Danielle Morgan is a London based singer/songwriter who has been around for a few years now. In 2020, Danielle kicked off the year with a new EP called The Faces of Danielle Morgan and it’s excellent. Her versatile, soulful delivery really shines through, but she wasn’t done yet. Toward the end of the year, in December of 2020, Danielle released a second EP, the appropriately titled Locked Down, which spans across many genres such as Rock, Reggae and even Soul. So, if you haven’t guessed it, today, I’ve got Danielle Morgan with us. Danielle is as down to earth as she is talented and I was happy to get to know her a bit better. If you’d like to learn more about Danielle Morgan, head over to her website here and check out some of her work. Once you’ve done that, give this interview a read. Enjoy.
Andrew:
Danielle, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. It’s been some year, hasn’t it? How are you holding up?
Danielle:
Thanks for connecting Andrew and very happy to be with you. Yeah, it’s been some year indeed and none of us could have expected it. We are doing OK and early on, we decided to focus on staying safe with the family and to use the time to work on our music, remotely, with our collaborators. We’ve tried to stay positive as far as possible though we’ve certainly had challenges on all levels but we are lucky so far.
Andrew:
Tell us a bit about your backstory? How did you get into music?
Danielle:
I fell into music at a young age because I got into dramatics and then to musical theatre. But I couldn’t dance so I had to focus on acting and music and I guess music won in the end!
Andrew:
As an artist, who are some of your earliest influences? As you’ve evolved musically, how have those influences changed?
Danielle:
I remember well listening to radio stations that played Musical Theatre, Motown, and Country music, over and over and absorbing the music. I still love them but over the years, and playing with the band musicians, I’ve been exposed to other styles such as Rock and Reggae. I guess subconsciously this had led me to write in a broader range of styles which I really enjoy and embrace. I never know what will come next in terms of new material.
Andrew:
Early in your career, you composed over 70 original songs with John Merrigan. How did those early compositions help you shape you as an artist going forward?
Danielle:
Working mainly with John and others, my songwriting has developed and I have become more emotionally aware and willing to express my feelings. In addition, as you get older, you have more things to talk about because of your experiences and much more to say of substance compared to when you are younger. This perhaps makes you more a bit more serious but it is also so much more rewarding.
Andrew:
In 2016, you released your debut EP called The Session. Tell us about the recording of your debut. How have you evolved as an artist since?
Danielle:
We were at a major crossroads in terms of pursuing music as a full-time occupation at the time. I was quite happy with my life at the time and taking songwriting less seriously. However, the opportunity came to record the EP at Abbey Road in London and we decided to take the plunge as a make-or-break moment and commit to music. It was so inspiring working there and the music/vocals came easily. There was no turning back. The response to the experience and the EP gave us the confidence to take more risk and move forward. If we were able to hold our own there, then we could do this.
Andrew:
Let’s talk about your process as a songwriter. Some songwriter’s lyrics come from a deeply personal place, while others are merely telling stories. Which is it for you?
Danielle:
To be honest it’s both. Mostly, I don’t even see myself as a songwriter. It’s more like telling a story to music so that people can remember it and connect with it, however they wish. I don’t read music but on the piano I compose through my hands. Working with John, he often comes up with complex and serious songs that are based on deep emotions or topics which I then work around and build melodies. I can find myself writing about any subject. We never sit down to write; it just comes naturally at any given time of the day or night and we just let it happen. So far we’ve been incredibly lucky and don’t analyze it too deeply.
Andrew:
Lyrically, what themes do you most often touch upon?
Danielle:
When I was young, I used to sit at the piano for days and pray something would come. When I stopped trying too hard, it did. Now, the topics and themes that really affect me are about real-life events, stories, and emotions. It just happens though, and the lyrics and melody usually appear at the same time, then a verse, chorus and bridge evolve.
Andrew:
With all this downtime, can we hope for a new record from you soon?
Danielle:
Well, funny you should mention this. With a house full of kids, downtime is a rare thing. During this enforced lockdown though, we’ve released two new EPs in 2020, issues 7 lockdown videos, produced a musical drama on radio (“The Story of Love in the Harbour”) and released a Christmas song. There is no sign of things letting up and we have begun a new musical drama and around March we hope to issue a new EP. All this, produced from our homes!!
Andrew:
As I am sure you’re aware, women are drastically underrepresented within the music and record industry. As a strong female performer, how do we flip the script and enact positive change?
Danielle:
For me, if you have a good product and work hard, you will eventually succeed. There are no short-cuts if you want to produce music that lasts and build your brand. Challenges make me hungrier to succeed and I am always inspired when I see roadblocks and when I work with strong people too.
Andrew:
Let’s switch gears a bit now. Tell me your thoughts on the current state of the music scene these days? What’s it like out there?
Danielle:
It’s tough, for sure. I’ve been around a few years and this industry has always been tough. However, the developments in social media have meant that we can reach so many more listeners than ever before. Every industry evolves and you must be willing to adapt with it and be creative. We never take things for granted and there are so many talented musicians out there now. I’m optimistic about the future and happy with our music that continues to be received well all around the world. We are clear on our musical path too and hopefully we can stay true to it.
Andrew:
Are you into vinyl? Taps? CDs? Or are you all digital now? Where do you like to shop for music?
Danielle:
We like all platforms now that help us reach new listeners for our music. We also like to support fellow independent artists where we can and buy their music from whichever source.
Andrew:
What are a few albums that mean the most to you and why?
Danielle:
When I was younger, I used to listen to compilations mostly, I guess this means I seldom focus on full length albums and to be honest that’s still the case. Individual artists and stand-out songs inspired me more. I love to listen to “greatest hits” now. Even The Beatles White Album which I listened to today is a kind of compilation!! I think this means I’m more eclectic and like variety – or at least that’s my excuse!
Andrew:
Once COVID-19 is finished with us, what’s next for both you and your band?
Danielle:
The thing we miss mostly by far and away is playing together and playing live gigs. We can’t wait to get back to that and we hope that it will come soon when it’s safe. Believe me when I say it, we will be ready. Working remotely and keeping in regular contact with the band has really help us in lockdown but it has also made us realize how much we miss playing together. We will have great music to share when we do come back!
Andrew:
Last question. How do you feel you’ve evolved as an artist compared to your earlier days? Has your mission statement as an artist changed at all? Or is it ever evolving?
Danielle:
To be honest, despite going in different directions musically, my musical mission hasn’t really altered very much. For me, music is a personal journey and I write songs that I feel passionately about and for me. I’m very lucky that I’ve been able to share them and that people connect with them in many different ways.
I’ve enjoyed talking with you Andrew and all the best to you. Stay Safe everyone.
Interested in diving deeper into the work of Danielle Morgan? Check out the link below:
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