We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Morrison and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Megan, why did you pursue a creative career?
I chose to be a musician purely for the passion. I certainly didn’t decide to go down this road for the money. If you are reading this and are considering being an artist or musician, make sure it’s something that you truly love and are willing to sacrifice for. That’s not to say you can’t make a lot of money being an artist or a musician, but you shouldn’t plan on it nor should that be your reason for wanting to do it. To be an artist you really have to love your craft. I started singing at an young age, and when I sang this feeling overcame me like I had never felt before. I truly felt alive. That’s still how I feel to this day. Being able to create a sound that moves me and other people is something very powerful. To be able to touch people with my music and possibly change someone’s life…that’s why I do it.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started singing and writing songs when I was very young. I went on to study classical voice performance in college. I moved to NYC when I was 21 to pursue a career in musical theater, but it was there that I fell in love with singing rock music. I started writing my own songs and eventually brought them to life when I moved to Miami and started my band Dorothy’s Surrender. The songs were very grunge rock, 90’s inspired and filled with a lot of angst and anger. I have always expressed my emotions through my music. It wasn’t until 2015 that I really started finding myself spiritually and as a songwriter. That is the year I got sober and decided to change my life. I struggled with alcohol addiction for a long time and it fueled a lot of my songwriting and my anxiety. When alcohol was out of the picture I had a new lease on life. It was time for a fresh start with my music and I decided I wanted to write songs that told my story, where I came from, where I am now and how I have overcome darkness. These days I want to uplift my listeners with my music. I want them to know that it’s ok to mess up. It’s ok to not be ok. It’s also ok to ask for help. We all make mistakes and have regrets, but that doesn’t define who we are. We have the choice to make our future what we want. We have the choice to lift each other up in dark times. This is my brand. This is what my music is all about. I am currently finishing recording my debut solo album under my artist name MORRISON. The songs represent the journey I have been on and how I came out of darkness and created a world beyond my wildest imagination. I learned how to love myself and not live in fear. Getting sober and continuing to pursue my music career was not easy at first. I had a lot of time to really think about my life and what I wanted. I made the decision to keep going and use my music to help others that may be struggling. I want my voice to be heard so I can tell people my story and let them know they are not alone. I decided to start my own music label last year and I haven’t turned back since. I also started my design business 9 Lives Designs Co., that I named after a song I released last year. The song is about finding beauty in suffering and turning it into something extraordinary, which is exactly what I did. I battled my addiction, faced my fears, got to really know myself and decided I wanted more in this life. Now I own two businesses and I’m making music to help make this world a better place. We have the power to change our lives.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I would definitely take them down to Key Biscayne to visit the beaches and do some kayaking. After a long day on the water I would hit up the River Oyster Bar in Brickell. Best oysters in town. Rusty Pelican is cool too if you want water views. For a more relaxing day I would chill out at The Standard and get a nice massage. There’s nothing like laying around the pool and dipping in and out of the plunge pool and hot tub. After a day like that I would probably choose Nobu for dinner. One of my favorite things to do in Miami is head down to Calle Ocho. I LOVE Cuban food and music. I just go where I hear the music. Don’t forget to get a cafecito! Lagniappe is cool for live music and if you want to dance, head to Do Not Sit on the Furniture in Miami Beach. You won’t hear anything mainstream there, which is music to my ears.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My mom deserves so much credit. She was my number one fan from the very beginning. She has always encouraged me to do what I love and what makes me happy. She has supported me through some very hard times in my life and has always been there no matter what. My husband has also been a huge support. He is always there for whatever I need. He encourages me and believes in me, which is so important. He is also very honest when it comes to my music. If I write something that is mediocre he will tell me. I value honesty a lot in a person. My fans also give me a lot of love. I am making this music for them. When I hear someone say that one of my songs really touched them or helped them through a hard time it keeps my fire burning. That is all the motivation I need to keep writing songs and performing.
Website: www.morrisonmusicofficial.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meganmorrisonmusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MMorrisonMusic
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicMeganMorrison/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/morrisonmusic
Other: FanLink for my music: https://fanlink.to/morrison Website for my design Company: http://www.9livesdesigns.co
Image Credits
Michael D. Colanero Sean Pozin Ptah Quammie Cassandra Trcka Joshua Lozano Lito Vidaurre