Morgan Page and the Art of Always Learning (Exclusive Interview)

Morgan Page is well-known for his huge progressive and electro house sound. He’s also well-known for his incredible ballads partnering rousing chorus lines with uplifting vocals, with iconic tracks like In the Air and Fight For You having graced the radio airwaves and made many a summer playlist. Beyond that, Page has cemented his position in the dance music community with huge collaborations with the likes of deadmau5, Sultan + Ned Shepherd, BT, vocal duo Tegan and Sara, and vocalist Lissie.

With such an impressive and extensive resumé, it’s no wonder Morgan Page has remained at the forefront of the scene, and remains frequently sought-after for a well-rounded festival lineup. It’s no wonder his tracks still play for all audiences, and 2017 will be no exception. With his new single Candles, and a national tour kicking off this year, he’s definitely gotten off to a great start. He even has tour stop right here in Seattle at Foundation Nightclub on February 18th, We sat down with him in an exclusive interview to discuss touring, new music, and his personal aspirations.

1. You recently released Candles alongside Steve James, making this your first release of the year: What was the inspiration behind the track? What new things did Steve James bring to the table? Any challenges/highlights?

MP: Candles was all about exploring a fun collaboration with Steve James. We riffed in the studio and built an instrumental, and then re-worked it 9 times around a demo vocal until we had something we loved. It’s a departure from my usual stuff, and that was the point – try something new and see what happens! Steve and I have different but complementary styles, so it was fun to push each other and build a unique sound that wasn’t the usual 128 BPM.

2. You chose release Candles with Proximity, who has transitioned from Youtube to a fully-fledged record label, making it their first official release. What made you choose this label? How was different about working with Proximity for this release?

MP: Proximity is a great curator of music, and I was already a fan of their channel – so it was great timing to be their first official release. Candles didn’t seem like a natural fit for typical record labels, so I think it made sense for Proximity – they are pioneers in social media and music.

3. As someone who’s been in the game for a while, what kinds of things do you find yourself still learning? How do you “stay fresh” as electronic music evolves?

MP: Constant learning or “binge-learning” has been a big theme for me this year.. learning from other producers, getting better at playing instruments, strengthening my own singing voice. There’s always a lot to tackle.

4. How do you like performing at festivals versus smaller venues?

MP: I think the music I play best suites large venues, but it’s fun to play intimate venues and clubs like my upcoming shows in Boise (2/17) and Seattle (2/18) because I love meeting the fans and hanging out for a bit afterwards. That never happens at festivals because you can’t get past the barricades. It’s also nice playing clubs because you have more time to be creative and tell a story through the night.

5. Are there any artists or singers you’re particularly fond of that you’d like to work with in 2017?

MP: Right now I’m compiling a wishlist of singers and producers, I think the key is to find someone complementary, not just a big name, and not someone who has your same strengths.

6. Any advice for budding artists or producers from a seasoned veteran?

MP: I’ve literally put all my advice into the site http://mpquicktips.com and the twitter page http://twitter.com/mpquicktips – so people should definitely check that out. The best tip for getting started is building a good work ethic and getting those 10,000 hours in. If you really want to do music, focus on it. Eat, sleep, and breathe music. Don’t try to be an actor/poetic/comedian/musician. Also – nobody does it alone – you’ll need a mentor, a studio partner, and eventually a team to carry-out your vision.

7. Is there anything you’d like your fans to know?

MP: To the fans – thank you for supporting my music and coming out the shows. We are just getting started!

We’ve been Morgan Page fan since we first saw him. If you’re new to his work, we highly recommend checking him out and allowing his iconic tracks to consume you. Also, head out to Foundation in a couple weeks (tickets available here) and check out how infectious his music really is. We promise you, once you hear his stuff for the first time you’ll wonder why you’ve waited this long. If you are familiar with his work, then you already know how great this upcoming show will be. Chances are one of us from DMNW will be there too, so come out and have a good time with us. Don’t be shy!