Tunesmith Bain set for White Star

Jessica Cuthbert talks with alternative soul tunesmith Morgan Bain about his upcoming show at the White Star Hotel June 24.

Tell me about yourself?

I grew up in Perth WA. I wrote my first song when I was 10 and I've been performing for around six years now and have been a full time musician since I left school just over four years ago.

Where did the inspiration come from to be a musician?

My grandmother has been a singer all her life as have I, so I have been around it my whole life. A lot of inspiration came from her as well as some other family members who played and were connected to music in different ways. I got quite a bit of inspiration for music from TV. I have a massive love for film and always have because of that, which I guess is why my music has always been quite cinematic in one way or another.

Tell me about your music?

Writing is the biggest part of my music and it definitely comes first! My music is all about things that I have experienced or am experiencing and usually the music sonically reflects that, it’s all super-personal I suppose. My songs are definitely a way of getting out whatever I’m feeling about different experiences. I love making music that makes people feel something, whatever that feeling is and how they interpret my music is up to them, just as long as they’re feeling something ... that’s what’s really important to me.

How would you describe your sounds and musical influences?

My music is all about big beats, soul, RnB, hip hop, big guitars, piano or keys and big melodies in my shows. Some of my musical influences include D’angelo, Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Anthony Hamilton, Michael Jackson, Prince, Thundercat, Tingsek, The Weeknd, Anderson Paak, Justin Vernon, Donny Hathaway, Justin Timberlake and Stevie Wonder amongst so many others.

Tell me about your past Albany gigs?

I have played in Albany quite a few times at The White Star and I've played at Wignalls Festival too which is always a huge amount of fun and the audiences are always really into it which is great!

I love my Albany audiences as they always come down a bit earlier to watch the support acts too which is great. It’s a beautiful town of people, everyone is so nice and respectful and the band and I have a lot of respect for them.

Can you tell me how your musical career begun?

I always knew that I wanted to do music as my thing. I didn’t really think too much about it being a job because I think I was a bit young to think about making money of it. I suppose that’s why I have enjoyed it so much as my career because at the end of the day I started doing this purely because I just loved it and I still get so stoked when all those people come to the shows because it’s never what I expected. I write and perform music for me ultimately and now that I’m seeing all those people love it as well it just makes me want to be a better artist and work harder in crafting something artistically cool :)

Tell me about what you’ve been up to lately with your performing?

I've been playing constantly all around Australia for quite a while supporting some amazing bands and artists like Ash Grunwald, Kate Miller Heidke, Missy and Xavier Rudd, which has been amazing!

Achievements or highlights over your time as a musician?

There are so many highlights to pick from, from supporting and meeting some amazing artists and writing with them along with playing with them at amazing festivals around the country. Releasing my own records and selling out my own shows have also been big highlights for me as well as being recognised in the industry with songwriting awards!

How have you evolved as a musician?

I have evolved in genre and I also think quality in writing music narratively as well as sonically. I think artists constantly evolve with what they are doing whether its music, photography, painting, dance or whatever. We all change and that’s a normal and an amazing thing.

What can the audience expect to see at the upcoming show?

A lot of new songs and new sounds, a couple of teaser songs that no one has heard from the new EP that will hopefully be dropping august!

Why do you enjoy performing?

I love songwriting ultimately so to be able to showcase those songs that I’ve written is an amazing thing and I just love live shows and audiences. I love how everything is totally driven by energy and if you bring that energy, everyone feels it and reacts usually in the same way. Live shows are completely dependent on vibe I believe and I love that!

What are your future plans and are you working on anything at the moment?

Yes, a lot! I’m working really hard on finishing my up-and-coming EP and also writing for the records after that too, I’m really excited to be writing at the moment!