THIS week we chat with another member of emerging local rock\/metal group Two Steps Forward – rhythm guitarist and singer Megan Hooley, who said her fellow band members have been her biggest supporters and she couldn’t be more grateful for the people she gets to share a stage with.<\/p>\n
What motivated you to take up rhythm guitar?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019d always been a musically inclined person so when the opportunity came up to start learning an instrument, I took that chance immediately.<\/p>\n For years I would perform trumpet solo and in group settings, but it wasn\u2019t until year 11 that I took up guitar.<\/p>\n It was an instrument I\u2019d been wanting to play for a while (and) was something different, exciting.<\/p>\n It helped that I was able to play songs I knew – I\u2019d watched other bands play through school events and decided that could be me, so I started teaching myself.<\/p>\n Which other rhythm guitarists inspire you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Having watched another local Bendigo band, The Unknown, play during our schooling years, the skill and stage presence of every one of them was a reason I started looking in a rock band direction.<\/p>\n Although their guitarist is more of a lead, it\u2019s still super impressive watching him nail both aspects, and being local it made me realise just how achievable it could be for me too.<\/p>\n Green Day\u2019s Billie Joe Armstrong and Foo Fighters\u2019 Dave Grohl also made for big inspirations, being both a guitarist and singer myself.<\/p>\n Have you had any mentors over your career?<\/strong><\/p>\n My biggest mentors have actually been my fellow band members.<\/p>\n Starting out self taught and not confident in my abilities, they all make sure to reassure me that what I can do is enough.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve been my biggest supporters and I couldn’t be more grateful for the people I get to share a stage with.<\/p>\n What are some highlights you have from your time as a co-songwriter in the band?<\/strong><\/p>\n I love the collaborative aspect of our songwriting so much.<\/p>\n We try to write as a band and use all of our collective thoughts and ideas to make our work, OUR work.<\/p>\n I think that makes it really special, knowing that we wouldn\u2019t be making the same sound with one of us missing.<\/p>\n Days sitting with a notebook open, scribbling down possible lyrics and finally nailing the tone we\u2019ve been trying to convey is a feeling that proves this is what I want to do.<\/p>\n