Name: Carly Bond aka Meernaa
Nationality: American
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, producer / engineer
Current release: Meernaa's So Far So Good is out October 6th 2023 via Keeled Scales.

If you enjoyed this Meernaa interview and would like to stay up to date with her music and tour dates, visit her on Instagram, and Soundcloud.



Where does the impulse to create something come from for you? What role do often-quoted sources of inspiration like dreams, other forms of art, personal relationships, politics etc play?

The impulse comes from either two places: the need to process emotion and / or being moved from hearing, reading, seeing another person’s performance or project.

As far as sources go, I never know until after the song has been written. What inspires me isn’t just one thing, but it does pull out a chair and have me sit down, pick up an instrument and begin to dream something to life. Once I’m sitting and feeling open one line will lead to another based on the key and tonality.

It’s been so many things; memories, dreams, interactions I’ve had with people past and present, images from old dreams or a mountain.

For you to get started, do there need to be concrete ideas – or what some have called a 'visualisation' of the finished work? What does the balance between planning and chance look like for you?

I really try to never go into a song with the intention of it being a certain thing. I let it lead the way and make decisions based on what I’m feeling at the moment.

I do often find myself writing with images or fragments of memories in mind.

Is there a preparation phase for your process? Do you require your tools to be laid out in a particular way, for example, do you need to do 'research' or create 'early versions'?

I would like there to be eventually. That sounds nice.

Again, usually I’m pretty impulsive. I won’t write for a while and then once I’m sitting down and chasing a song I go into a kind of obsessive period and won’t get up to use the bathroom or eat for hours and hours until my body gets really upset.

I’ll be deep in the zone and also doing research or playing a part over and over again making little adjustments until something feels like it’s aligned.

Do you have certain rituals to get you into the right mindset for creating? What role do certain foods or stimulants like coffee, lighting, scents, exercise or reading poetry play?

Definitely! Ideally there is a window I can look out of and fresh flowers. There is one lit candle, incense or sage, coffee always, maybe a little weed – though not typically - a lot of books and poetry that are my go-tos esp Linda Gregg, Philip Lamantia, Gary Snyder, E.E Cummings & Mary Oliver are usually always out. If I’m home I have a little area where I have photos of my ancestors.

Without sounding like too much of a fool, I think creating this kind of space, for me, invites an energy from everything and everyone that has inspired me to come in and help me in the process while also honoring it.

What do you start with? How difficult is that first line of text, the first note?

It varies. Sometimes I will only have a progression, sometimes only melody and sometimes only a poem.

When do the lyrics enter the picture? Where do they come from? Do lyrics need to grow together with the music or can they emerge from a place of their own?

I rarely separate lyrics and melody. I find that I’m much more grounded in the song if they’ve been written together.

What makes lyrics good in your opinion? What are your own ambitions and challenges in this regard?

It really depends for me. Like, I can read a poem and be so moved by it – but I know if someone sang it it wouldn’t hit me the same way. Or sometimes the most simple mundane lyrics hit so hard. Like Andy Shauf or Joni Mitchell at times can just tell a story so plainly, but the phrasing and spirit behind that is so moving.

For me it’s bridging that gap between super simple language and telling a colorful and nuanced story. I’m trying to work on becoming a better storyteller and being ok with speaking simply.

To quote a question by the great Bruce Duffie: When you come up with a musical idea, have you created the idea or have you discovered the idea?

Discovered for sure.

There are many descriptions of the creative state. How would you describe it for you personally? Is there an element of spirituality to what you do?

Big time. It feels like some psychedelic meditation.

As I said early when I’m really in it it’s hard to do anything else like eat or use the bathroom. I really have to pry myself away to take care of my body. It's wild.

Once a piece is finished, how important is it for you to let it lie and evaluate it later on? How much improvement and refinement do you personally allow until you're satisfied with a piece? What does this process look like in practise?

I think it’s important to give it space. I firmly believe that once you’ve finished something and there aren’t any obvious adjustments you feel need to be made it is time to let it go. Lol …

I think of an Oscar Wilde quote whenever I’m feeling tweaky and that is “No object is so beautiful that, under certain conditions, it will not look ugly.” When you’re so close and deep to something it’s going to be easy to see and hear every flaw and or think of ways you could’ve done differently and that’s where moving on is important– you use what you've learned in that song and apply it to the next.

I think you must do your best and honor a song and see it through, but be careful not to let it rot and lose your mind over something you’ll never be satisfied with and instead just keep creating.

What's your take on the role and importance of production, including mixing and mastering for you personally? How involved do you get in this?

I’m super involved. I’m an engineer and producer, but that came after having my first experience recording in a studio and knowing nothing.

While I think there is a certain level of magic to remaining ignorant in regards to writing or recording, there comes a point where it just feels kind of lazy or disrespectful to yourself and others if you don’t spend a little time learning about how things work and how to communicate well.

I’ve been in so many sessions where people have these high expectations but are totally unable to express what sounds they are wanting to explore or hear and become frustrated with the process.

I’m stoked to be able to say exactly what I would like to hear or ask questions and always be open to learning.

After finishing a piece or album and releasing something into the world, there can be a sense of emptiness. Can you relate to this – and how do you return to the state of creativity after experiencing it?

I’m so ready for this record to be out. It’s been done for so long that I feel like I’ve been 20 different versions of myself.

I think just continuing to write is the answer. Also learning how to perform and find meaning in old songs is important to not feeling empty hahaa.

Creativity can reach many different corners of our lives. Do you personally feel as though writing a piece of music is inherently different from something like making a great cup of coffee? What do you express through music that you couldn't or wouldn't in more 'mundane' tasks?

I honestly feel there isn’t much of a difference if the intention is that you’re going to do your best to be present and make something to the best of your ability. I think there is deep expression in everything, even the mundane, if you let there be.

Obviously you can’t communicate through words. But like cooking for example, I think you can express a lot through food, or even cleaning your home and making a space feel good.

If you put your soul into it it's going to get felt, I think.