Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
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Speaker 3 (00:34):
Hi, guys, welcome to another episode of Creators to Creators. Today,
today we have a special guest.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
Hi, my name is Morgan Taylor.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Welcome, Welcome, Thank you absolutely. You know, so I love
going back to the beginning. You know, I always say
the beginning charge our trajectory in life, you know, our
little habits we pick up along the way, follow us
so into our adulthood. Tell me a little bit about
your childhood. Was that like and when did the love
for music begin?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Yeah? So I actually started singing when I was nine
years old, and I started off in church and I
remember just going around the house yelling, screaming, singing to
the top of my lungs, and my parents are like, Morgan,
(01:27):
can you shut up? And so I had did this
talent they were doing, like this talent show in children's church,
and I was like, calling me, I hope they calling me,
and they called on me and I was able to sing,
and so I didn't know if I was doing good
(01:48):
or not. But they came up to me. One of
the instructors came up to me and was like, Morgan,
I would love to love for you to do a
solo with the children's choir for one of the Sunday services.
And I was like, oh my gosh. Of course. So
I had told my mom and she didn't have the
same excitement as I did because she was like, I
(02:11):
don't want to see no scary kids up on stage.
Until I was like, Mom, I got it, I got it.
I'm gonna do it. So I learned all the lyrics
and as soon as I got up on stage, I
had this yellow dress on, I have my hand up
in the air praising the Lord, singing thank you Lord,
(02:32):
and I just had a time up on stage and
I felt everything and I had That was my first
standing ovation. So once I got to high school, that's
when I transitioned to R and B music, and I
released my first R and B single entitled hold On Because.
(02:56):
At eleven, I released my first gospel EP called Yes
Jesus Loves Me. I was singing around Saint Louis. And
then once I got to high school, I released my
first R and B single entitled Lullaby. And then in
college I started releasing singles and released my first EP
(03:17):
entitled Love Bond, which is on all major platforms. And
recently I released an not an EP, but a single
called Outside That's period.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Yes, that's awesome, that's awesome. I like that title. Tell
me a little bit about you know that you know
it's it's obviously a bold anthem. It's I mean, I
listened to it. I was like, wow, it sounds amazing.
I mean, just your vocals are just on it. What
was the first emotion when when you felt when you
finished writing and recording.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
It, it felt so good because it is an anthem
because the first time, like I was writing it, like
I was talking to this guy that I was like
pondering on if I liked him or not, and I,
in actuality I did not like him at all. So
I was talking to my friends and they didn't like
(04:15):
him either. So I was like, let me just let
me just start writing some stuff down and I came up,
I can say it of your butt already done. And
then I was like I didn't know how to finish it,
Like I didn't want to be like disrespectful in the song,
but like I also wanted to take some dishes, you know. Yes,
(04:37):
I as soon as I had like a session in
Atlanta and I was working with some producers and songwriters
and they were they had made a beat and I
was like, this match is one of my songs and
I'm just I'm listening, I'm vibing. I was like, got
(05:00):
lyrics for it. Just put me in a stewar. I
got lyrics for it, and they helped me finish it,
and it came out to be a masterpiece and one
of my favorite songs.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Oh yeah, I mean they I mean it's it's beautifully
you know done, and your vocals are like wow, So
thank you, like kudos to that guy that you know
he inspired you to create something that I like this.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
So yes, they always have a story that goes with it.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
So yeah, right right, So when you when you you know,
when you're writing and you know you're coming up with
the song and your you know, whether it's a situation
you go through or whatever you're inspired by. Like do
you automatically go into the you know, studio kind of
already knowing what you're doing, or you're kind of just
(05:49):
letting it flow as you go as you go through
when you're creating the song.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
I would say, I like, I always like to tell
a story. So whenever I go to the studio, it
is writers and producers and sometimes I just want to
just spill the tea on what like what's happening in
my life, and just like have people just help me
put it together because sometimes I just don't have the
(06:13):
words to put it together. I just have the story,
so most sometimes I can write it and then other
times like I need help with I need somebody to
help me put something together because I have it, but
you know, lyrics and melodies, I need help one. But
(06:34):
most of the time I can't write.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
No listen, I think it's yeah. I mean I think
I'm not a writer either, and much I do more
so the film side, so I totally get it. I like,
you know, I have ideas, but I know what I like,
you know, the direction I want to talk, like things
I want to talk about but it's always good to
have that collaborative effort for sure, of course.
Speaker 4 (06:55):
And just bounce off other people's ideas. I think that's where,
like the map peace comes out, because it comes out
like better than you expected too.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
Absolutely absolutely, What does being outside mean to you personally?
Beyond the summer fun vibe, I.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
Would say loving on yourself. I think when it comes
to outside, I feel as if it's about prioritizing you
and just being able to go on self dates, just
learning new things about yourself and you'll see like how
(07:40):
much you love about you and then change some things
that you don't like. But it's all about spending some
time with yourself and also hanging out with your friends
or drinking wine with your mama or chilling, you know,
just chilling and doing you and not having to sacrifice
(08:02):
energy into somebody that doesn't give you that same energy back,
or doesn't make you, or doesn't prioritize you. And that's
how I want you to feel. And I want you
to feel like a bad bitch. I always want to.
I want to make you feel good about yourself. That's
how I feel about all of my music. I want
you to feel relatable.
Speaker 3 (08:23):
Yeah, I love that, and you touched on something very
interesting that I think a lot of times in relationships
people don't really do, which is prioritize like reciprocity, like
you know, whatever you give you put in, you want
that as well, which I think that is the universal feeling.
But if it's you know, and you're speaking to me,
because like man, I you know, it's just like if
it's not that, then I don't want it exactly.
Speaker 4 (08:45):
Not settling for us.
Speaker 3 (08:47):
Exactly, And that's not high maintenance. That's just knowing what
you want and you're you know, having your boundaries.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
Of course, of course it's self.
Speaker 3 (08:56):
Love absolutely absolutely, you're love Bomb, love loss and lessons
already hit over, you know one point gosh five million streams.
That's incredible. What what's one lesson from that project that
still stays with you today?
Speaker 4 (09:17):
One lesson I feel as if because love Bomb is
like a it's a journey of relationship and by the
end of the EP you you realize you're the prize
and it's the same like I feel like outside this
(09:38):
period goes exactly with love Bomb. It's all about knowing
you and what you can tolerate and just not settling
for less and I don't know, putting yourself first before
and you can put somebody else before put yourself first.
(09:59):
That's how first, honestly that Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Yeah, And also you know I was thinking like ause,
you know, you went to U Berkeley, you know, and
so so what's you know obviously you know that I'm
you know, going to school, and I'm sure that was
a process and still doing music, you know, and being creative.
I mean, I'm sure that, like I guess what what's
(10:26):
I guess a lesson or something going to school and
still balancing music. What what's like that that creative process?
Like how did you balance both going to school and
doing music because a lot of people, you know, it's
like hard to do both.
Speaker 4 (10:41):
Yeah, I mean I went to a music school, so
it was it was kind of easy to be able
to collaborate with different musicians and artists as well, like
being in different ensembles because I was in I was
in a Jana ensemble and also a Katie Perry ensemble,
and I really got out of my Coffer zone. And
(11:01):
I feel like Berkeley was allowing me to do that,
and I was able to dance, Like I remember coming
into Berkeley, I did not know how to dance, and
that was one of the first ensembles that I had
to like really like get down and learn choreo for it.
And even Janet Jackson, like you know, she has like
(11:23):
a ton of choreography within her whole catalog. So I
really surprised myself and also like really learning my artistry
and how I wanted to put myself out there. And
I feel like when you make these different connections and
learning from professors that have been in the industry and
(11:47):
other students from different backgrounds, I feel like you can
learn a lot and learn a lot about your yourself
and figuring out your brand and really understanding who you
are as an artists.
Speaker 3 (12:01):
Yeah, that's and I love that, and it's it is
it is like developing as an artist. It's it's like
because this, you know, it's a whole thing. Like you're right,
you are your brand. That's very important, Yeah, very important.
If you could collaborate with any artist living or dead,
oh would it be? And why?
Speaker 4 (12:21):
Oh that's a really good question. I would say, hmmm,
I love Woudney Huston, That's who I studied. But I
would say Chris Brown. Yeah, every year, Chris Brown or Kaylani,
(12:42):
Like they literally come out with bangers and I'm just
like in all I will listen to.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, No, that's that's great and that's good.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Yeah yeah they Yeah.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Chris Brown, I mean, I don't know how he doesn't.
The guy is on tour and I hear like his
show is like two hours long.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
It's like how Oh I know because I remember like
going to one of his shows and this was like
back when I was in high school. So I can't
imagine like how good it was like this time because
it was really good when I saw in my high school.
But I've been seeing some clips and I'm like, oh, okay,
like I like this, So I definitely need to go
(13:23):
to another concept of his right right.
Speaker 3 (13:26):
Absolutely. You know, I love that your music empowers young
women and just women in general, you know, relationships and
self discovery. But do you feel like especially women in
this in the music world. And I hate to say this,
but the whole you know, it's just like being a
woman on top of being an African American woman in
(13:47):
the music world is a bit, it can be a lot.
How do you navigate that world? And do you feel
that the music industry it's getting better in favor of women.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Yeah, I feel like they can do a lot better
with women and really prioritizing Black women because we have
to work ten times harder than any any other race
or you know, any anybody. So I feel as if
(14:23):
like we really have to do more. But also I
feel like we just worked ten times harder as black
women and with like a male ran industry, we just
can't settle for us because they will literally walk all
(14:46):
over us and I wouldn't allow it. And also, just
having people surrounded by you that really care about you
in this industry means a lot. And yeah, that's a
real backbone.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yeah, and it's that's such a very important thing, like
just having a mentor that you trust, sure that you
know that wants to see you thrive, because unfortunately, this
business is very up and down, and you know, there's
a lot of characters that you think want to have
your back and then you find out, oh no it's
(15:21):
not the case. So so important for sure. You mentioned
not copying others, How do you protect your authenticity and
you know social media driven music world.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yeah, I feel I feel like you can like take
little you know things and just add it to you.
But make it your own. I always because I like
how my music is nineties early two thousands, nostalgic vibes
like I just I don't know, I just love that
(15:57):
era and it makes me feel genuinely good. But I
I love like Aliyah, I love I love Mariah, I
love Kailani, I love Mariah the scientists, Like I think
you could put all those together and make it into you.
(16:17):
So as long as you make it your own, you're
all good.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely, And I love that nineties is honestly
though R and B and your and your style is
is honestly, I feel like it's not what do you
call it, appreciate more, you know, especially in the mainstream,
like it's.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
But it's like the.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Best artist you've listened to, some amazing people, I mean Aliyah, Maria,
carry Yourself, Brandy. I mean, the list goes on right,
just like Summer Walker. I mean there's but but it's
still there's so many women in this and the hits
are like, there's so many hits coming through with all
(17:00):
these women you listen. But it seems like the industry,
the mainstream I doesn't really play them often or they
play them, but it's not taken seriously as like, you know,
opposed to like a country album or a country song
or pop.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
You know, do you feel like it's.
Speaker 3 (17:19):
You know, the music industry has to change to ben
to make you know, like like, for instance, I'm a
horror filmmaker and the horror genre isn't taken seriously right
Versus a drama film. It's taking more seriously. You can
get Academy Award for that genre. But horror genre is
just like you know, it's like it's a lot of it,
(17:42):
but it's not taken seriously.
Speaker 4 (17:44):
So I was thinking R and B.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Is it the mainstream, the people that the powers that
be that control it, or do you think that it's
just something that the more art more women are and
b artists out there that support each other. Is it
your you guys are responsibility to keep that train going
or is it thee I.
Speaker 4 (18:05):
Feel like we could keep that train going, but I
think we need other supporters to back up because it's
I mean, we have social media, we have we have radio.
A lot of people aren't listening to radio anymore like that,
but I feel like we should be pushed more. I
(18:26):
feel like R and B is coming back. Yeah, in
a sense because I've been seeing like so many different people,
like covering Leon Thomas his his album, Like his album
is really good, like all the money long, like R
coming back, R and B is coming back, like that
(18:47):
that feeling of you know, I don't know, just having
that five that you can just like chill with, like
I feel like it is coming back. I mean yeah,
but needs to be pushed more.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Absolutely, you talked about starting your own label. What kind
of artists would you want to sign? And uh, nurture.
Speaker 4 (19:12):
I don't like to be put in the box, but
I like that I would. I would want to work
with all types of artists. My main focus would be
Saint Louis talent. It's so it's so when I tell you,
it's so many different like hiitten talented people here in
Saint Louis. Like I have went to a concert at
(19:34):
the City Winery. It was absolutely excellent. It was musicians
from Saint Louis and I don't know Saint Louis people
got some hitters. And also like even people that I've
worked with or young artists, hard working artists that are
striving to be great. I want to do that. I
(19:57):
want to help, like I want to find what to help.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I love that. Yeah, I don't know what's her name?
Speaker 4 (20:05):
Is it? Is it?
Speaker 3 (20:07):
What's her name? She's a rapper. I think she's from
Saint Louis. Yeah right, she's.
Speaker 4 (20:16):
I actually went to a concert when I lived in Boston.
It was it was so fun.
Speaker 3 (20:21):
Yeah, yeah, it's like I remember, Yeah, I do. I
do know a few artists from there, so yeah, definitely
a lot of talent for sure, for sure.
Speaker 4 (20:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
You you you mentioned wanting to get into coffee, fashion,
live events, all that good stuff.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
I love that.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
I love that you you like you said you want
you don't want to be put in a box, and
I feel like that's the best way to grow as
an artist. So yeah, kudos to you for wanting to,
you know, follow those passions too and not just music.
Speaker 4 (20:55):
Yeah, for sure. And I heard you mentioned that you
do you do horror films. I actually just filmed one.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
Did you really? Wow?
Speaker 4 (21:07):
It was so fun. I just got into acting, So
I'm really loving it. So super fun.
Speaker 3 (21:15):
Oh that's cool. What was what can we expect it
sometime soon? To watch it somewhere it.
Speaker 4 (21:21):
Should be sown. I'm not sure going to be out,
but I just had to because I thought that was
super cool.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
That's awesome, And I love that you did horror and
that's you know, because it's it's so funny. A lot
of people, you know, say, a lot of a lot
of African Americans don't do horror. I'm like, yeah, we do,
We definitely do. Yeah, we're out here, especially.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
With like Jordan Pill's films. Yeah, Like I think it's cool.
I especially love Fall in Halloween, so I think it's
fun to watch scary movies and jump out of my.
Speaker 3 (22:01):
I love that you've accomplished so much already. What's next
for you in twenty twenty five and beyond what's next?
Speaker 4 (22:12):
I definitely want to be touring. I want to be
in movies. I want to be on Broadway, Like I
really want to do it all. Like I just I
want to just sing and do everything that I love,
owned businesses, support people in Saint Louis, Like, I really
want to do it all.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
I love that. I love that you're also giving back
to the community. I feel like that's so important to do. Like,
you know, a lot of people like could they kind
of go away from when it, you know, especially certain industry,
Like if you're in the entertainment business. Sometimes we forget
to go back, get back to the place we come from.
But I love that so clude see you and your
(22:55):
mouth to God's ears. I'm sure it will happen with
that voice, It's it's amazing, you know, definitely, Yeah, you
got it for sure so much. Thank you, absolutely absolutely so.
I love asking this question and there is no wrong answer,
I promise. The three the three levels, yeah, the three
levels of influence, money, power, and respect. If you could
(23:19):
choose only one of those things, which one would you choose?
Speaker 4 (23:22):
And why? I feel like respect honestly, I feel if
if you have respect, if people respect you, you can
get all three like money power, like respect goes a
long way and it will take you so far and
(23:43):
where you want to be. And I feel like it
will most definitely get you money and power honestly. But yeah,
definitely respect.
Speaker 3 (23:53):
That's a great answer. Yeah, so you know, yeah, I
love I love asking this question too because I think
a lot of women and just a lot of people
in general who are in this industry or even trying
to get in the business of music and maybe just
don't really know how to What advice would you give
to them? Those up and coming or people that just
(24:16):
try to make it happen.
Speaker 4 (24:18):
Yeah, I would say keep working hard, keep being you.
Do not change who you are for somebody, and also
don't settle for less. Know you are the prize and
dream big.
Speaker 3 (24:33):
What do you want people to walk away with? Like,
what message do you want people? Like?
Speaker 4 (24:39):
Any men or women?
Speaker 3 (24:40):
It could just be anybody.
Speaker 4 (24:42):
I want you to feel like a bad bitch by
the men too, that's right, Yeah, okay, Like I want
you to feel I want to feel you were that
girl or you were that guy. Like I want you
to stand tall. I want you to feel like I
can walk out of this situation that doesn't make me
(25:03):
proud of who I am. You know, I can get up,
I can stand up, go outside and just do me.
Do you like? That's how I want you to feel,
especially with outside that period, Like I want you to
be outside but safe.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
Exactly exactly outside, but save absolutely you know. I I
gotta I gotta let you go. But this I got
so many questions to ask you, but I'm gonna wind
it in. My last question to you would be what
was the is there a song on you know? When
you did release that album? Was the hardest to make
(25:49):
Was there a song on there that just wasn't like
emotionally hard too, like record and how did you get
through it?
Speaker 4 (26:01):
I don't think I had a song on there that
was super hard for me to record yet, because all
of them reflect me and anything I sing, I would
have to sing it with emotion and it has to
make me feel something in order for it for in
order for it to make the audience feel something. So
(26:25):
I feel I don't think any of my songs on
the EP was really hard for me.
Speaker 3 (26:33):
Yeah, Okay, that's that's good. That's good. Okay, She's like,
it's just all me. I'm good. I love it. What's
something people might not realize about the grind behind your
and your success because I mean, you make it look easy.
Speaker 4 (26:54):
I ain't. It ain't. The social media part is like
I think that's my most difficult part, Like social media,
but really getting my songs out there on social media
and really like building my audience, building my fan base.
I'm I want to continue to build that. So that's
(27:18):
something like I'm overcoming and really getting out of my
comfort zone and wanting to learn more. And also honestly,
I think that's it.
Speaker 3 (27:31):
I like that. Yeah, I love that. And are you
on TikTok you going there doing the little dances and stuff.
Speaker 4 (27:37):
I'm on TikTok. I'm doing a little bit of the dances.
I'm doing a little bit of me.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
That's great, that's great. Where can people follow you on
social media to just keep up with everything you got
going on?
Speaker 4 (27:51):
You can follow me on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, all of
it at High on Morgan, Hi g h O N
High on Morgan and you can find my music on
all major platforms Pandora, Apple Music, Spotify.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
Yeah, nice, nice, Well, thank you so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (28:12):
It was a pleasure.
Speaker 3 (28:13):
And congrids on your your your new songs. It's awesome.
I really enjoyed it. And yeah, come back anytime.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
Yes, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
Absolutely nice being to you too, and thank you all
for listening and always remember to live.
Speaker 4 (28:31):
Love, laugh.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
We'll see you guys next time. Goodbye,