Morgxn Talks Non-Traditional Gender Parties, Billie Eilish and Singing From the Heart
Photo Credit: Anna Lee
From singing nursery rhymes in the car with his mom to being cited as inspiration for Billie Eillish’s grammy-nominated single “Bad Guy,” Morgan Isaac Karr best known as Morgxn, is an alt-pop singer-songwriter based in L.A. Morgxn released his official music video for “DON’T THINK ABOUT IT” which is inspired by a non-traditional gender party to start “deeper conversations about gender” in a society that celebrates conservative, heteronormative customs.
The Nashville-born singer released his debut album Vital in 2018 which included his acclaimed lead single “Home” featuring Walk The Moon. The single landed in Top 10 Alternative Radio hits, as well as Billboard Alternative Songs Chart and Billboard Rock Airplay Chart.
Morgxn’s upcoming new EP MERIDIAN: vol 2, is a follow-up to MERIDIAN: vol 1. and is set to release on November 11th.
MERIDIAN: vol 1. was heavily inspired by a “rollercoaster 24-hour period” in which the artist experienced some of his highest highs and lowest lows. MERIDIAN: vol 2. Is an expression of Morgxn’s creative process of being “open” to where his feelings take him.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Tell us about yourself, when did you first become interested in being a musician or the start of your career?
[MORGXN:] If my mom were answering this question, she would talk about this time in the car before I could talk. I was singing along to my favorite nursery rhymes. I have a grandfather who loved to sing and I think I just never saw it as “this is something I want to do”… it was more “this is who I am.” I still wonder if I'm a professional or if I'm just a human who finds the process of writing and singing to ultimately be a healing tool for myself.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How would you describe your music style?
[MORGXN:] I wouldn’t.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Where did your love for music come from, do you have any specific artists or emotions you take major inspiration from in your songwriting?
[MORGXN:] My grandfather was an old crooner. I take a lot of emotion from pain.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Billie Eillish used your song “Home” as inspiration for “Bad Guy,” how does it feel to have been cited for a grammy-nominated song?
[MORGXN:] I am a massive fan of Billie. The day she tweeted about me I had just been dropped from my last label. What I realized in that moment is that this was not the end for me but the beginning. I was inspired at that moment to keep going—and I really appreciate that. None of this would have happened without the impulse and encouragement to continue.
[UNPUBLISHED:] The “Don’t Think About It” music video was inspired by a non-traditional idea of a gender party. What do you want your listeners to take away most from this song and video?
[MORGXN:] I think that capitalism prioritizes comfort over everything else, and while I love a good comfort meal—I'm not denying that—I just think that we can take a closer look at some of the constructs we accept as the “truth.” There are so many rituals connected to wedding and birth and I wonder if the rituals actually keep us connected to our truth or if they are just for show. I think gender is something that is not a new topic but as people are brave enough to say, “your definition of me does not work for me.” We are seeing more beautiful colors come through. I'd love to have people smile while they watch the video, but maybe it also helps them have a deeper conversation about gender with themselves or with family if needed.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was your creative process writing MERIDIAN: vol 2.?
[MORGXN:] I can't really ever articulate the creative process well. Every time I try to pin the tail on the creative donkey, the donkey moves. So I'll just say my process is not knowing my process and being open to where the feeling takes me. And to trust that a song might be hiding behind any random day as long as I'm patient enough to show up to it.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was the most personal or hardest song to write on MERIDIAN: vol 2.?
[MORGXN:] “BURDEN.” I wrote this song in the last few hours of 2019 by myself at night at a piano. It was the loneliest and most broken I felt. Who knew what a whirlwind 2020 and 2021 would be. But this song appeared to just fall out in the final few hours of 2019, and I'm grateful for that.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Out of all the songs you have released on MERIDIAN: vol 2., which one was your favorite to write and why?
[MORGXN:] It’s like choosing a favorite dog in the family and my mother (annoyingly) won’t say which is her favorite! I love them all. I'm very proud of how this EP and how this full project came together.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What message do you want your listeners to take away from MERIDIAN: vol 2.?
[MORGXN:] “You can be broken and still be ok.” “You can be hopeful and still need some space.” “You can be certain and still look away.” “Sometimes the burden is not yours to take.”
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could go back to your younger self and give yourself advice related to your career, what would it be?
[MORGXN:] Stop wanting to be skinny to fit in. Just sing from your heart.
[UNPUBLISHED:] How did the last year of being in quarantine affect you as an artist? Was MERIDIAN: vol 2. a pre-pandemic creation?
[MORGXN:] I’d say the foundation was laid pre-pandemic, but the crafting and creating happened while in quarantine. I think these songs were raising their hands and wouldn’t let me just leave them behind. I had dreams about them. Dreams about MERIDIAN, and ultimately I didn't intend to “make something”—I was just following the thread and that turned into a project.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What’s in store for you during the rest of 2021?
[MORGXN:] The joy of getting to play these songs in a vibrational community with you.
To keep up with the artist’s latest music updates and releases, follow Morgxn’s Instagram and Spotify. Check out the official music video for the new single “DON’T THINK ABOUT IT” here.