Formula Indie Session – Interview with Meathead

Hey, I’m Tim and I play guitar + sing lead vocals in the band Meathead. Meathead is an emo(ish) band based out of Toronto, Canada. The project started as just myself and David (guitar + vocals) in 2024, with Ethan (drums) and Danica (bass) joining shortly after. Since then, we’ve put out two EPs, with a third on the way, and have had the opportunity to play some incredible shows, including back to back dates opening for Arm’s Length. We pride ourselves on putting on an energetic live performance and are excited to see what the future holds!

What is your earliest memory connected to music?

I remember listening to the classic pop punk records “Dookie” and “All Killer No Filler” with my Dad when I was about 10 years old, and immediately fell in love with punk music and its whole mentality. This is the moment I discovered that music could make you feel something, and I’ve been chasing whatever that feeling is ever since.

How did your passion for creating music begin?

Both of my parents play instruments and I was fortunate to grow up in a house with a piano and a drum kit. When I was young, I would write these really, really awful songs and record videos of myself playing them. Sometimes I would sit at the drum kit, play a groove, and just improvise melodies and lyrics. I definitely had a passion for creating noise, whether it would be considered music is up for debate.

What’s the story behind your current music project?

In late 2023, I started posting short clips of songs I’d written under the name, Meathead, on social media. Eventually, I wanted to record a few songs so I got our lead guitarist, David, involved in the project. David and I have been playing in bands together since we were kids but none of them really stuck until this one. Shortly thereafter, David connected with our bassist, Danica, and she and our drummer, Ethan, joined the band in 2024. And here we are two years later coming off the release of our most successful single to date, “Yeah, No, For Sure”.

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

I always have a hard time describing our sound because I think the songs we write are the amalgamation of inspiration from so many different artists. Meathead is a little emo, a little pop punk, and a little indie. I like to describe our sound as emo(ish).

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?

Lyrics have always been the most challenging aspect of songwriting for me. When I first started writing lyrics I was careful not to give away too much because I was afraid of being vulnerable, of how people would respond to my true thoughts. My lyrics were usually generic, impersonal, and lacking depth. One day I heard someone say that writing great lyrics requires one to be genuine and vulnerable with their audience because that’s how people connect to the lyrics. When I heard this, I immediately recognized its truth and began making a conscious effort to be more open and honest in my writing. Whatever I was feeling, experiencing, thinking, I was going to write it down, without any attempt to muddy the waters. That short statement has been the single most valuable lesson in regard to my lyricism.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?

I do most of my songwriting with just a guitar. That’s the most important tool for my creative process for sure. I guess my phone to record voice memos and to write lyrics as well. Beyond that, I use Logic Pro to do all my demoing.

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?

I’m going to shout-out our friends and fellow Torontonians, Crowd Surf. They just put out a few new songs that absolutely rip, my favourite being “Nebraska”. If you like the band PUP, you’ll love Crowd Surf.

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?

All of the songs I write are about my personal experiences. Songwriting is like a form of journaling to me; all of our songs are like a time capsule of that specific moment in my life. Songwriting helps me process my emotions and clear my head, and I think in writing from experience like this, I’m able to better connect with the listener. In that sense, my personal experiences are deeply connected to the music I create.

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?

Most Meathead songs are a little depressing so hopefully listeners don’t take that feeling with them. I hope people can appreciate the vulnerability and raw emotion in our songs, and in listening, can find some sort of comfort knowing that we all struggle and that we’re all works in progress.

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?

The most important lesson music has taught me is that being genuine, being your authentic self, is freeing. Just do you, stick to your values, and good things will happen.

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

Our dream venue is Bampot Tea House. It would be the show to end all shows.

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

I would love to work with The Wonder Years. I’m a huge fan of theirs and think they’re fantastic song writers. I relate to a lot of their messaging and admire the storytelling in their songs and across their albums.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meatheadsucks/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meatheadsucks

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6JcAF2WXadhCHoAe3RnM1Y?si=EB2LUwQHSrq4ElGo_hQFfA

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/meathead/1745331579

Bandcamp: https://meatheadsucks.bandcamp.com/

Our music is on pretty much every streaming service you can think of!

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical journey?

Our dream is to write and record a full-length record, hopefully that’s not too far off. It would also be awesome to start touring and playing more festivals!

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?

We take our music and art seriously, but we like to have fun with it. Playing music with your friends should be fun.