UPPER TOWNSHIP – Ocean City High School student Méabh Stanford announced her upcoming collaboration with two-time Grammy-nominated producer Saint Luke.
The pair will head to the studio the week of June 21 to record Méabh’s six-song concept EP “make it be me” which draws inspiration from works of literature. The EP is scheduled for release in July to all streaming services.
Stanford, 16, lives in Upper Township. The sophomore was on the Distinguished Honors list for the most recent marking period at OCHS.
She said she has been in love with music since childhood and has been performing since 2016. Méabh writes her own music and performs her songs on guitar and piano. She added she is excited to work with Saint Luke, who will fully bring her artistic vision to life.
Drawing inspiration from literature and tying it to real-life experiences, Stanford said “writing this EP was a really fun challenge and I think that it reflects just how much stories have had an impact on me. Through my songwriting, I insert myself into the stories and write from the perspective of the characters.”
Stevi Leigh of Total Package Talent Development, Stanford’s vocal coach and mentor, challenged her to write a song at their first lesson four years ago when Méabh was 12. “That was a groundbreaking moment for the both of us. She had indeed created a masterpiece of both theatrical and profound potential: two components I have seen before but never quite in the way of Méabh Stanford,” Leigh said. “Her voice is distinct, full bodied in value, range, and tones. Her ability to accomplish and stretch her vocal boundaries has consistently improved and I foresee her growth to be a limitless channel, for she pulls inspiration from outside in, digests it, and delivers it as a thought-provoking translation back out. The mind of Méabh infects her works with semantic twists and whimsically potent metaphors that are relatable and educational all at once. She is a big bang Total Package with a strong backbone, a tight support system and a beautiful gift. Méabh Stanford is a powerhouse artist, student, composer and speaker and she has only just begun.”