Meet Megan Faye, Rachel Burdge, Scott Ellison, Neal Aaronson | Bandmembers of Parachutes

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Faye, Rachel Burdge, Scott Ellison, Neal Aaronson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan Faye, Rachel Burdge, Scott Ellison, Neal Aaronson, what’s your definition for success?
Rachel Burdge: I think if you are able to get fulfillment out of doing something then you’ve found success. A lot of people, especially now, equate success with monetary goals or career goals, but I think it’s well proven by now that money and status doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness. But if you’re doing something that actually brings you joy and makes you feel something, then I’d define that as success.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Parachutes is a female-fronted Atlanta-based garage rock band with indie, grunge, and punk undertones. Our members consist of Megan Faye on vocals, Rachel Burdge on guitar, Scott Ellison on drums, and Neal Aaronson on bass. Parachutes is performing a livestream concert on 12/14/25 to raise money for the Atlanta Community Food Bank, and has a forthcoming EP coming out in 2026, with new music releasing on January 9th!

Rachel Burdge: I think that where Parachutes really stands out is really in our live performances. I truly believe that live music is one the most powerful things that one can experience, and I’ve been to some absolutely electrifying live shows that have honestly changed my life. That kind of just sheer awe and joy is something that I think everyone should get to experience, and so I try my very best to channel some of that energy with Parachutes in our stage show.

Megan Faye: For me, one of the biggest challenges has been striking that balance between building a “career” while also making time for creativity. I have a full time traditional day job, but I’ve found that I need the music to really round out my life. That spark and electricity of live music that Rachel describes is exactly what draws me to this band. We collaborate as a group to really create some catchy and unique rock songs, and the intensity of the live show is unparalleled. We’re currently recording our first EP, and I can’t wait to share a full release of our music with everyone in the new year!

Neal Aaronson: I feel a bit awkward trying to talk about “my” art with Parachutes, I do my best to play a supporting role and let Rachel and Megan shine.

Scott Ellison: I’ve definitely had many challenges, and I’m still finding my way through success. What sets me apart from others is my willingness to build and cooperate in music, trying to incorporate everyone’s ideas

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We can’t rave enough about the live music scene in Atlanta. A visitor can really get to experience the thriving creative scene here by hitting the various venues, including the non-traditional spaces. We love the dive bar energy of East Atlanta Village, and would recommend checking out The Earl and 529 Bar, then heading over to Little 5 Points to the Star Bar. These are some of our favorite spots to play and catch other local bands at. From there, we’d recommend hopping on your bike and taking the beltline over to the West End where you can catch a killer set at Boggs Social and Supply, or Culture Shock (one of the best kept secrets on the westside).

For a larger scale music experience, we love the Masquerade. But if you want to get really local and see what the music scene is all about, we recommend the house show circuit. Frankenhouse in Ellenwood, GA is one of the coolest backyard venues around (you have to DM them to get the address!).

Another unmissable music experience in Atlanta is the thriving Porchfest scene. Porchfests are free festivals hosted in various neighborhoods in Atlanta throughout the year, and are an amazing way to get a taste of the small bands coming up in the area. Plus you get to sample food and art vendors from the city as well. Our favorites are the Oakhurst Porchfest, Athens Porchfest (if you’re open to leaving the city), Virginia Highlands Porchfest, and the Little 5 Fest. We’ve played a few of them, but we hope to play them all!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Rachel Burdge: I’d like to thank my wife Nama for always believing in me and supporting me throughout basically everything ever. <3

Scott Ellison: My shout-out is to all of my percussion and drum instructors, helping me create using the tools they showed me. Being a teacher now, I see through their eyes.

Neal Aaronson: I want to say thank you to Christine for the love and support and encouragement, in spite of any nonsense.

Megan Faye: I would like to shout out my husband Travis, and a core group of friends who call themselves “the Paracuties”. They make a point to come out to all our shows and they really bring the vibe. I also want to take a moment to show some real appreciation to the people who come out to shows who don’t know as at all, and take a chance on finding some new live music. One of the greatest experiences in playing shows is when new people stop and say, “Wait a second, what is this?”. I love that moment of surprise followed by genuine interest, and we appreciate you all for coming out and listening.

Website: https://parachutesatl.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parachutes_atl/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/parachutesatl

Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCZbDFwvkn_VjHZ3580ZuZTg?si=6oHT67CohFbbFfZ7

Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6VUEcgArbK2nXdTq1BWS6i?si=VoSanlykSLWnOClSTCQOKw Bandcamp: https://parachutesatl.bandcamp.com

Image Credits
Kishawn Gilliam, Chad Edwards, Ashley Hauff.