Megan Eileen and her band Phabrik embark on a unique musical journey, building a deep connection with their music and each other.
The Phabrik musicians are among 80 artists featured in this year’s Word of the South, a literary and music festival featuring writers and musicians of all genres, taking place in Cascades Park April 26-28.
Inspiration close to home
When one stands on the threshold of a new beginning, as Megan Eileen, a graduate of Florida State University’s College of Music, does, the journey undertaken becomes clear. She is guided by the melodies of Spanish music and Dominican rhythms that filled her childhood.
Equally soothing were the sounds of her father’s band playing classic songs by Sound Garden, Bon Jovi and Pearl Jam. During these early years, Eileen’s mother, an acting teacher at the University Center for the Performing Arts, also encouraged her to study singing, guitar, dancing and acting. Her study of music revealed a deep love for Rhythm & Blues and Neo Soul music that she continues to nurture today.
Inspired by artists like Tori Kelly and Adele, Eileen ventured out into the world ready to write, perform and produce her own music. “It gives me so much energy and adrenaline,” Eileen said. “It’s so much fun to be able to do something I love for an audience.” But she’s not doing it alone. Eileen has found a deep creative connection with her band Phabrik.
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Group and relationship building
Making music is a team sport where each player has a unique role in building the collective sound. Nothing is more intoxicating than watching a band come together and find their groove. For Eileen and the R&B/NeoSoul band Phabrik, the meeting was almost fruitless.
Her friend, songwriter and musician Bo Hendrix, approached her a year ago to join him as the band’s vocalist. The songs they wrote began as journal entries, then turned into melodies, adding chords with a melody on top, with Eileen and Bo “scattering lyrics until something stuck”.
She and local drummer Lawrence Turner had also met before, where she remarked, “He’s really one of the best drummers I’ve ever met.” Eileen and Hendrix quickly invited Turner to join them. His yes connects keyboardist Thomas Greer and bassist Aaron McNamara. Finally, no band is complete without a guitar player, which led to Sammy Hanson joining in and adding that extra, fun element.
The connection was instant and powerful when they played together for the first time. Eileen credits the fact that they knew each other before forming Phabrik for how well they meshed musically and created the band’s signature groove sound.
“I always talk about the real connections between musicians and how important it is to me to have that connection as a basis for making music together,” Eileen said. “Now I’m making amazing music with amazing musicians.”
Despite this relationship, life goes on with or without us. On the brink of this precipice, Eileen and her bandmates will embark on a new journey as they complete their future collegiate programs.
Before they do, however, they’ll capture the soulful sound they created in Tallahassee by recording a live album of four original songs. Eileen hopes to continue playing with her band members after the recordings, including those who are moving to Atlanta.
Sweet music, sweet words
As the winner of this year’s FSU College of Music Noles Onstage: Play Word of South competition, Phabrik is eagerly preparing to perform at the festival.
The new competition allowed one FSU College of Music band of any genre to perform a 45-minute time slot at Word of the South this year. Word of South is a lively literary and musical festival, a mash-up where writers and musicians, some of whom may have just met, come together to perform spoken word, music, or a combination of the two.
Eileen is excited to join her Phabrik colleagues in Word of the South for the first time, presented on the Cascades Stage at 3pm on Saturday 27th April.
“We like to have fun,” Eileen said. “We want to make sure everyone has a good and comfortable time with us!” Word of South is sure to deliver a mix of premium entertainment and children’s programming and an impressive lineup of hip-hop, gospel, pop, bluegrass, jazz, country, R&B and American performers.
If you go
What: Word of the South, Festival of Literature and Music
When: April 26-28 | Phabrik will play at 3pm on Saturday
Where: Cascade Park
Price: Free, details [email protected]
Festival schedule: visit wordofsouthfestival.com
To learn more about Phabrik: instagram.com/phabriktheband/
Dr Christy Rodriguez de Conte is the topic writer for the Culture and Arts Council. COCA is the capital’s umbrella arts and culture agency (tallahasseearts.org).
This article originally appeared on the Tallahassee Democrat: FSU College Band Phabrik Follows Word of South Adventure
