Megan Washington

Megan Alexanda Washington is an Australian musician and songwriter. She works mononymously as Washington. Washington’s music has been described by I-D as’sexy synth-laden pop’ She was born on 7 January 1986 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

About Megan Washington in brief

Summary Megan WashingtonMegan Alexanda Washington is an Australian musician and songwriter who works mononymously as Washington. Originally performing jazz music, her style shifted to indie pop and alternative rock. Washington’s music has been described by I-D as’sexy synth-laden pop’ She was born on 7 January 1986 in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea to Australian parents. Washington developed a stutter just before primary school. She studied for a Bachelor of Music degree at Queensland University of Technology and then jazz voice at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music. In early 2008 she sang an acoustic cover version of Ross Wilson’s ‘Bed of Nails’ which was used as the theme song for three seasons of the ABC1 TV drama Bed of Roses. In late 2008, Washington artist launched her mononymous band, Washington, with backing members Lance Ferguson, John Castle, Des White, Ross Irwin and Ryan Monro on bass guitar. On July 30, 2009, Washington was listed on the Triple J 100, Hottest 100, for the track ‘Cement’ Washington followed with a five-track fourth EP, How to Tame Lions, in September 2009; its title track and the lead track, \”Cement\”, received high rotation on youth radio Triple J. In December 2009 Washington won the inaugural Young Songwriting Competition for the title track ‘How Tame Lion’ Washington performed a duet with Keith Urban a few days later at the Rod Laver Arena Theatre in Melbourne. In November they were announced as Triple J’s Unearthed winners and performed at the Melbourne leg of the Big Day Out.

In October 2010 she backed Sia Furler on guitar on the Australian version of her hit single ‘Furler’ Washington has released four singles and two EPs since 2006. She has also released a single, ‘I Can’t Go For It’, which was released as a single by Ruby Entertainment in early 2011. Washington has appeared on Spicks and Specks in October 2011. She is currently on tour with the band, playing at venues across Australia and New Zealand. She said: ‘I think most people get their most information from the charts or something like that but I had great feedback after being on those shows. I’m so happy to be able to share my music with people who love it and want to listen to it’ She has released three EPs, including a collaboration with pianist Paul Grabowsky, which appeared in 2007. She also backed a blues and roots musician, Old Man River, as keyboardist and harmony vocalist from 2006, including touring internationally in support of his debut album, Good Morning. Her EP won the 2008 Australian Jazz Bell Award for ‘Best Australian Jazz Vocal Album’ and was re-released in June 2009 and appeared on the ARIA Albums Chart at No.53 in October that year. She provided vocals, piano, glockenspiel, synthesiser and guitar and was joined by Castle on guitar, bass guitar, drums, loops, tambo and autoharp.