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Hi Morgan, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hi! Thanks so much for having me. I’ve been doing well! Just trying to stay productive and sane during the quarantine.
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Aftertaste”?
Aftertaste is a song I wrote a few years ago with a friend of mine, and originally it had more of a sad breakup vibe to it. A few months after I wrote it, I showed it to my friends Loud Luxury, and they immediately had a vision for it. They turned it into the dance banger that it is now!
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
I had the title ‘Aftertaste’ in my phone for a few weeks before we actually wrote it, and I knew that I wanted it to be about holding onto somebody that you know is already long gone. When I went into the studio with my friend Ben, I went into the vocal booth to improv a few ideas and it just sort of flowed out of me.
How was the recording and writing process?
It was super fun! The original version is so different from how it turned out, and I just love what the Loud Luxury guys did with it. I think it’s so cool to have a song that is lyrically a bit sad and dark, but feels like a total party!
What was it like to work with Loud Luxury and how did that relationship develop?
I honestly love those guys so much. We’ve been friends for years and it’s been so cool to see their rise. We met at this speed dating for songwriters event at BMI in LA, and clicked pretty immediately. We really developed a friendship first, and one day when we were hanging out and playing music I showed them the bones of Aftertaste. They asked if I could send it to them to play around with, and that was that!
How did you get to go on sharing each one of your creative inputs and ideas in a rather cohesive way?
I think being friends first made for a really collaborative experience. I remember there was one point where Andrew called me because he wasn’t sure about one of the lyrics. I sent him a bunch of other options and the three of us figured it out together. The guys would send me different versions as they developed out the production, and I would tell them what I thought. It was really seamless and fun.
Do you tend to take a different approach when collaborating with someone else rather than working on your own?
I do think I approach it a little differently. Sometimes when I’m writing by myself and for myself, I get a little more in my head about things, so I try to surround myself with people whose opinions I trust. That way they can tell me if something is good or not! Collaborating on something like ‘Aftertaste’ is so fun because the guys have such a different skill set then me, and it’s cool to bring them into my world and be brought into theirs!
Does the new single mean we can expect any new material – how’s that coming along?
Yes! I finally have an EP that is done, which I’m so excited about. It’s taken me over a year and half to really perfect the project and I’m so proud of it. Right now my team and I are just working out the release details and making sure the project finds the right home!
After being part of the industry for so long – was jumping into the spotlight a rather easy thing to do or rather challenging?
It’s been pretty easy for me. I’ve been doing my own artist stuff for a few years, so I think my fans were excited to have something new from me, and I feel so lucky that the Loud Luxury fans have been so lovely and welcoming!
What would you say has been the most difficult thing so far?
In general the music industry can be pretty tough, and I’ve definitely had my fair share of heartbreaks. ‘Aftertaste’ was actually supposed to come out a few years ago. It was announced and everything, but when ‘Body’ started doing really well, they decided to wait on the release. I was pretty bummed at first, but I am SO grateful that it worked out the way it did… the timing has been really amazing for me!
How have these weird times served as a source of good inspiration for you creatively? Have you gotten to work this to your advantage?
For the most part, I think it has! I really enjoy writing on my own. I go into a sort of creative cocoon and just write like crazy. I’m still having days where I don’t feel particularly creative, but it’s nice to have the time and space to just write whenever I want.
What else is happening next in Morgan St. Jean’s world?
The main thing is this upcoming EP. I’m honestly so proud of it, and I just can’t wait for everyone to hear it!
