of Ani DiFranco, the soul of Patty Griffin and the cute girl-next-door voice of Lisa Loeb.
Freaky Little Story is already garnering critical acclaim on a national level. One song from the CD qualified her as a finalist in the Pantene Pro-Voice Competition out of almost 2,000 entries, and Slankard was the featured artist this past January (as well as October 2003 and September 2003) on Demodiaries.com, an online industry resource for music business executives.
Other recent accolades include being a finalist for RPM Direct Presents: Unsigned Artists Volume 3 compilation CD, A&R Online's featured artist for December 2003, Song and Film's Spotlight artist for November 2003, and Acoustic Cafe's featured artist for October 2003 on the One to Watch syndicated radio program.
Megan has performed in over sixty cities in four countries, including showcases at the Nemo Music Conference (Boston) and NXNE Music Festival (Toronto), two tours as support for David Knopfler of Dire Straits (Germany), a Pantene Pro-Voice concert (New York City), and a performance at the InGuitar international festival in Zurich (Switzerland).
Slankard's debut, Lady is a Pirate (2001), is solo acoustic, three songs of which qualified her as a semifinalist in the Independent Music Awards performing songwriter competition. Sales of both records have reached over 4,000 copies since 2001.
Megan, who has lived just outside Tracy, California all her life, began guitar lessons at the age of ten when she received a Beatles songbook as a gift. A few years later she started singing and composing her own songs, and at age fifteen landed her first paying gig at a local bar and grill. Her love of music grew from the Beatles to encompass a wide variety of styles, from the acoustic rock sounds of Counting Crows and John Mayer, to the modern jazz of Al Jarreau and bluesy rock of Blues Traveler.
Megan Slankard tour dates:
6/18 Modesto, CA @ State Theater
7/1 San Francisco, CA @ Ireland's 32
7/2 Livermore, CA @ Panama Bay
7/8 Berkeley, CA @ Beckett's of Berkeley
7/11 Winters, CA @ The Palms
