Meredith O’Connor is a singer songwriter and anti bullying activist. She has four songs that are distributed worldwide and she speaks publicly about her experiences with bullying to high schools, letting kids know there are many ways to cope with it. Find her music on iTunes, YouTube and Amazon, https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/meredith-oconnor-ep/id596073152
We asked, Nicolette Smit, a school girl from North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany to conduct a virtual interview with Meredith, finding out about her music, bullying and her aspirations for the future
Nicolette/NBTMusicRadio: Hi Meredith,
I’m a sixteen year old teenage girl growing up in Germany, and I must say that I find it very impressive how you’ve managed to make people notice the consequences of bullying through your music.
1. How did you first get into music at such a young age?
Meredith: Before songwriting I was in a theater company that did original shows and classics, I started at the age of 8 so I was a part of that world for a while and loved it! After singing songs from shows, I figured I should try to write some of my own. Luckily, I made great contacts modeling and doing print work that gave me the opportunity to give it a try.
2. What made you want to write about bullying?
Meredith: After Celebrity came out, I got some attention both on and off the internet. I realized that with a viral song came a voice- and I also remembered how badly I wanted to change the world for the better. Ever since I realized I had a voice, I promised to use my experiences being bullied to help others
3. If you had the chance to change the bullying policies at your high school, what would you change, and why?
Meredith: I would make sure schools taught acceptance, and valued it a lot more then it is now. I would help the staff become more aware of it, and change teachers’ reactions to students who are different, because passing judgments isn’t fair, and (that Attitude) will be passed on if the teachers themselves do it.
4. What do you think about YouTube shutting down your song Celebrity
Meredith: It was hard for me because right as the media was looking into it, publication disputes were made and got in the way of the songs exposure. However, I’m still looking forward to the next anti bullying video, and m excited to see how people take to that.
5. What type of message do you want your music to bring across? Your new song is a typical break up tune channeling the likes of Taylor Swift. Does this mean it is more about writing what is on your mind than having an actual agenda of what you want to convey to your audience when you write the lyrics?
Meredith: Absolutely, ‘’Celebrity’’ does mean more than just revenge and success to me, it represents the heart breaks and pain we have to get over (like some songs channeling Taylor Swifts music) But I want the people who listen to my music to know that heartbreak, being bullied, being ostracized and put down cannot only break a person but also make you stronger.
6. How do you plan to carry on with your music in the future?
Meredith: I hope to tie music in with acting, and teach my message globally
You can hear tracks from Ms O Connor all over the NBTMusicRadio but especially during the following times:
During our ”Essence Of The Song” hours which go out at 3 PM Berlin Time (that’s 2 PM UK and 9 AM New York) and then again for our USA/Canadian Listeners at 10 PM your time (New York Time)
and ALSO in a more alternative/indie hour at 7 PM New York Time
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