Alt-Pop Artist Morgan Saint Opens Up About Her Deeply Personal EP ‘HELP’
Alternative-pop talent Morgan Saint is an emotive artist that lives boldly and loves unapologetically. The songstress first got her start in the arts while growing up in her hometown of Long Island – learning the guitar and piano. After attending the New School for Design, she began to obtain buzz for her eclectic debut EP ’17 Hero’. Wasting no time, she went on to release her second project ‘ALIEN’ and in turn, solidified her status as an artist to watch.
Over the past couple of years, Morgan has performed at some of the industry’s biggest festivals and toured with the likes of Banks and Goldfrapp. 2020 has seen the return of Morgan Saint with the release of her brand new EP ‘HELP’. The introspective project has been labelled as her most personal body of work yet. With her new music-making the rounds and plans to release more visuals later this year, Morgan Saint is ready to add a new layer to her artistry.
We were able to chat with her about her favourite instrument, her new EP and so much more. Read the full interview below…
Let’s bring it back a bit. Growing up, which genres of music did you gravitate to the most?
Hip hop, pop-rock, rock, pop, reggae, alternative rock, folk…a little bit of everything really!
When did you decide you wanted to pursue music fully?
I began focusing a lot of my energy into music in the summer of 2016 after I graduated college. It just sort of happened really naturally and I couldn’t be happier that it worked out this way.
Out of all the instruments that you know how to play, which do you favour the most?
Piano!
Your first two projects 17 HERO and ALIEN put you on the map. How did these two EP’s shape you as an artist?
In a lot of ways, making those first two EP’s made me realize what I didn’t want to do moving forward! The experience of making and performing those songs allowed me to learn so much about the industry and my ideal creative process and environment. With that, I was able to better craft this EP and create a working environment that allows me to give all that I have to offer without anyone in the way.
You’ve toured with Banks and Goldfrapp and performed at some of music’s most beloved festivals. Which artist or group has given you the best advice so far?
HMM that’s a good question! I’m not sure if I’ve really received advice, but I definitely admire how singular Banks’ music is. In meeting her and being a fan of her work, I can feel how in control she is of every aspect of everything she does. Sonically, I think she’s a true visionary, and I aspire to be as definitive of an artist as she is.
Let’s discuss your latest EP ‘HELP’ (absolutely fantastic by the way). Can you walk us through the themes and ideas that you wanted to explore on the record?
Really the whole EP addresses the ins and outs of a pretty difficult time in my personal life. I started dating someone like four years ago and quickly fell in love. For the first year of our relationship, they were still deeply entangled with their previous partner. When I think of that year, it still feels really dark. I remember grappling with a lot of self-hatred and feelings of inadequacy. I knew she loved me, but it was really difficult for me to come to terms with the idea of her loving another person while also loving me when I was giving her my all.
We stayed together and continued trying to work through. Fast forward six months, and I found myself developing undeniably deep feelings for my best friend at the time. All of a sudden, the roles were reversed and I found myself in love with two people a the same time. I felt incredibly confused and actively ran away from addressing my feelings by living in a painful, guilt-induced state of denial for over a year until I finally just couldn’t keep running anymore. It was a long, painful journey, but I am now happily living with my “best friend,” now girlfriend. Writing about all of the layers of this situation was an incredibly introspective and cathartic experience.
How do your three projects relate to one another and how do they differ?
I would say they all feel pretty honest. “17HERO” and “alien” were made to be an “album,” but were broken up into two EP’s, so they feel pretty similar to me. “HELP” on the other hand, is a reflection of a much more confident, bold version of myself.
With your new EP making the rounds, what are your plans moving forward? Will we be more new music, visuals for the tracks?
New music for sure, and I have more visuals in the works!
Make sure to watch her video for ‘HELP’ below and listen to her full EP here...
