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Trainor's music is predominantly [[bubblegum pop]], [[blue-eyed soul]] and [[doo-wop]]. Her work has been recognized with several awards and nominations, including nominations for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] for "All About That Bass" at the [[57th Annual Grammy Awards]].
Trainor's music is predominantly [[bubblegum pop]], [[blue-eyed soul]] and [[doo-wop]]. Her work has been recognized with several awards and nominations, including nominations for [[Grammy Award for Record of the Year|Record of the Year]] and [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year]] for "All About That Bass" at the [[57th Annual Grammy Awards]].
⚫
==Early life==
Meghan Elizabeth Trainor was born on December 22, 1993, to parents Kelli and Gary Trainor, jewlry store owners from [[Nantucket]], [[Massachusetts]].<ref name="Forbes">{{cite news|author=Robehmed, Natalie|url=http://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2015/01/05/30-under-30-eight-questions-with-meghan-trainor/|title=30 Under 30: Eight Questions With Meghan Trainor|work=[[Forbes]]|date=May 30, 2015|accessdate=June 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Digital Spy">{{cite web|author=Exley, Peter|url=http://m.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/feature/a601935/10-things-about-meghan-trainor.html#~pevFXR5eKmSYL2|title=10 things about... Meghan Trainor|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|date=October 20, 2014|accessdate=June 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="4Music">{{cite web|url=http://www.4music.com/artists/meghan-trainor|title=Meghan Trainor|publisher=[[4Music]]|accessdate=June 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Boston Globe">{{cite news|author=Sullivan, James|url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2014/09/16/all-about-nantucket-meghan-trainor/hBHcLNeJ5u1cj97XzXXcoO/story.html|title=All about Nantucket's Meghan Trainor|work=[[Boston Globe]]|date=September 16, 2014|accessdate=June 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="N Magazine">{{cite news|author=Cocuzzo, Robert|url=http://www.n-magazine.com/the-voice/|title=The Voice|work=N Magazine|date=June 27, 2013|accessdate=June 2, 2015}}</ref> Trainor began singing at age six, initially singing with her father at church<ref name="Cape Cod Times">{{cite news|author=Sullivan, Jim|url=http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20140830/ENTERTAIN/140829518|title=Meghan Trainor hits big time with 'All About That Bass'|work=[[Cape Cod Times]]|date=August 30, 2014|accessdate=June 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Boston Herald">{{cite news|author=Brotherton, Bill|url=http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/music/guestlisted/2015/03/last_best_show_meghan_trainor_at_the_paradise|title=Last Best Show: Meghan Trainor at the Paradise|work=[[Boston Herald]]|date=March 18, 2015|accessdate=June 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="WCVB">{{cite web|author=Cross, Pam|url=http://m.wcvb.com/entertainment/nantucket-native-meghan-trainor-comes-back-to-massachusetts/31858332|title=Nantucket native Meghan Trainor comes back to Massachusetts|publisher=[[WCVB]]|date=March 17, 2015|accessdate=June 2, 2015}}</ref>; she began making music at age seven, reworking the song [[Heart and Soul (1938 song)|Heart and Soul]]" (1938) and performing it at the wedding of her aunt and uncle.<ref name="Entertainment Weekly"/><ref name="AllMusic">{{cite web|author=Deming, Mark|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/meghan-trainor-mn0002811293|title=Meghan Trainor|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|date=|accessdate=June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Reuters">{{cite web|url=http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSnBw105201a+100+BSW20150310?irpc=932|title=Music Biz to Honor Meghan Trainor with Breakthrough Artist of the Year Award at 2015 Confab|publisher=[[Reuters]]|date=March 10, 2015|accessdate=June 9, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite news|author=Edwards, Gavin|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-meghan-trainor-became-2014s-most-unlikely-pop-star-20141027|title=Meghan Trainor on How She Became 2014's Most Unlikely Pop Star|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=October 27, 2014|accessdate=June 2, 2015}}</ref> Trainor attributes her early start to being born into a musical family. <ref name="N Magazine"/><ref name="National Post">{{cite news|author=Tucker, Rebecca|url=http://www.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=news.nationalpost.com//arts/music/national-post-sessions-meghan-trainor-covers-sam-smiths-stay-with-me-and-performs-her-own-track-title|title=National Post Sessions: Meghan Trainor covers Sam Smith’s Stay With Me, and performs her own track, Title|work=[[National Post]]|date=October 14, 2014|accessdate=June 5, 2015}}</ref> Trainor's father taught music for eight years and plays [[Organ (music)|organ]] in a [[Methodist church]].<ref name="Boston Globe"/><ref name="N Magazine"/> Her great-uncle, Bob LaPalm, was a member of the rock band [[NRBQ]],<ref name="Boston Globe"/> and Trainor's aunt and uncle are [[soca music]] performers and songwriters,<ref name="Digital Spy"/><ref name="N Magazine"/><ref name="Entertainment Weekly"/><ref name="Entertainment Weekly"/><ref name="National Jeweler"/>


At age 11, Trainor informed her father she wanted to become a recording artist, and began writing songs, recording them using equipment her father purchased for her. "She did a lot by ear," her mother recalls.<ref name="N Magazine"/><ref name="Nantucket Today">{{cite news|author=Stanton, Marianne R.|url=http://www.nantuckettodayonline.com/archives/five-emerging-artists/|title=Five Emerging Artists|work=Nantucket Today|date=September 2012|accessdate=June 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Cape Cod Times"/> Her father encouraged Trainor to explore various musical genres.<ref name="Cape Cod Times"/> At age 12, Trainor began performing as part of ''Island Fusion'', an "all-purpose party band" which performed covers, soca music, as well as Trainor's compositions.<ref name="Digital Spy"/><ref name="N Magazine"/><ref name="Boston Globe"/> Trainor played piano, [[guitar]] and [[bongo drum]], and sang with this band for four years.<ref name="Entertainment Weekly">{{cite news|author=Markovitz, Adam|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2014/10/10/meghan-trainor-all-about-that-bass-beyonce-swift-bieber|title=Meghan Trainor talks 'All About That Bass,' Beyonce, and Bieber|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=October 10, 2014|accessdate=June 7, 2015}}</ref><ref name="AllMusic"/> By age 13, Trainor had penned her first original song "Give Me a Chance".<ref name="Rolling Stone"/><ref name="Daily News">{{cite news|author=Farber, Jim|url=http://m.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/meghan-trainor-bottom-top-article-1.1999201|title=Meghan Trainor, from the bottom to the top|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=[[New York]]|date=November 4, 2014|accessdate=June 3, 2015}}</ref><ref name="CBS 2">{{cite web|author=Carlin, Shannon|url=http://radio.com/2014/07/31/meghan-trainor-interview-all-about-that-bass-new-music-to-know/|title=New Music To Know: Meghan Trainor Doesn't Care if You're Ready For This Jelly|publisher=[[CBS|Radio.com]]|date=July 31, 2014|accessdate=June 5, 2015}}</ref> When Trainor was in the eighth grade, her family left Nantucket, temporarily relocating to [[Orleans, Massachusetts]], in order for the children to attend [[Nauset Regional High School]].<ref name="Cape Cod Times"/> At Nauset Regional High, Trainor studied guitar and was a substitute [[Cheerleading|cheerleader]].<ref name="Boston Globe"/><ref name="AllMusic"/> During this time, Trainor also sang and played [[trumpet]] in a [[jazz band]].<ref name="Digital Spy"/><ref name="Cape Cod Times"/><ref name="CBS">{{cite web|url=http://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/02/08/nauset-graduate-pop-sensation-meghan-trainor-destined-to-leave-a-legacy/|title=Nauset Regional High Graduate Meghan Trainor Destined To 'Leave A Legacy'|publisher=[[CBS]]|location=[[Boston]]|date=February 8, 2015|accessdate=June 3, 2015}}</ref>
==Life and career==
⚫
===1993–2008: Early life===
Trainor was born on December 22, 1993 to parents Gary and Kelli Trainor. She was raised in [[Nantucket, Massachusetts]].<ref name="All Music bio">{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/meghan-trainor-mn0002811293/biography | title=Meghan Trainor Artist Biography by Mark Deming | publisher=[[AllMusic]] | accessdate=April 22, 2015}}</ref><ref name="billboard bio">{{cite web | url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6155878/meghan-trainor/biography | title=Meghan Trainor Biography | publisher=Billboard Magazine | accessdate=April 22, 2015 | author=Mark Deming}}</ref><ref name="DS">{{cite web|author=Exley, Peter|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/feature/a601935/10-things-about-meghan-trainor.html#~oZxqAy8kUdvt6Z|title=10 Things About... Meghan Trainor|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]. [[Hearst Magazines UK]]|date=October 20, 2014|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref> Her father taught music for eight years and plays [[Organ (music)|organ]] in a [[Methodist church]].<ref name="Jim Sullivan">{{cite news|author=Sullivan, Jim|url=http://www.capecodtimes.com/article/20140830/ENTERTAIN/140829518?template=printart|title=Meghan Trainor hits big time with 'All About That Bass'|work=[[Cape Cod Times]]|publisher=[[Local Media Group]]|date=August 30, 2014|accessdate=December 25, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Boston Globe"/> She has two brothers.<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/> When she was eleven, Trainor told her father that she wanted to become a recording artist.<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/><ref name="Glamour">{{cite news|author=Eidell, Lynsey|url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/blogs/obsessed/2014/09/meghan-trainor-all-about-that-bass-video|title=Meghan Trainor|work=[[Glamour (magazine)|Glamour]]|publisher=[[Condé Nast Publications]]|date=September 5, 2014|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref> Her first live performance was in 2004 at the wedding of her aunt and uncle,<ref name="Nantucket">{{cite news|author=Laskey, Jen|url=http://www.n-magazine.com/home-garden/the-voice/|title=The Voice|work=N Magazine|publisher=|date=|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref> where she played the song "Heart and Soul" on the piano.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> Trainor began performing in "an all-purpose party band" with members of her family when she was twelve.<ref name="Boston Globe">{{cite news|author=Sullivan, James|url=http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/style/2014/09/16/all-about-nantucket-meghan-trainor/hBHcLNeJ5u1cj97XzXXcoO/story.html|title=All About Nantucket's Meghan Trainor|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=September 16, 2014|accessdate=December 25, 2014}}</ref> They performed [[soca music|soca]]-inspired music at Nantucket bars.<ref name="Boston Globe"/>


As a teenager, Trainor's parents frequently encouraged her to attend songwriting conventions,<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> and her parents brought her to venues where production companies were searching for new artists and songwriters.<ref name="Nantucket Today"/> At age 15, Trainor played music with NRBQ band members Johnny and [[Joey Spampinato]].<ref name="Boston Globe"/><ref name="Cape Cod Times"/><ref name="AllMusic"/> During this time, Trainor would "write a pop song every day of the week"<ref name="Cape Cod Times"/> using [[Logic Studio]] to record and produce her compositions.<ref name="Nantucket Today"/> She later worked independently from a home studio which her parents constructed for her.<ref name="Cape Cod Times"/><ref name="Nantucket Today"/>
By age 13, Trainor penned her first song, "Give Me a Chance".<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite news|author=Edwards, Gavin|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/how-meghan-trainor-became-2014s-most-unlikely-pop-star-20141027|title=Meghan Trainor on How She Became 2014's Most Unlikely Pop Star|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|publisher=[[Jann Wenner]]|date=October 27, 2014|accessdate=December 25, 2014}}</ref> Trainor's father helped her learn guitar and encouraged her to explore various musical genres.<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/> Her mother has said Trainor "did a lot by ear".<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/> When Trainor was in eighth grade, the family left Nantucket, temporarily relocating to [[Orleans, Massachusetts]], and then settling in [[North Eastham, Massachusetts]]. There, Trainor attended [[Nauset Regional High School]]. Playing alongside [[NRBQ]] members Johnny and [[Joey Spampinato]], Trainor developed her musical skills and took guitar lessons from Spampinato.<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/><ref name="Boston Globe"/> She was a member of a [[jazz band]] for three years during high school and worked independently in her home studio.<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/>


==Career==
===2009–13: Career beginnings===
===2009–13: Career beginnings===
When she was fifteen, Trainor enrolled in the 2009 Summer Performance Program at [[Berklee College of Music]], where she reached the finals of the program's songwriting competition.<ref name="berklee">{{cite web | url=https://www.berklee.edu/news/meghan-trainor | title=Meghan Trainor, Former Berklee Summer Student, Conquers Charts | publisher=Berklee College of Music | date=November 20, 2014 | accessdate=April 22, 2015 | author=Kimberly Ashton}}</ref><ref name="Jim Sullivan"/><ref name="Billboard">{{cite news|author=Deming, Mark|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6155878/meghan-trainor/biography|title=Meghan Trainor – Biography|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|accessdate=December 25, 2014}}</ref> That year, Trainor produced her self-titled first album, which was released on December 25,<ref name="MReg">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120505102313/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/meghan-trainor/id348580749|title=iTunes – Music – Meghan Trainor by Meghan Trainor|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref> using [[GarageBand]],<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/><ref name="Radio.com">{{cite web|author=Carlin, Shannon|url=http://radio.com/2014/07/31/meghan-trainor-interview-all-about-that-bass-new-music-to-know/|title=New Music To Know: Meghan Trainor Doesn't Care if You're Ready For This Jelly|publisher=[[CBS Radio]]. [[CBS Corporation]]|date=July 31, 2014|accessdate=December 27, 2014}}</ref> Her father stated that Trainor "thought she was one of the chubby girls who would never be an artist" and for this reason she gravitated to song publishing.<ref name="Boston Globe"/> Trainor's self-titled album was followed by two [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] albums in 2011, ''I'll Sing with You'' and ''Only 17''. All three albums were self-released.<ref name="Billboard"/> Trainor collaborated with her father on three jazz-influenced songs on ''Only 17''. Throughout 2010 and 2011, Trainor participated in songwriting contests across the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com/17-year-old-singersongwriterproducer-meghan-trainor.html|title=17 year old singer/songwriter/producer, Meghan Trainor|publisher=Durango Songwriters Expo|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref> ''Only 17'' was handed to NRBQ member [[Al Anderson (NRBQ)|Al Anderson]] at a songwriters expo in [[Durango]].<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/> Anderson referred the album to Carla Wallace of Big Yellow Dog Music, who offered Trainor a contract.<ref name="DS"/> Trainor's parents encouraged her to forego college for the publishing deal.<ref name="Feminism">{{cite news|author=Hampp, Andrew|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6259143/meghan-trainor-interview-all-about-that-bass-embracing-body|title=Meghan Trainor: 'I Don't Consider Myself a Feminist'|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=September 22, 2014|accessdate=December 30, 2014}}</ref>
When she was fifteen, Trainor enrolled in the 2009 Summer Performance Program at [[Berklee College of Music]], where she reached the finals of the program's songwriting competition.<ref name="berklee">{{cite web | url=https://www.berklee.edu/news/meghan-trainor | title=Meghan Trainor, Former Berklee Summer Student, Conquers Charts | publisher=Berklee College of Music | date=November 20, 2014 | accessdate=April 22, 2015 | author=Kimberly Ashton}}</ref><ref name="Jim Sullivan"/><ref name="Billboard">{{cite news|author=Deming, Mark|url=http://www.billboard.com/artist/6155878/meghan-trainor/biography|title=Meghan Trainor – Biography|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|accessdate=December 25, 2014}}</ref> That year, Trainor produced her self-titled first album, which was released on December 25,<ref name="MReg">{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20120505102313/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/meghan-trainor/id348580749|title=iTunes – Music – Meghan Trainor by Meghan Trainor|publisher=[[Apple Inc.]]|accessdate=April 13, 2015}}</ref> using [[GarageBand]],<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/><ref name="Radio.com">{{cite web|author=Carlin, Shannon|url=http://radio.com/2014/07/31/meghan-trainor-interview-all-about-that-bass-new-music-to-know/|title=New Music To Know: Meghan Trainor Doesn't Care if You're Ready For This Jelly|publisher=[[CBS Radio]]. [[CBS Corporation]]|date=July 31, 2014|accessdate=December 27, 2014}}</ref> Her father stated that Trainor "thought she was one of the chubby girls who would never be an artist" and for this reason she gravitated to song publishing.<ref name="Boston Globe"/> Trainor's self-titled album was followed by two [[Acoustic music|acoustic]] albums in 2011, ''I'll Sing with You'' and ''Only 17''. All three albums were self-released.<ref name="Billboard"/> Trainor collaborated with her father on three jazz-influenced songs on ''Only 17''. Throughout 2010 and 2011, Trainor participated in songwriting contests across the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.durango-songwriters-expo.com/17-year-old-singersongwriterproducer-meghan-trainor.html|title=17 year old singer/songwriter/producer, Meghan Trainor|publisher=Durango Songwriters Expo|accessdate=December 26, 2014}}</ref> ''Only 17'' was handed to NRBQ member [[Al Anderson (NRBQ)|Al Anderson]] at a songwriters expo in [[Durango]].<ref name="Jim Sullivan"/> Anderson referred the album to Carla Wallace of Big Yellow Dog Music, who offered Trainor a contract.<ref name="DS"/> Trainor's parents encouraged her to forego college for the publishing deal.<ref name="Feminism">{{cite news|author=Hampp, Andrew|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6259143/meghan-trainor-interview-all-about-that-bass-embracing-body|title=Meghan Trainor: 'I Don't Consider Myself a Feminist'|work=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=September 22, 2014|accessdate=December 30, 2014}}</ref>

Revision as of 23:04, 10 June 2015

Meghan Trainor
Trainor performing in December 2014
Trainor performing in December 2014
Background information
Birth nameMeghan Elizabeth Trainor
Born (1993-12-22) December 22, 1993 (age 30)
Nantucket, Massachusetts, U.S.
Genres
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Years active2008–present
LabelsEpic
Websitemeghan-trainor.com

Meghan Elizabeth Trainor (born December 22, 1993)[1] is an American singer-songwriter. She released three independent albums before signing with Epic Records and achieving her breakthrough in 2014 with the single "All About That Bass". The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Trainor's second single, "Lips Are Movin" peaked at number four. Her EP, Title debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 in September 2014, and her full-length 2015 album, also named Title, debuted at number one.

Trainor's music is predominantly bubblegum pop, blue-eyed soul and doo-wop. Her work has been recognized with several awards and nominations, including nominations for Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "All About That Bass" at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

Early life

Meghan Elizabeth Trainor was born on December 22, 1993, to parents Kelli and Gary Trainor, jewlry store owners from Nantucket, Massachusetts.[2][3][4][5][6] Trainor began singing at age six, initially singing with her father at church[7][8][9]; she began making music at age seven, reworking the song Heart and Soul" (1938) and performing it at the wedding of her aunt and uncle.[10][11][12][13] Trainor attributes her early start to being born into a musical family. [6][14] Trainor's father taught music for eight years and plays organ in a Methodist church.[5][6] Her great-uncle, Bob LaPalm, was a member of the rock band NRBQ,[5] and Trainor's aunt and uncle are soca music performers and songwriters,[3][6][10][10][15]

At age 11, Trainor informed her father she wanted to become a recording artist, and began writing songs, recording them using equipment her father purchased for her. "She did a lot by ear," her mother recalls.[6][16][7] Her father encouraged Trainor to explore various musical genres.[7] At age 12, Trainor began performing as part of Island Fusion, an "all-purpose party band" which performed covers, soca music, as well as Trainor's compositions.[3][6][5] Trainor played piano, guitar and bongo drum, and sang with this band for four years.[10][11] By age 13, Trainor had penned her first original song "Give Me a Chance".[13][17][18] When Trainor was in the eighth grade, her family left Nantucket, temporarily relocating to Orleans, Massachusetts, in order for the children to attend Nauset Regional High School.[7] At Nauset Regional High, Trainor studied guitar and was a substitute cheerleader.[5][11] During this time, Trainor also sang and played trumpet in a jazz band.[3][7][19]

As a teenager, Trainor's parents frequently encouraged her to attend songwriting conventions,[13] and her parents brought her to venues where production companies were searching for new artists and songwriters.[16] At age 15, Trainor played music with NRBQ band members Johnny and Joey Spampinato.[5][7][11] During this time, Trainor would "write a pop song every day of the week"[7] using Logic Studio to record and produce her compositions.[16] She later worked independently from a home studio which her parents constructed for her.[7][16]

Career

2009–13: Career beginnings

When she was fifteen, Trainor enrolled in the 2009 Summer Performance Program at Berklee College of Music, where she reached the finals of the program's songwriting competition.[20][21][22] That year, Trainor produced her self-titled first album, which was released on December 25,[23] using GarageBand,[21][24] Her father stated that Trainor "thought she was one of the chubby girls who would never be an artist" and for this reason she gravitated to song publishing.[5] Trainor's self-titled album was followed by two acoustic albums in 2011, I'll Sing with You and Only 17. All three albums were self-released.[22] Trainor collaborated with her father on three jazz-influenced songs on Only 17. Throughout 2010 and 2011, Trainor participated in songwriting contests across the United States.[25] Only 17 was handed to NRBQ member Al Anderson at a songwriters expo in Durango.[21] Anderson referred the album to Carla Wallace of Big Yellow Dog Music, who offered Trainor a contract.[26] Trainor's parents encouraged her to forego college for the publishing deal.[27]

Following her deal with Big Yellow Dog, Trainor struggled as a songwriter, because no one in Los Angeles was interested in collaborating with her.[28] Trainor became frustrated with commuting to Los Angeles for songwriting sessions. Trainor's parents did not want her to relocate, describing a move there as "terrifying" and expensive.[21] She decided to relocate to the more affordable Nashville, Tennessee, in November 2013.[21] In 2014, she earned her first songwriting royalties by penning for recording artists from Italy and Denmark,[29][30] later writing songs for Sabrina Carpenter,[26] Rascal Flatts,[21] Hunter Hayes, and R5.[31][32] Trainor also sang lead and backing vocals for the demos of some artists.[29] In April 2013,[33] Trainor met songwriter and producer Kevin Kadish through a mutual friend in Nashville.[21]

2014–present: Breakthrough with Title

Meghan Trainor performing on stage with blue stage lighting shining upon her
Trainor performing in Philadelphia during the Jingle Ball Tour 2014

Kadish and Trainor co-wrote "All About That Bass" in 2014.[13] After various record labels and recording artists, including Beyoncé and Adele, declined to record the song,[26] Trainor recorded the song herself, and performed it on the ukulele for Epic Records chairman L.A. Reid.[34] Trainor hired Troy Carter as her manager.[27] "All About That Bass" was released on June 30, 2014,[35] and its music video became a viral hit.[36] "All About That Bass" reached number one in 58 countries and became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with worldwide sales in excess of six million copies as of December 2014.[37][38]

"All About That Bass" preceded Trainor's debut extended play (EP), Title, released on September 9, 2014.[39] It was composed entirely by Trainor and Kadish,[40] and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and number 17 on the Canadian Albums Chart.[41][42] Trainor released her second single, "Lips Are Movin" on October 21, 2014.[43] The song's music video was commissioned by Hewlett-Packard, who included Trainor as part of a promotional campaign for their HP Pavilion product.[44] The single peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.[45] "Lips Are Movin" marked her second top 10 hit in Australia and Canada,[46][47] and third in New Zealand.[48] In November 2014, she appeared as a guest mentor on the seventh season of American series The Voice.[49] Trainor was listed as the fourth most Trending Music Artist in Google's Year in Search for 2014.[50] Billboard ranked her as the fourth best new artist of the year,[51] and placed her 12th on their on 21 Under 21 2014 list.[52]

Sony Music Entertainment requested that Trainor's current publisher, Big Yellow Dog Music, pull Trainor's three self-released albums from circulation in the build-up to her major label debut, Title.[21] As a result, Title is recognized as Trainor's debut studio album.[53][54] It acts as a full-length replacement of her EP of the same name,[55] and was released on January 9, 2015.[56]On March 3, Trainor released third single from the album called "Dear Future Husband".[57]Trainor's first headlining concert tour, That Bass Tour, began on February 11, 2015, with Australian band Sheppard as the opening act.[58] The album will further be promoted through the MTrain Tour, with Charlie Puth and Life of Dillon as opening acts. It will begin on July 3, 2015.[59]

Artistry

Influences

Bruno Mars kneeling down
Sinatra behind a microphone
Bruno Mars (left) and Frank Sinatra (right) significantly influence Trainor and her music

Growing up, Trainor was introduced to 1950s music, doo-wop, jazz, and the works of James Brown by her father.[21][60] Trainor credits 1950s music, soca, and Frank Sinatra for influencing her hip hop, pop musical blend.[61] As a songwriter, she is influenced by songs performed by Sinatra. "No one writes like that anymore, because it's hard", she said.[62] She is inspired by Stevie Wonder and Phil Collins, and has named the 1999 Tarzan soundtrack—on which Collins features—as her favorite album during her youth.[62] Other artists that have influenced Trainor include Ariana Grande,[63] Christina Aguilera,[64] Earth Wind & Fire,[61] Jason Mraz,[63] *NSYNC,[64] Ray Charles,[61] and T-Pain.[26] Trainor cites Beyoncé as her dancing inspiration, and called her "the one performer [she] studies a lot".[24]

Musical style and themes

Trainor is identified as a singer-songwriter.[65][14][66] Her sound is predominantly bubblegum pop, blue-eyed soul, doo-wop, and pop.[67] Trainor's debut EP Title comprises throwback style sound,[68] and 1950s doo wop-inspired songs that straddle the line between modern R&B and melodic pop.[11] Her work has been compared to that of American singer-songwriters Jenny Lewis and Neko Case,[69] and to 1960s singers such as Doris Day, Betty Everett, Rosemary Clooney, and Eydie Gormé.[70] Trainor plays a variety of musical instruments: bass,[5] guitar, ukulele, keyboard, trumpet, percussion,[21] and piano.[62] She feels that a song's melody is more important than its lyrics.[21] She composes in a variety of genres, including country, hip hop, reggae and soca,[5] but prefers doo-wop and reggae.[24]

Trainor's vocals have been described as "soulful" and "highly resonant",[11] and "a reedy cross" between Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.[71] Chris DeVille of Stereogum opined that she is "a very capable singer", and wrote that Trainor "project[s] lots of character and emotion within a relatively limited range".[72] Trainor released her second single, "Lips Are Movin" on October 21, 2014.[73] When singing, Trainor uses a Southern American English patois.[74] The harmonies in her music have been likened to those of 1960s girl groups.[44] Trainor's lyrics are recognized to contemplate 21st-century womanhood.[68] She has said that she aims to "break the chains" of the "absurd standards of thinness" promoted by the beauty industry with her lyrics.[75] However, her lyrics have been dismissed by some critics as being anti-feminist.[76]

Public image

In 2014, Rolling Stone deemed Trainor the year's "Most Unlikely Pop Star".[13] While promoting her first album, she was noted for serving as an inspiration to youth who struggle with body image and bullying.[36][27] The Guardian called her "the poster girl for the larger woman" and "pop's emblem for self-acceptance", while Fashion Times wrote that Trainor "inspired many women to embrace their curves".[77][78] Online music magazine Identities Mic, however, has described Trainor as anti-feminist suggesting she seeks self-worth based on the opinions of men.[79] Trainor's fanbase is collectively identified as Megatrons.[80]

Awards and nominations

Year Ceremony Award Nominated work Result Ref.
2014 American Music Awards New Artist of the Year Meghan Trainor Nominated [81]
MTV Europe Music Awards Best Song with a Social Message "All About That Bass" [82]
NewNowNext Awards Best New Musician (Female) Meghan Trainor [83]
Capricho Awards Revelation International
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Breakout Artist [84]
Favorite Song "All About That Bass"
Grammy Awards Record of the Year [53]
Song of the Year
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Song of the Year [85]
Favorite New Artist Meghan Trainor
iHeartRadio Music Awards Best New Artist [86]
Renegade
Song of the Year "All About That Bass"
YouTube Music Awards 50 greatest artists and YouTube performances Meghan Trainor Won [87]
Music Business Association Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Recipient
 [88]
Radio Disney Music Awards Best Female Artist Nominated [89]
Best Song to Dance To "All About That Bass"
Song of the Year
Billboard Music Awards Top New Artist Meghan Trainor Nominated [90]
Top Female Artist Nominated
Top Billboard 100 Artist Nominated
Chart Achievement Award Nominated
Top Digital Songs Artist Nominated
Top Streaming Artist Nominated
Top Hot 100 Song "All About That Bass" Won
Top Digital Song Won
Top Streaming Video Nominated
ASCAP Pop Music Awards Most Performed Songs Won [91]

Discography

Main article: Meghan Trainor discography

Tours

References

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