MEGAN MORRISON

Man, there are so many. Muse is my all time favorite band. Those guys just kill it in every aspect. In my earlier days I was really inspired by Led Zeppelin. I listened to their albums on repeat. I was enchanted by Robert Plant’s powerful voice. I also listened to a lot of soul and funk music. A few of my favorites were Sly and the Family Stone, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. A big part of my influence comes from 90’s rock bands and singers. Chris Cornell, Nirvana, Hole, Garbage, PJ Harvey, the list goes on. I listened to a lot of 90’s hip hop as well. The most inspiring singer to me from that time was Lauryn Hill. I listened to “The Score” by the Fugees probably more times than I’ve listened to any other album. I was singing that on repeat. The early 2000’s had some great bands that really inspired me as well. I got really pumped up every time I listened to Evanescence, Disturbed, System Of A Down, She Wants Revenge, Wolfmother, Queens of the Stone Age to name a few. I have a passion for Gospel music as well. You can hear that influence in my upcoming album. I love and am inspired by all different genres of music. If a song gives me goosebumps then it’s inspired me in some way.

My mom would catch me harmonizing with the vacuum cleaner when I was a baby, so I guess then. I sang my first solo in church when I was around four or five. They let me sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”, because that’s what I wanted to sing. It helped that my mom was the church organist. My mom and I were always singing, especially in the car. We would go for hours not talking, just singing everything to each other. It was pretty hilarious thinking back on it. I always wrote songs and played on our piano. I was in “Fiddler on the Roof” when I was around five. That was my first time being on a big stage and I think that’s when I fell in love with it. I’ve been on stages ever since.

My mom was always so supportive of me. She was my number one fan from day one. She never pushed me to do anything, but always encouraged me to follow my heart, and I am truly grateful for that. My mom means the world to me. That side of the family had a lot of musicians in it. My grandfather was a self taught musician and went on to compose and conduct. My dad’s side of the family was always very supportive too. My dad wasn’t a musician, but he did introduce me to Led Zeppelin and Tom Petty. We rocked out many times together, singing at the top of our lungs. I have a very supportive husband as well. He has always encouraged me to keep following my passion. His family loves what I do as well. I am very grateful to have such a loving and supportive family all around.

My mom has always been a singer. She has a great voice. We would always harmonize and sing together when I was growing up. She has sung in many different choirs over the years. A lot of my family members can carry a tune.

I mostly listen to older rock music. There’s not a ton of new music that I like. There are a few newer artists that I love though. I think Billie Eilish is great. She’s a breath of fresh air in an industry that doesn’t seem to value good music anymore. Any artist that is doing their own thing and not trying to sound like everyone else has my attention, doesn’t mater what genre. I just like to hear quality original music. I also love listening to Jazz when I’m driving. It puts me in a zen like state. Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Coltrane, all those classics I love.

Oh man, let me think. Not too many these days, but back when I was younger (before mp3s), you would have found some Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Ludacris “Move Bitch”, Sisqo “Thong Song”, just to name a few. I don’t care what anyone says, the “Thong Song” was a good song. I’m sure there were MANY more.

Someday I would love to perform at Madison Square Garden!

Muse. 100%. I respect those guys so much as musicians and performers. They put on an amazing show. I have been a huge fan for many years.

A few different things. I actually own a small decor and design business called 9 Lives Designs (named after one of my songs). I’ve always loved interior design and decorating. All of the pieces I sell in my shop I hand make. I style and decorate weddings as well. Even if I’m not making music, if I’m creating 21 something beautiful I am happy. I would also like to work with recovering alcoholics and addicts. I am a recovering alcoholic myself and I feel that it is very important to raise awareness around a topic that can be very taboo, but is extremely common in our society. All the songs on my new album somehow relate to my sobriety. I am very open about my story and experience because I hope my honesty can help others who may be suffering.

I play piano and guitar. I’m not amazing at either, but good enough to write my songs with them and play on stage sometimes. I write most of my songs at my piano. I’ve been doing that since I was a kid. I also took piano lessons in college when I was studying classical voice performance. That’s really when I learned to properly read and write music. When I was a kid I played a handful of different instruments; saxophone, clarinet, flute and cello. I didn’t stick with any of them though.

I guess I would have to say hip-hop. Something with a dope beat to make people dance. Or gospel music. I actually have been dabbling in some electronic music. I have a few releases out and a few more on the way. I’ve been collaborating with a lot of different artists. I go by my full name Megan Morrison as an electronic artist and just MORRISON for my rock.

There’s not too much music I can’t stand. I love so many different genres. I guess I’d have to say most country music I don’t care for. Don’t get me wrong, there is some great country music, but most of it is just not for me.

I am actually a professional fire performer. I started dancing with fire about 12 years ago and fell in love with it. I’ve incorporated it in my newer music videos. My husband makes most of my fire props. He made my crown and wings which were featured in my last music video “9 Lives”. I’ve also been in a lot of other artist’s music videos. I got to do a video with Pitbull and Elvis Crespo which was pretty cool.

Very much so, but I can’t force it. When the inspiration comes, lyrics and melodies flow like water. If I’m not feeling inspired though I can’t force it. Trying to write a song when I’m not in the mood feels like pulling teeth. Usually a bunch of song ideas come into my head at once, over a period of a few days, and I have to get them all out and on paper before I lose them. After that a few months usually go by, maybe even longer before inspiration strikes again. Lyrics come more frequently. I have notebooks full of little snippets. Eventually when a melody comes I piece them all together. More often than not I get inspiration when I’m driving.

My voice memos are full of ideas. I am very grateful that I have the ability to express myself through music.

www.MorrisonMusicOfficial.com