In 2012, UK-born singer/songwriter Megane Quashie went solo. The singer was previously known for her success with the British/French electro pop band, Black Cherry. But after a whirlwind journey, she started to develop her own style and in turn found her voice. With the help of Swedish DJ/Producer Marcus Price, MegAtronic was born. Through this new exciting style of music, Megane Quashie and Marcus Price provide a colorful palette of lyrics, melody and stage dramatics. While DJ Marcus Prices’ hard hitting beats paint the dance floor, Megane’s infectious smile and energy has infused the sonic boom of 80’s electro-pop, hip-hop and modern beats into her melodic flow through each enigmatic track.  My wonderful Q&A with MegAtronic here…

Alexa Dedlow: What is MegAtronic to you? How would you describe your music-art-entertainment for the public audiences if they have never seen you before?

Megane Quashie: MegAtronic was my chance to start something new and to take my art, vision in a new direction. For a very long time music has been my form of expression, but it seemed like somewhere my message got confused or watered down. MegAtronic is me, it is my voice and thoughts at their loudest.

AD: If MegAtronic were to be compared to any artist or sound what do you think it would be?

MQ: Fuck comparisons, everyone is unique… so why can’t music be? Comparisons are for music critics and A&R people. I didn’t start making music for comparisons.

AD: If you could describe your sound in one word what would it be?

MQ: Urban, just kidding … “UPFRONT”

AD: Do you write your own music? Where do you find your inspiration for writing? 

MQ: Yes, I write my own songs alongside the lovely talented producer Marcus Price. All the songs are based on stories and tales of my up bringing and experiences growing up in London. Without sounding cheesy, my life has been my main inspiration…

AD: How do you want your writing and songs to affect people?

MQ: I want my music to affect people in the way of uncontrollable dancing, smiling, shouting out with the chorus, jumping up and down, stage diving, just basically going mad with happiness. “Good Times for everyone.”

AD: What was the first song you loved that made you want to write songs?

MQ: Neneh Cherry – Buffalo Stand “Don’t You Get Fresh With Me”… I remember my big sister playing this video to me for the first time and me thinking “Wow," what a powerful woman … the colorful video and the confidence she put across within the performance makes the song so much more believable. The lyrics tell a story on hard hitting dance beats, it was so new and fresh for the time. Even now, I can hear it and I still want to grow up and be Neneh Cherry.

AD: What was the first album you bought?

MQ: Nutbush City Limits, Ike & Tina Turner

AD: What's your perfect day?

MQ: Sex in the morning, breakfast in bed. Is there ever a perfect day? Everyday is kinda perfect eventually.

AD: What artist do you love that no one would imagine you like?

MQ: Arctic Monkeys… Especially the last album ["AM"], love the diversity of this band's music.

AD: Guilty pleasures? Vices?

MQ: Pizza, Booze, and Eastenders and Miley Cyrus.

AD: By what terms do you measure success?

MQ: By the amount of freebies I can get, no just playing… I generally measure everything by the size of my smile and level of happiness from people around me, so as long as everyone is having fun that’s success for me.

AD: What are the values you will consider when making hard career decisions?

MQ: This will always matter at what level of my career I am at… but I will have to think about my fans, the people who I work with to make the Megatronics’ dream real. But most of all, how it makes me feel … As I control my life.

AD: Tell me about being a female in the music world?

MQ: It’s really hard being a female in the music world, the expectations for women seem to be laid heavily with our image and the representation of the body. Women's bodies are beautiful and the human form can also be a way to represent your art. But the music and media sometimes represent female artists in the wrong way, firstly encouraging us to take our clothes off and then once it happens the media accuses these women of being bad role models.

AD: What can people expect to see at your live performance?

MQ: A very high energy show with lots of dancing, especially from me… some sing along moments with the audience and even a few surprises being thrown out to the crowd. All this surrounded by a utopia of banging dance beats.

AD: How long have you been performing or making music?

MQ: I have been performing and making music for nearly 18 years…. I think I wrote my first song when I was around 7 years old. I am sure if I go round to my mummy house, I could probably find the song in my attic.

AD: What are your immediate music career goals? Next 1-3 years? MQ: In the next 1-3years, I just want to play shows all over the world bringing the party to everyone. I would like to travel around the world on a sea of smiling dancing crowds. As long as I continue to get excited about making something new every time I enter the studio. Signing to a label with the understanding of what an artist/musician can be without restrictions.

AD: What have been your biggest challenges thus far in the music industry?

MQ: The biggest challenges that I have faced within the industry is the way you can be forgotten very easily, it’s very fickle in general. I don’t think people understand the struggle facing anyone who's brave enough to stand in front of people and express themselves in such a way. A way that leaves you open to be judged in an industry that doesn’t offer much support. I feel like the industry doesn’t explain to young artists and musicians the dangers of this level of exposure… hence so many casualties within the music world.

AD: If you had the opportunity to change something about the music industry what would it be?

MQ: I think I would like to change the level of accountability the record labels take for looking after their artists/musicians. Some of the contracts artists are signing nowadays are like selling your soul to the devil. Some artists work 365 days, take lots drugs, make bad decisions, get into trouble with the law, and that’s not what music is about. Unfortunately I have learned that without the right guidance, artists/musicians are built to be destroyed. I absolutely think this needs to change.