Perth musician Morgan Bain has just kicked off a national tour and we were able to find out a little more about him.
Hi Morgan and welcome to Beauty and Lace.
What made you want to pursue a career in music?
I’ve been into music as far back as I can remember and I’ve never thought of doing anything else. It wasn’t like there was a time in my life where it suddenly was a decision I made. It just always was.
You’re a multi-instrumentalist and a song writer, can you tell us what instruments you play?
A bit of everything but mainly guitar, keys/organ and harmonica.
What instrument did you start with?
I started playing guitar at 8 and learnt for quite a few years (but not classically or anything). I was originally taught by a family friend who was a musician and I’ve been playing ever since.
You have been very successful with songwriting competitions, can you give us a rundown of the last couple of years?
The last couple of years I’ve won some WAM Song of the Year awards and a WAMI for Best Blues & Roots Act as well as got to the finals of The International Songwriting Comp in the US and the John Lennon Songwriting Comp (US).
Ive also won Vocalist of the Month at Singers Universe in California.
Where does your songwriting inspiration come from?
From my own life experiences really. My first song I wrote when I was 10 and it was about a homeless man that I saw and I knew how that made me feel and wondered how others felt so wrote about it. Sounds deep I know for someone who was 10 but there you go haha
Can you tell us a little about your new EP What You Believe?
It’s a 6 track EP and mainly recorded at The Wastelands with Joel Quartermain (Eskimo Joe) as my producer. We actually wrote the single IN THE MIDDLE together.
I was just starting to really get into Soul music when this record was put together. It’s got a mix of tracks on it and HOLD ON just won a WAM Song of the Year award which is awesome!
The new single is Why Don’t You Stay, what can you tell us about it?
It’s a new kind of sound for me….dark, moody, alternative soul. It’s a song I wrote about the anxiety you experience when you give your everything to someone and the battle that goes on in your head to control those insecurities and not let them get in the way of how you really feel!
When I write music I really want people to feel something when they hear the song, it’s great if they like it but it’s more important to me that they feel!
How did you come to work with Steve Brown on the clip for Why Don’t You Stay?
He had done a music video for a couple of other artists that I’m friends with and I really liked his stuff so contacted him and it went from there. He was so great to work with!
You’re heading out on a national tour, what can audiences expect?
They can expect a whole lotta soul but at the same time it’s a pretty upbeat show with some fun jams in there as well. There’ll be some songs played from the current EP and also some others from my previous release too.
What has been your career highlight to date?
I’ve been lucky enough to support some really amazing artists in the past 5 years but one highlight was Cold Chisel when I was 17 and I did it solo which was scary and exciting all at the same time. Opening the main stage at the West Coast Blues’n’Roots Festival recently was definitely a highlight too!
Where would you like to see yourself in five years time?
Sharing my music and playing at some big venues around the world would be bloody awesome!
Morgan Bain Tour Dates:
Friday 24 April
ODD FELLOW BAR, FREMANTLE
Thursday 30 April
EXETER, ADELAIDE SA
Friday 1 May
YAH YAH’s FITZROY, VIC
Saturday 2 May
SOOKI LOUNGE, BELGRAVE VIC
Sunday 3 May
THE B-EAST, EAST BRUNSWICK VIC
Thursday 7 May
THE REPUBLIC BAR, NORTH HOBART TAS
Friday 8 May
ROYAL OAK, LAUNCESTON TAS
Saturday 9 May
THE LASS O’GOWRIE HOTEL, WICKHAM NSW
Sunday 10 May
TOWRADJI BEACH HOTEL, WOLLONGONG NSW
Thursday 14 May
FRANKIES PIZZA BY THE SLICE, SYDNEY NSW
Friday 15 May
THE GRAND JUNCTION HOTEL (THE JUNKYARD) MAITLAND NSW
Saturday 16 May
SYDNEY BLUES & ROOTS FESTIVAL, FITZROY HOTEL, WINDSOR NSW
For more info head to morganbain.com
You can also follow Morgan on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
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