The Sit Down with Morgan Wade
There is an emerging sense of excitement in a lot of circles surrounding the debut album from Virginia-based Americana artist Morgan Wade and when you listen to her forthcoming release “Reckless” it is clear to see why! The record which will drop on March 19th through Thirty Tigers was produced by Sadler Vaden (who is best known as the guitarist for Jason Isbell in one of the most highly regarded bands in all genres: The 400 Unit) is one of the most impactful records you will encounter on first listen and justifies why the Americana community is ready to receive something special. We recently hung out with Morgan over Zoom to learn more about this artist that everyone will soon be talking about!
After digesting the album before speaking to her, to find out more about her I headed to what has now become the biggest window into everyone’s lives: Instagram. From here you see a painted lady with a lot of ink who like me seems to wear a beanie hat a lot, but beyond this and being a dog mama, what else goes on in the world of Morgan Wade?
“That pretty much sums it up right there! Other than the Ultra Running, I run a lot and I feel like that’s all I have been doing since the world shut down. Running, playing with my dog and trying to push this record that’s about to come out!”
Talking about the world shutting down and looking to bring a record out, how much did this impact putting the album together in addition to life off the road?
“I haven’t played a show in almost a year. I did go to one venue and do like a livestream, not a real show with people and even that was a good while ago but it’s not been horrible. We were really lucky because we finished recording everything a week before we went into lockdown. We had no idea and then the following week it was we’re going to have to stay inside for two weeks which turned into much more than that. We got really lucky with that and everything else that needed to be done for it, we didn’t need to be in person to do that so I could talk to everybody on Skype or FaceTime or whatever. It’s funny because everything that I’ve done since then has been virtual and all of these people I have talked to and become friends with, I have never actually met them so it will be nice to be able to do that.”
The upcoming record titled “Reckless” will be her debut solo release which will drop on March 19th through Thirty Tigers. The project is not only her first release but is the result of her first time working with her producer Sadler Vaden to which I asked her how this partnership with a member of The 400 Unit first formed?
“I was playing a festival and a guy came up to me after my set and said hey, I’m Jason Isbell’s guitar tech, the guys really like your sound and can I get a cd or something like that? So, I gave him a demo and he took it, but I didn’t expect to hear anything. Then the next day I had an email from Sadler asking would I like to chat because he loved my sound, saying we should write together and we started chatting back and forth on FaceTime. When he was off tour, I went to Nashville and wrote with him where we just clicked and everything went really well. He said he was starting to produce records and I needed a producer so it was really organic and happened naturally. Everything fell into place and after that, we recorded a couple of demos and that started getting passed around, so that’s how I got the booking agent out there and met my manager then the label, so all these things came off meeting Sadler.”
After digesting the album before speaking to her, to find out more about her I headed to what has now become the biggest window into everyone’s lives: Instagram. From here you see a painted lady with a lot of ink who like me seems to wear a beanie hat a lot, but beyond this and being a dog mama, what else goes on in the world of Morgan Wade?
“That pretty much sums it up right there! Other than the Ultra Running, I run a lot and I feel like that’s all I have been doing since the world shut down. Running, playing with my dog and trying to push this record that’s about to come out!”
Talking about the world shutting down and looking to bring a record out, how much did this impact putting the album together in addition to life off the road?
“I haven’t played a show in almost a year. I did go to one venue and do like a livestream, not a real show with people and even that was a good while ago but it’s not been horrible. We were really lucky because we finished recording everything a week before we went into lockdown. We had no idea and then the following week it was we’re going to have to stay inside for two weeks which turned into much more than that. We got really lucky with that and everything else that needed to be done for it, we didn’t need to be in person to do that so I could talk to everybody on Skype or FaceTime or whatever. It’s funny because everything that I’ve done since then has been virtual and all of these people I have talked to and become friends with, I have never actually met them so it will be nice to be able to do that.”
The upcoming record titled “Reckless” will be her debut solo release which will drop on March 19th through Thirty Tigers. The project is not only her first release but is the result of her first time working with her producer Sadler Vaden to which I asked her how this partnership with a member of The 400 Unit first formed?
“I was playing a festival and a guy came up to me after my set and said hey, I’m Jason Isbell’s guitar tech, the guys really like your sound and can I get a cd or something like that? So, I gave him a demo and he took it, but I didn’t expect to hear anything. Then the next day I had an email from Sadler asking would I like to chat because he loved my sound, saying we should write together and we started chatting back and forth on FaceTime. When he was off tour, I went to Nashville and wrote with him where we just clicked and everything went really well. He said he was starting to produce records and I needed a producer so it was really organic and happened naturally. Everything fell into place and after that, we recorded a couple of demos and that started getting passed around, so that’s how I got the booking agent out there and met my manager then the label, so all these things came off meeting Sadler.”
Recording an album with the backing of a label and a producer like Sadler was a new experience and very different to putting music out on her own like she did with her previous release with her band The Stepbrothers back in 2018, so how did the process of creating and looking to be releasing the record feel?
“It was smooth once I finally got in there! I’m the sort of person that always wants things done now but clearly that’s not how things work. It was a two-year process here but once it started going it went really fast, honestly it was a really smooth process. I have a good team of people to work with. It seemed like we were going to put it out and then we were saying to push it back, push the date back so it feels weird that the time is nearly here but I am really excited to get it out. I’ve had to keep this a secret for so long and it will be really nice to not have that.”
“Reckless” as a record is a real statement! It is a very powerful story that really paints a picture of Wade as artist and the journey she has been on to get here. When you listen to it lyrically and as a complete body of work, it is not just complete and cohesive but also is deep and reflective whilst not being overpowering on the listener. Vocally and sonically however, I definitely would draw similarities as a starting point to Elle King or particularly Grace Potter if you are not familiar with her as an artist.
“I think my sound has changed and I’m happy about that as far as production and everything goes but my lyrics are still authentic. I know some people have spoken out to say that they hope it’s just acoustic stuff but I’m like Nah! That’s not going to happen! I don’t want people to think that just because the sound is different, you sacrifice lyrics. It’s still very authentic and real. I had a good time working on this record and I worked really hard on it as did Sadler, so I just want people to see that and for them to enjoy it. The three songs so far that we’ve released of it, it’s all been positive so I’m ready for people to hear the rest of the record. Some of these songs were written two years ago and a lot has changed since then, so it’s cool for me to look back but people are going to hear this record and I don’t even feel like I’m the same person that I was when I recorded this. We’ve all changed and it’s got me looking ahead to record number two already.”
We talked about how Americana as a genre is such a melting pot in the way it does tread the boundaries of other genres without quite stepping into them and how as result of this it is not as constrained to fit a set mould.
“I like that, when you put the Americana label on something, you can do so many different things and nobody is going to look at it to say it has to be more country or needs to be a little more pop or rock where you need to stay in your own lane. All I would listen to for the longest time was Elvis Presley, I was the biggest fan and I was obsessed with him. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school when I discovered Americana music and being more into that, thinking what is this? That opened up so many doors right there hearing Jason Isbell, American Aquarium, Turnpike Troubadours, Trampled by Turtles and all that sort of stuff where I saw there was a different side. It was nice to get that introduction and see that these people write real songs, I can get behind this, it’s not some kind of cheap commercial stuff that I don’t quite understand what they’re talking about.”
A lot of the acts that she mentioned as influences have an association with her label but beyond this what has she found about working with Thirty Tigers that has made this perfect fit for her releasing her debut project?
“When I met with David Macias, the head of the label, I had met with several different labels but he told me he loved it and wanted to work with me but continue taking these other meetings and go see what they can offer you, see what they are looking at and to me that was such a big thing because none of the other labels were saying that kind of thing. He was like hey, this is your first record, the first real serious thing you have done, it’s got to be the best and it’s got to feel right. He believed in everything, he wasn’t wanting to change anything, he liked exactly what Sadler and I were doing, was going to let me be myself, be creative and it wasn’t like I was going to be signed to Thirty Tigers and they were going to shelf me for two years. They wanted to put it out compared to the big labels and as my first time working with a label, I didn’t want to bite off more than I can chew and get stuck. They are all just super nice, down to earth people who genuinely care so it’s been the perfect fit for me.”
“It was smooth once I finally got in there! I’m the sort of person that always wants things done now but clearly that’s not how things work. It was a two-year process here but once it started going it went really fast, honestly it was a really smooth process. I have a good team of people to work with. It seemed like we were going to put it out and then we were saying to push it back, push the date back so it feels weird that the time is nearly here but I am really excited to get it out. I’ve had to keep this a secret for so long and it will be really nice to not have that.”
“Reckless” as a record is a real statement! It is a very powerful story that really paints a picture of Wade as artist and the journey she has been on to get here. When you listen to it lyrically and as a complete body of work, it is not just complete and cohesive but also is deep and reflective whilst not being overpowering on the listener. Vocally and sonically however, I definitely would draw similarities as a starting point to Elle King or particularly Grace Potter if you are not familiar with her as an artist.
“I think my sound has changed and I’m happy about that as far as production and everything goes but my lyrics are still authentic. I know some people have spoken out to say that they hope it’s just acoustic stuff but I’m like Nah! That’s not going to happen! I don’t want people to think that just because the sound is different, you sacrifice lyrics. It’s still very authentic and real. I had a good time working on this record and I worked really hard on it as did Sadler, so I just want people to see that and for them to enjoy it. The three songs so far that we’ve released of it, it’s all been positive so I’m ready for people to hear the rest of the record. Some of these songs were written two years ago and a lot has changed since then, so it’s cool for me to look back but people are going to hear this record and I don’t even feel like I’m the same person that I was when I recorded this. We’ve all changed and it’s got me looking ahead to record number two already.”
We talked about how Americana as a genre is such a melting pot in the way it does tread the boundaries of other genres without quite stepping into them and how as result of this it is not as constrained to fit a set mould.
“I like that, when you put the Americana label on something, you can do so many different things and nobody is going to look at it to say it has to be more country or needs to be a little more pop or rock where you need to stay in your own lane. All I would listen to for the longest time was Elvis Presley, I was the biggest fan and I was obsessed with him. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school when I discovered Americana music and being more into that, thinking what is this? That opened up so many doors right there hearing Jason Isbell, American Aquarium, Turnpike Troubadours, Trampled by Turtles and all that sort of stuff where I saw there was a different side. It was nice to get that introduction and see that these people write real songs, I can get behind this, it’s not some kind of cheap commercial stuff that I don’t quite understand what they’re talking about.”
A lot of the acts that she mentioned as influences have an association with her label but beyond this what has she found about working with Thirty Tigers that has made this perfect fit for her releasing her debut project?
“When I met with David Macias, the head of the label, I had met with several different labels but he told me he loved it and wanted to work with me but continue taking these other meetings and go see what they can offer you, see what they are looking at and to me that was such a big thing because none of the other labels were saying that kind of thing. He was like hey, this is your first record, the first real serious thing you have done, it’s got to be the best and it’s got to feel right. He believed in everything, he wasn’t wanting to change anything, he liked exactly what Sadler and I were doing, was going to let me be myself, be creative and it wasn’t like I was going to be signed to Thirty Tigers and they were going to shelf me for two years. They wanted to put it out compared to the big labels and as my first time working with a label, I didn’t want to bite off more than I can chew and get stuck. They are all just super nice, down to earth people who genuinely care so it’s been the perfect fit for me.”
Some things in life however are not as straightforward or as easy to talk about. As individuals, we face times or experiences in our lives that are not always comfortable, they shape us but we learn from them. This is not always a pleasant conversation to bring up yet seeing how Morgan had previously been very open and honest about her own battles in the past, we talked about the effect of an addiction along with not only the steps to overcome problems but also how brave and important it is to be open about it and more importantly the impact it can have on helping someone else and bringing a positive impact to them.
“I was in New York and we had played a show. We were only going to be there for three days and I just got hammered, I drank more that night than I’d ever drank. As soon as I got to the room, I had to start drinking and it was just drink, drink, drink and I woke up the next morning with no recollection of the night before. It was just the weirdest feeling, I was obviously very hungover but it was something more than that in my head and I really realised that if you keep doing this somehow you are going to end up killing yourself. You’re never going to progress and enjoy your life if you keep going down this hole. I had been that way before, I’m going to stop drinking and get it together but it would last for a week, then the weekend would come and be like OK, I’m good now but this feeling would not go away. I left New York, the last drink I had was in Penn Station, I took a sip of a beer and thought I can’t! After that it’s been almost four years. It’s not that I have to work on still because I think it’s been so long that I forget why I got sober, you could think you’re a different person now and you could probably handle it but I’m like no! I had to watch things like social media consumption because I had this personality where it’s all or nothing for me, so I really have to dial it back and all sorts of things that remind you.”
As I had led into discussing this topic, you are naturally conscious. It’s something that unless you have been through it yourself, is something that you can’t understand but you are asking someone to expose a vulnerability that could not just be uncomfortable but has bigger risks. I brought up one of my own experiences with an eating disorder and how beyond the physiological impact and the effect on you as a person, this is a social impact. You learn that this doesn’t just affect you but the people who you care for.
“When I was in that mind of drinking, saying whatever and doing whatever it does hurt the people around you. I remember throwing my boyfriend a twenty first Birthday party but we actually never made it to the surprise party that I had thrown him because I was so drunk and totally forgot. Stuff like that, when I look back was hurting the people around me and when you text your mom and your grandma saying I’m not drinking anymore then getting a response saying Thank God! You realise is probably a good thing that you’re getting sober, I think it’s improved my relationships, my friendships and causes me to be present.”
Then finally, as we are all excited about the prospect of live shows returning once more and on this side of the Atlantic we now have a roadmap for when things may be able to open back up so I explored whether a trip across the pond was something that is likely to be on the cards in the future:
“Everyone I know has been saying that when the world opens back up that I’ve got to get over there and play, you’re going to love it. It’s so different, people aren’t just sitting there shot gunning beers and screaming whilst you’re playing, they’re listening. I would rather play to ten people that really appreciate it than a thousand people that are just whatever, all my friends that have played over there and my manager, she talks about it all the time and says she can’t wait to take you over so I’m super pumped for that.”
Reckless Track Listing
1. Wilder Days
2. Matches and Metaphors
3. Other Side
4. Don't Cry
5. Mend
6. Last Cigarette
7. Take Me Away
8. Reckless
9. Northern Air
10. Met You
Morgan Wade’s debut album “Reckless” will be released on March 19th through Thirty Tigers which you can find HERE for Pre-Save or Pre-Order. To find out more about Morgan, make sure you check her out on Twitter Instagram Facebook
“I was in New York and we had played a show. We were only going to be there for three days and I just got hammered, I drank more that night than I’d ever drank. As soon as I got to the room, I had to start drinking and it was just drink, drink, drink and I woke up the next morning with no recollection of the night before. It was just the weirdest feeling, I was obviously very hungover but it was something more than that in my head and I really realised that if you keep doing this somehow you are going to end up killing yourself. You’re never going to progress and enjoy your life if you keep going down this hole. I had been that way before, I’m going to stop drinking and get it together but it would last for a week, then the weekend would come and be like OK, I’m good now but this feeling would not go away. I left New York, the last drink I had was in Penn Station, I took a sip of a beer and thought I can’t! After that it’s been almost four years. It’s not that I have to work on still because I think it’s been so long that I forget why I got sober, you could think you’re a different person now and you could probably handle it but I’m like no! I had to watch things like social media consumption because I had this personality where it’s all or nothing for me, so I really have to dial it back and all sorts of things that remind you.”
As I had led into discussing this topic, you are naturally conscious. It’s something that unless you have been through it yourself, is something that you can’t understand but you are asking someone to expose a vulnerability that could not just be uncomfortable but has bigger risks. I brought up one of my own experiences with an eating disorder and how beyond the physiological impact and the effect on you as a person, this is a social impact. You learn that this doesn’t just affect you but the people who you care for.
“When I was in that mind of drinking, saying whatever and doing whatever it does hurt the people around you. I remember throwing my boyfriend a twenty first Birthday party but we actually never made it to the surprise party that I had thrown him because I was so drunk and totally forgot. Stuff like that, when I look back was hurting the people around me and when you text your mom and your grandma saying I’m not drinking anymore then getting a response saying Thank God! You realise is probably a good thing that you’re getting sober, I think it’s improved my relationships, my friendships and causes me to be present.”
Then finally, as we are all excited about the prospect of live shows returning once more and on this side of the Atlantic we now have a roadmap for when things may be able to open back up so I explored whether a trip across the pond was something that is likely to be on the cards in the future:
“Everyone I know has been saying that when the world opens back up that I’ve got to get over there and play, you’re going to love it. It’s so different, people aren’t just sitting there shot gunning beers and screaming whilst you’re playing, they’re listening. I would rather play to ten people that really appreciate it than a thousand people that are just whatever, all my friends that have played over there and my manager, she talks about it all the time and says she can’t wait to take you over so I’m super pumped for that.”
Reckless Track Listing
1. Wilder Days
2. Matches and Metaphors
3. Other Side
4. Don't Cry
5. Mend
6. Last Cigarette
7. Take Me Away
8. Reckless
9. Northern Air
10. Met You
Morgan Wade’s debut album “Reckless” will be released on March 19th through Thirty Tigers which you can find HERE for Pre-Save or Pre-Order. To find out more about Morgan, make sure you check her out on Twitter Instagram Facebook
