Meghan Pulles Gets Personal After Leaving Opera Behind

Growing up in Orlando, Florida  Meghan Pulles received classical training to be opera singer “because my parents wanted me to and because I had the voice for it,” she tells Brooklyn Roads. But she wanted to use that voice for something more personal and by the time she turned 17 she was playing guitar and writing her first songs.

In Performance / photo by Diana Sophia

“As I got older and grew into who I was as an adult, [opera] felt less and less like something that would give me fulfillment in life,” she tells us. “Being a singer-songwriter has allowed me to find parts of myself. There is something so amazing about the connection that others can make through your music.” So Pulles followed her dream, which led her to our fair borough.

Meghan Pulles / photo by the artist

“Living in Brooklyn these past eight years has really inspired me and awakened me to so much,” she says. “It is such an amazing place to be as an artist because the creative energy is everywhere, and I really just love being here and soaking it all in — the culture, the art, and the music.” She marvels at the borough’s diversity, noting that artists of all genres bring “different backgrounds to our music, which is a beautiful thing.”

Local venues she has performed in include Pine Box Rock Shop in Bushwick and Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg. The latter is a particular favorite of hers because, “The stage is vintage style and looks like the inside of a train car. Sadly, there is no candy there but it’s a blast to play there.”

Regarding her music, Pulles tells Brooklyn Roads that she finds inspiration in “my emotions, everyday feelings, art and … media, such as television and film.” Artists who inspire her include Karen Carpenter, Taylor Swift, James Taylor, Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Bareilles.

Ghost of Sound Cover Art

In October 2019, after honing her craft here for several years, she wrote and recorded her first EP, Keep the Light On, and released it on several online platforms as well as on a CD. She is currently writing songs for what will be her first full-length release. In between she has released a series of singles, the most recent of which, “Ghost of Sound,” was written about her fear of losing her hearing.

“I have had ear problems my whole life, and this song was written sort of prophetically before I knew I had to have my second ear surgery,” Pulles tells us. “It talks about childhood ghosts or traumas catching up with us in our adult lives.” It is a theme, she feels, “most of us can relate to, especially within the past year.”

The song is consistent with her desire to help people and “encourage them to heal,” she says, adding that, “Music is a great way to do that.”