An Interview With The Miami-Based Rock-Pop Singer, MEGAN MORRISON!

Miami-based rock/pop artist Megan Morrison (aka MORRISON) bursts onto the indie music scene with her incendiary new single, “Heart on Fire.” The song is the first release from Morrison’s debut solo EP, Appetite for Freedom, set to release later this Spring.

Morrison’s music career began at a very young age while growing up in Massachusetts. After singing in high school choirs and musicals and ranking at the top of her high school All-State competitions, she pursued a music degree from University of MA Amherst. Studying opera, she discovered she excelled at musical theatre having nabbed the lead in the musical, Cinderella. For her senior year, she moved to New York City to attend Hunter College and audition for Broadway musicals. Eventually, she began singing in rock/punk bands throughout the City where she found “her calling.” She moved to Miami in 2009 where she formed her first official band, Dorothy’s Surrender, for which she wrote all the songs influenced by her biggest inspirations: Hole, Garbage, Nine Inch Nails and Audioslave. Her second band, Revlover, formed in 2016, and had more of a folk, inspirational rock sound.

She Makes Music called Morrison’s vocals “full of rebellious attitude and a tone to back it up.” Miami New Times named Morrison one of the “Five Miami Women Artists to Watch on International Women’s Day” in March 2018, noting her five areas of expertise–a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, model, and fire dancer. Her last skill led her to guest appearances in music videos by Pitbull and Elvis Crespo and onstage with pop singer Jessie J.

Today, Morrison has a new band for her solo project that has more of an electronic rock sound that she attributes to her favorite band, Muse. Be sure to check out “Heart on Fire,” the new single by MORRISON!  And soon to ignite, her new music video for the song, featuring the artist dancing with fire!

Connect with Morrison Here:

http://morrisonmusicofficial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/musicmeganmorrison

https://twitter.com/MMorrisonMusic

https://www.instagram.com/meganmorrisonmusic/

Learn more about Megan Morrison in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time today! Where does this interview find you?

Thank you! I am in good spirits today because I just sent my next single to be mastered! I’m very excited to start promoting it! This song means a lot to me and I am ready to share it with the world.

Now that 2019 has started, what musical goals do you have for yourself and your music this new year? Did you make any new year’s resolutions?

I don’t really do New Year’s resolutions because I am in constant growth and strive to reach certain goals all throughout the year. Something I am consistently working on is trying to not get too stressed over my music. The more music I make, the more deadlines I create and I tend to get wrapped up in this and lose the joy of why I’m making music in the first place. This year I’m really trying to enjoy the process and not be so focused on the outcome. I’m doing this because I love it and I don’t want to forget that.

Growing up, how important has music been in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be a musician? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?

Music has been in my life since I was born. I come from a family of musicians on my mom’s side. My parents were always listening to music from the time I can remember. My mom recalls that she would hear me harmonizing with household appliances, like the vacuum cleaner or hair dryer. I think I was just born with it in my soul. For me there was never really a question of whether or not I would become a performer. It was the only option for me. Nothing else feeds my soul like music does. It was an easy choice to make, but scary, because I knew I had a long road ahead of me. It’s taken many years to get me to where I am today.

Was there ever a time when you thought about doing something else? If you weren’t a musician today, what could you see yourself doing?

Well, the thought crosses my mind everyday. I have doubts just like everyone else. There’s nothing I’d rather do more than music though.

If I were to do something else, I’d want to somehow be helping others and making this world a better place. I’ve thought about music therapy and teaching, which I will probably do somewhere down the road. I also really love the water. If I decide to call it quits one day I will buy a boat and become a scuba diving instructor, teaching people the value of our oceans.

What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all?

I don’t know if I’d say surprise, more like the biggest delight of my career has been being able to connect with people through my music. I love when people listen to my lyrics and feel like they can relate. When I can reach out and touch someone with my music, I feel like I have accomplished something truly amazing.

Most of the challenges I have faced were expected but disappointing. Dealing with people who are trying to take advantage of you is the worst. It just makes me feel terrible inside. I have learned not to take things so personally though. After all, it is a business.

How do you think you and your music have been influenced by your hometown and where you live now?

Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve always been very connected to nature. I grew up in Northern Maine, and then Western Massachusetts. I spent a lot of time playing in the woods and on the lake. I have a deep appreciation for wildlife. Even when I lived in New York City I spent a lot of time in the parks. In NY I learned how to appreciate a different kind of ‘wildlife’. Now, living in Miami, I am still in a major city, but I am surrounded by water and the outdoors year-round. Nature is really what grounds me. I have a hard time writing music when I don’t have two feet planted on the ground. Growing up in a small town gave me appreciation for the little things in life. And moving to big cities gave me appreciation for the great unknown. Now I feel like I have a balance of both, and you can definitely hear that in my music.

Let’s talk about your newest single called “Heart On Fire.” What was the inspiration for this song? What was it like making the music video for it? How creatively involved with the making of it were you?

“Heart on Fire” just kind of came to me one day. I am happily married now, but have definitely suffered lots of heartbreaks in the past. I wrote this song not only about heartbreak from a romantic relationship, but the constant heartbreak we feel throughout our lives. I struggled with alcohol addiction for a lot of my life and was able to break free from that three and a half years ago. I wrote this song very shortly after I got sober. I consider it my breakup song with alcohol.

Making the music video for this was a lot of fun. Something people are now learning about me is that I am a professional fire dancer. I have been performing with fire for nine years. I always kept my music and fire separate, but I wanted to join them together, and this song was the perfect opportunity. I wanted to make a romantic video that showed both the darkness and light that can come from heartbreak. I planned the whole video myself and chose all the wardrobe. My video producer and director were really able to capture what I was going for. I just shot my second music video with them that I’ll be releasing shortly. My single for the song will be coming out soon!

How do your already released tracks help prepare people for the rest of your forthcoming EP called “Appetite For Freedom”? How will you celebrate the release of your EP?

I think people are really in for a ride with this EP. My other songs sound nothing like “Heart on Fire”, but they still have the same attitude. Appetite for Freedom really tells the story of my life, the good and bad. If you want to get to know me, just listen to the songs.

I will celebrate my release by taking a day off and jumping in the ocean! I have been so busy working I haven’t had a lot of time for myself.

Did anything surprise you about putting together your first EP? What was it like recording these songs?

This will actually be my second EP, the first one was with my band Dorothy’s Surrender. This time around is very different than the last. I sort of know what I’m doing now. Something I’ve learned to accept is that everything is always going to take longer than planned and not to stress out too much over it. It will be ready when it’s ready.

What has it been like keeping up with your social media accounts and all of the different platforms? Is it hard to stay up to date on it all? What would you say is your favorite way to connect with your fans now?

To be honest, I’m exhausted by social media. It’s like a second job. I feel myself spending less time creating music and more time trying to build my brand, but that’s the name of the game now. It is a wonderful thing in certain aspects though. It lets independent artists like me reach a wider audience.

My favorite way of connecting with fans is playing shows for them. That’s where the true connection happens.

Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely still love to work with in the future?

I am inspired by so many artists, present and past. Muse is my ultimate favorite band. They have been for about twenty years. I listened to a lot of Led Zeppelin growing up, so there was a big influence from them. I also listened to a lot of soul music, like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Sly and the Family Stone (to name a few). I’ve taken little things here and there from all types of music. That’s why all of my songs sound a little different.

If I could collaborate with Muse that would be my ultimate dream come true. I would die happy.

Where can fans see you perform next? Do you have any kind of a 2019 tour scheduled yet?

I don’t have a tour scheduled yet. I’m working to complete the EP and then I’ll start putting something together. I’m definitely excited to get on the road! As soon as I have tour dates scheduled they will be posted on my website. For now, I’m just playing locally in Miami.

If you had an unlimited budget and your schedule was free, what would your dream music video look like?

Honestly, my next music video that will be coming out soon was kind of my dream video. I was able to put so many of my ideas into motion. I did it on a small budget too!

I would love to shoot an underwater video one day though. That would take a lot of time and money. Someday…

If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island, what musical item would you take with you and why?

I guess a guitar because I could sing and accompany myself. If I was stranded on an island it would force me to practice a little more!

If your music was going to be featured on any TV show that is currently on right now, which would you love it to be on? Or if you prefer, what is a movie that you love that you wish your music was featured in?

James Bond. My new single that is coming out soon would be perfect for the beginning of a James Bond movie. That would be a dream come true!!!

At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?

I want people to be able to feel good about themselves and know that it is ok to make mistakes and if they are suffering, that they are not alone. We are all human and on this earth together. I want my fans to be able to celebrate their differences because every one of us is unique in our own amazing way.

Would you like to share anything else with our readers about your music?

My music is an expression of me and my experiences. I have been through a lot in my life and I want to be able to tell a story and sing about everything openly. Know that when you are listening to my music you are really getting to know the true person that I am. Never be afraid to be your true self.