Singer-songwriter Meaghan Smith was born and raised in London, Ontario, to musician parents, who would introduce her to with a wide array of new and old musical styles. Self-taught on the piano by age 9, despite having a piano-teaching mother, at 19 she picked up her first guitar while pursuing a career in animation in Halifax. Caught by stage fright, the young songstress finally decided to tackle her fears and began performing, catching the ear of a studio engineer who encouraged her to record her material. In 2008, she released a first 4-track EP, The Cricket's Quartet, which she promoted by touring as opening act for k.d. lang. In 2009, her debut album The Cricket's Orchestra, featuring Montréal-based turntablist Kid Koala, was released on Sire Records.