Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Albidress.
Hi Megan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Some of my earliest memories are singing with my dad in the car on the way to private catholic school in Vacaville, where I’d attend for kindergarten up until going to public high school which was a huge shock for me. Growing up, music was a huge passion in my family. I was always involved in theatre and took after my sisters in taking music classes which ended up shaping the theme of my life–being a character.
After dealing with the loss of my father in between that time, I was grappling with embracing my identity coming from the strict background and ideals that I was raised around. Everything I was facing came at a time when I had to crack down on decisions for college and a career, which had me turning to music as a more serious outlet.
After studying at Berklee College of Music, I’ve found myself in LA, juggling jobs, meeting incredible people along the way, and absolutely loving the journey to reaching my goals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road of taking a chance on having any career in art is generally up and down. I think the risk of it makes it motivating and keeps you on your toes. Of course you run into roadblocks–the main one being paying your rent while carving out the time and space to create. Making commercial sounding music is pricey, especially in a place like LA where everyone tends to have the same competing sound.
Here you’ll find a lot of opportunities like artist hang outs or networking events, but it’s hard having the confidence to truly be yourself rather than the version of you that you want to present to others so that you’re more palatable to those you’d want to work with or be around that are perhaps in higher places. It’s easy to get wrapped up in that atmosphere–where everybody wants to “be somebody.” I think ultimately it’s important to remember why you love the craft and what you’re doing it for. Through that, the natural roadblocks become rewarding with the payoffs.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I came up with the artist name shut up Natalia! because I wanted something that was going to be fun for people to say and pokes a little fun at myself. (Natalia is also my middle name)
I’m a self produced pop artist that studied arranging and composition at Berklee College of Music, where I graduated in 2022. Everything I learned from that time has lent itself into creating so many different atmospheres, sounds and melodies.
Most people first discover me through TikTok (as demi devito) or Instagram, where I’ve been doing impressions of celebrities and TV shows for the past few years. It started as a fun outlet, but it’s become a big part of finding myself as an artist and how I express myself musically.
In college when I’d try to make a bunch of different songs for pitch, I found myself singing in different voices since impressions is a strong suit of mine. So if I’m writing in a certain genre, I’ll shape my voice to fit that sound rather than staying in one lane. I thought one day–man, I don’t know any one else who’s doing this right now. How cool would it be if I just did this all under my own artist project? That was in 2024, and I’ve written so much music since then that I’m so excited to share.
Everything I create, whether it’s funny, emotional or somewhere in between, is rooted in my love for blurring the lines between genres and moods.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something surprising about me is that I’m pretty good at drawing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@shut.up.natalia
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganalbidress/?hl=en
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/shutupnatalia
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4iqoFneUHgLU0kBUQfTdAp?si=QqlN6H5JRuqVt6CopXweaA
Image Credits
Fabl Studios
