Metal & Mike: Poetic Justice In Writing And Hardcore With SUPER UNISON
Hardcore punk has always been an art form of raw poeticism. Whether voicing political outrage or confronting personal struggles, the genre has always been a powerful medium to find inner strength. For many artists the music is a pathway to help others; by taking their challenges and turning them into songs, a lyricist can take their words and inspire thousands. Meghan O’Neil happens to be one of those artists.
“Sometimes writing lyrics will give me clarity about a situation or just generally help me process life,” O’Neil shares regarding the emotional payoff of her work. “I think it’s a powerful outlet and I feel lucky to get to utilize it. I hope everyone can find an outlet that helps them cope, whether it’s music or another art form or maybe exercise or talking to friends. I think there’s power in that I get to share my coping outlet with others.”
As the vocalist, bassist, and lyricist of Super Unison, O’Neil uses her art to encourage confidence in others while also empowering herself. The band’s latest record, Stella (released last month via Deathwish Inc.), offers a variety of lyrics that dive into O’Neil personal life, guiding listeners through stories of perseverance. Speaking to her writing process, she shares, “I try and write things down as they come up, and then when Kevin [Super Unison guitarist] sends me the music, I’ll look back through my notes and try to match lyrics to the vibe of a song. Writing lyrics is often how I process my feelings and deal with the anger and frustration in my life. Usually, the more unhappy I am, the more productive I am, haha.”
Speaking to themes throughout Stella, O’Neil shares how these stories came to be. “The lyrics on Stella deal with loss, death, feeling let down, and politics. I dive into these topics because that’s what I was going through during the two year writing period. I share [these lyrics] because it helps me and hopefully it can help other people who also have to face these universal themes.”
O’Neil’s lyrics also confront the challenges of our modern political landscape; as an artist, O’Neil stands firm that those with a platform should use their talents to help raise others. “I think the current political landscape is so scary and isolating so I think artists can help give hope and a voice to the voiceless. Communities who were already so marginalized are being stripped of rights and protections, and we need to look out for, speak up for, and protect each other.”
Given the numerous struggles women have had to face when pursuing their art, O’Neil encourages young women to go for what they want. “Don’t wait for anyone to give you permission,” she says. “Just start trying. 12 years ago when I started, I had no idea what I was doing, and I just learned as I went. Diversity in punk has already increased, and we need to continue to make space for voices who aren’t always heard.”
Art is a healing medium in life; it’s a means to connect with people, a means to discover our internal drives and goals, and it’s a means to make the world a better place. For O’Neil, Super Unison is a vehicle in which she can move forward in life, growing as an artist and individual, all while sharing wisdom along the way. Compared to her previous work, Stella is a unique achievement for its honesty; the stories she has decided to share with listeners contain not only a variety of emotion but also exude courage and passion.
“I feel incredibly proud of what we created. Kevin wrote beautiful songs, and the recording process was so collaborative and satisfying. I let myself be very vulnerable with what I wrote and how I sang. I think if you create something genuine that’s all that matters.”
You can check out the song “The Birthday Gift” below, and you can order a copy of Stella via Bandcamp or the Deathwish Inc. store. For past Metal & Mike articles click here, and if you want to keep track of my other work, you can find me on Twitter.
Categorized:Editorials Metal & Mike
