We Chat With MORGAN WADE About Sobriety, Fitness and Her Critically Acclaimed Debut Album 'RECKLESS'
Introducing Morgan Wade. Her Album Is out on March 19th via Thirty Tigers It’s really kicking off in the US for Morgan Wade gaining major support for the Virginia-based singer and guitarist coming from the likes of Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue and more for the excellent singles ‘Don’t Cry’ and ‘Wilder Days’.
Morgan's voice is a raspy soprano that can sooth or growl in equal measure, which she incorporates with her excellent blend of country, rock and pop. Her songwriting is honest, self-deprecating and insightful. It captures the singer’s four-year journey to sobriety, who now at 26 highlights a better understanding of herself and her newly developed inner confidence through the songs in her record.
The album has been produced with Sadler Vaden, long-time guitarist for Jason Isbell as well as an acclaimed solo artist, along with the Grammy-winning Paul Ebersold as engineer.
Wade was in college when she first performed in public: an open mic in Floyd, backed by a band she had cobbled together via Craigslist. She loved the stage - and soon, her secret writing and singing became public. Wade began touring with her band, the Stepbrothers, and generated a grassroots following and high-profile attention - including that of Vaden before going solo.
Could you tell us about how the Album got started?
Sadler and I met 2 years ago on my set at a festival and we started emailing. Eventually, I went out to Nashville and started writing with him. He was looking to produce a record and I needed a producer. We were going to put out just an EP, we then put it out under the radar and then people started to take notice and demos were passed around Nashville. So we decided we should probably wait and get a label which we did. I met with several different labels and ended up going with Thirty Tigers, which are great and we finished the record up at the very beginning of quarantine a week before we went into lockdown, so we’ve been sitting on that for a year now. The record will be out in two weeks, so it’s been kind of surreal.
how did covid 19 affect you personally?
I had a huge tour over the summer planned and obviously, that was cancelled and not being able to tour. I have not been able to play a live show in a year, so that has definitely been a setback, it’s been really weird. Fortunately, you know I had a record already finished, so I’ve been able to work on that and all the stuff that goes into that during this time […]. It’s been a setback, but at the same time it’s been kind of nice to be at home and be able to work on songs and really appreciate touring more, so now when I can actually play for people, I’m going to be way more appreciative. […]
What are your main goals for 2021?
Getting this record out, we’ve got some socially distanced shows planned and we’re optimistic too with a lot of these shows being outside; it’s going to be safe and I don’t feel they’re going to get cancelled, so that’s good. So kind of just getting back into the groove of getting out there and pushing this record in front of people and being able to do live stuff and not just live streams will be really nice, that’s my goal. I’m optimistic that with the vaccines and everything we’re going to be able to get back to something that feels a little more normal.
What are your top 3 favourite tracks on the Album?
Wilder Days it’s such a catchy song.
I really enjoy 'Last Cigarette' It's one of my favourites because it was such a different song for me recording that one.
Then I’ll have to say ‘Met You’ from a songwriting perspective. I enjoyed that. That song was the most acoustic on the whole record and just really simple.
Those are [...] three different songs and sounds I’d recommend.
If you could tour with any artist who would it be?
Even though we’re totally different if I could have my pick, I’d totally jump on a tour with Lana Del Rey in a heartbeat. She’s just so real she says whatever she wants to say, she has such a unique sound that no one can really imitate what she’s doing. I’ve been a fan since her first record and she’s just so genuine.
What music are you listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to Halsey’s last record, Miley Cyrus’ new record, Machine Gun Kelly, there is a guy named Bartees Strange, he’s based out of DC. He's a newer artist and I would definitely recommend checking him out I just ordered his sweatshirt.
As you are 4 years sober, how did you reach that point? What would you recommend to someone in your audience that might be going through the same thing?
Yeah, I mean I know they always say that one day at a time kind of thing and it can kind of get drilled in your head, and you're like whatever but it’s so true. I think getting sober you focus so much on months from thinking where I am going to be, but you really just gotta get through every day. Surround yourself with people that are going to help you stay sober, the resources, read, educate yourself and try to find new healthy habits, that’s what I had to do. And, get to know yourself, because I think there is always a reason that you drank that much or used that much, there's something going on and I think that is kind of our process to get to know ourselves and figure out what’s going on, so that’s what I strongly recommend.
What question would you want to be asked about that you haven’t talked about yet in interviews?
One thing I don’t talk a lot about or people don’t ask about is my fitness stuff. I’m big into ultra running, I got into it about a year and a half ago […] I’m training, I’m going to run a 100-mile race in 2021.
What do you want your fans to take away from the album?
I want my audience, especially the people that have been following me for a while to see the growth, how far I’ve come, how hard I’ve worked. I’m just really proud of this record about the sounds and all the great people I have playing on it. Honestly, I just want them to enjoy it and realise that my sound can progress, but I’m still having really strong lyrics and I’m still as authentic as I’ve always been.