Morgan Wade
Interview conducted on July 9, 2021
By Dan Locke
Morgan Wade Photo(credit: David McClister)
On the heels of her critically acclaimed debut Reckless (released March 19 via Thirty Tigers/Ladylike Records), Morgan Wade continues to reveal her innate propensity for storytelling with today’s release of the official music video for lead single “Wilder Days.” The tattooed songstress leans into the role of her buttoned-up alter ego as she roams the city of Nashville with fellow artist Josh Jakub, sitting uncomfortably through a we’ve-all-been-there date at local cocktail bar Rosemary while envisioning the contrasting evening of pool and dancing at famed Santa’s Pub that could have been their reality had the characters met years earlier.
How did you discover music?
My grandparents used to take me up to a local place that had bluegrass music on Friday evenings so I grew up around that. I was also a huge Elvis fan as a kid, and I was really disappointed to learn that he had already passed away by the time I was born. I wrote a lot too but mainly kept it to myself until around college or so.
What makes a good songwriter?
I think being true to yourself and staying authentic makes for a good songwriter. It also makes for being a good person.
What is the process of writing your music?
I don’t really have a process – a lot of times, things just come to me rather than sitting down and trying to write and make something happen.
Tell me about your debut album “Reckless”?
It feels like it’s been in the making for a longtime. Some of these songs were written as far back as 2017 and 2018, and we actually had the record done right before the pandemic happened, so we had to sit on it for a little while. I’m really proud of how well the album has done, and it was worth the wait.
How was it to work with Paul Ebersold and Sadler Vaden?
I couldn’t ask for better producers or better co-writers. It was really refreshing to work with people who believed in me for me rather than believing in me for what they thought they could turn me into.
What is your favorite track on your album?
Obviously, I love all of the songs on the album, but “Last Cigarette” is just a fun song to play live. It’s challenging and it’s got a hint of pop that I have a good time with.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I spent a lot of time writing because what else am I gonna do, but I also got back into reading pretty heavily.
How do you stay healthy during the lockdown?
I picked up trail running during lockdown. It can be pretty intense with long distances, but I really enjoy pushing myself in that way.
In the past if a musician stops doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
I actually went to school with the intention of going into the medical field. If I wasn’t doing this, I’d probably have pursued that.
