INTERVIEW: Itching to Get “Out West” with Meels

The "Critter Country" songstress shares the story behind her new EP

Americana artist Meels talks with Art Seen ATL (Photo by Jim Hughes)

Folk, Americana, and country are sewn together by a beautiful thread: storytelling. These genres are often recognized for their ability to communicate deep truths underneath creative allegories, parables, and fables. Fresh off the release of her Across the Raccoon Strait EP, Meels brings a little bit of twang, a handful of metaphors, and a whole lot of heart to this historic art form. Art Seen ATL had the honor of attending °1824’s first press conference of 2026 to get the scoop on Meels’ new EP, her coast-to-coast background, and writing with honesty.

In several ways, Across the Raccoon Strait represents a return to Meels’ roots. Raised in the heart of the Muir Woods, Meels left her northern California home to study music at NYU’s prestigious Clive Davis Institute. Her season in the Big Apple was incredibly influential and educational, but it never delivered the creative spark she hungered for. That all changed when she decided to move back to California. She remarked that the transition opened the creative floodgates and led her to write most of the songs on this project—as evidenced by her “itching to get Out West” on the EP’s opening track. Though she currently resides in Los Angeles, Meels’ soul is still with the redwoods. “I think my Northern California self is always going to be tugging at my sleeve creatively,” she affirmed. “It’s the version of myself that I’ll always return to.”

The project is also a sonic homecoming for Meels. The EP showcases a departure from the lyrical and tonal elements explored on her debut album, Tales From a Bird’s Bedroom. Meels now describes her sound as “Critter Country,” an outdoorsy, toe-tapping blend of folk and Americana that pulls inspiration from the likes of John Prine, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan—and the furry friends she found in the forest as a kid. From “Vultures” to “Praise The Sheep,” Across the Raccoon Strait uses creatures big and small to explore the human experience. “The [animal] metaphors feel really natural,” Meels shared. “I don’t think it’s disguising a truth, but making a truth about myself more digestible for the audience and for me.”

Meels’ longtime boyfriend and creative director Henry Pakenham hopped into the conversation to share how the Critter Country concept shaped the era’s visuals. After falling down a Hee-Haw rabbit hole on YouTube, he proposed an aesthetic shaped by 1970s television performances from classic folk artists. While the music video for “The Wizard” takes a more upbeat, cartoonish approach, John Denver and Linda Ronstadt’s dreamlike appearances on The Muppet Show were the best fit for “Willow Song.”  The duo enlisted videographer Fred Joseph and his vintage broadcast cameras to capture the vibe they were searching for—no post-production retouching needed. “A lot of people think that it’s A.I., but it’s the complete opposite,” Pakenham laughed. “It’s the most authentic we can get.”

Meels strives to communicate this same authenticity in every track she releases. During her college years, JD Samson of Le Tigre served as her songwriting mentor. Samson described Meels’ style as writing happy about the end of the world, similar to the storytelling methods used in traditional fairytales. “Writing about my inner world allows me to move more freely through my outer world,” Meels said in reference to the non-traditional subject matters explored on tracks like “The Wizard.” The ditty discusses her experiences with OCD in hopes of providing comfort to listeners who face similar struggles, particularly those in areas where mental health is more stigmatized. “It’s really important for me to bring it up and talk about what the song is about just to make people feel less alone,” Meels smiled. “I know that ‘little me’ who was dealing with those issues [...] would’ve loved to have someone feel that way too.”

With the EP finally in the hands of fans, Meels is counting down to her first-ever headline shows in Nashville and New York City. Her music fits right in with the long legacy of folk artists who came before her and ushers in a new wave of thoughtful, adventurous storytelling.

Meels' new EP Across the Raccoon Strait is out now.