One voice is all it takes. The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen, elicit tears, or bring you back to a different era altogether. A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities. That holds true for New York-based singer and songwriter Morgan James. On her full-length debut for Epic Records, “Hunter,” she casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice equally inspired by smoky soul, swaggering R&B, theatrical swing, and a virtuosic classical poise.
The Idaho native discovered her passion for music early on and pursued it wholeheartedly at the prestigious Juilliard School. While in the midst of the institution's rigorous academic program, she soon realized that her path would diverge from the classical world. Immersed in classic sixties and seventies soul records, she concurrently experienced a pivotal revelation.
Soon, she would be heard in a big way. In 2008, Morgan booked her first Broadway show—appearing in The Addams Family alongside Nathan Lane, as well as
in prominent and leading roles in Wonderland, Godspell (Turn Back, O Man), and Berry Gordy's Motown: The Musical as Teena Marie. The latter set the stage for her to properly launch her solo career. Gordy recognized the vocalist's immense talent, and introduced her to Doug Morris and L.A. Reid, opening the door for a deal with Epic Records in 2012.
Around the same time, Morgan booked a landmark show at Dizzy’s Club Coca-
Cola, where she paid tribute to Nina Simone with a set of songs that were closely associated with the legendary artist. The incendiary show was recorded and released as the critically acclaimed Morgan James Live on Epic Records. It also proved to be the perfect segue for her first studio album, which was released in June of 2014.
The first single "I Want You" tempers electronic elements with her overpoweringly soulful delivery. The title track and album opener "Hunter" boasts a seductive hook with cinematic noir flair. Flaunting the singer's immense delivery and dynamic presence, it's an undeniable and classy come-on that proves as animalistic as it does magnetic. Morgan assumed co-writing duties on eight of the collection's eleven tracks and even performed all of her own background vocals and harmonies. From the empowering farewell of "Fed Up On You" to the mournful rumination of "You Never Lied", she continually
Since “Hunter’s” release, Morgan’s music videos have accumulated more than 15 millions views (and climbing) and her viral cover of Ariana Grande’s “Break Free” appeared on America’s #1 morning show, Good Morning America. Morgan just returned from a 34-show tour through Europe with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox and is currently with them on a 19-show US tour before heading out for solo dates in the summer. bares it all—both emotionally and musically.
One voice is all it takes. The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen, elicit tears, or bring you back to a different era altogether. A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities. That holds true for New York-based singer and songwriter Morgan James. On her full-length debut for Epic Records, “Hunter,” she casts an unbreakable spell with a powerhouse voice equally inspired by smoky soul, swaggering R&B, theatrical swing, and a virtuosic classical poise.
The Idaho native discovered her passion for music early on and pursued it wholeheartedly at the prestigious Juilliard School. While in the midst of the institution's rigorous academic program, she soon realized that her path would diverge from the classical world. Immersed in classic sixties and seventies soul records, she concurrently experienced a pivotal revelation.
Soon, she would be heard in a big way. In 2008, Morgan booked her first Broadway show—appearing in The Addams Family alongside Nathan Lane, as well as
in prominent and leading roles in Wonderland, Godspell (Turn Back, O Man), and Berry Gordy's Motown: The Musical as Teena Marie. The latter set the stage for her to properly launch her solo career. Gordy recognized the vocalist's immense talent, and introduced her to Doug Morris and L.A. Reid, opening the door for a deal with Epic Records in 2012.
Around the same time, Morgan booked a landmark show at Dizzy’s Club Coca-
Cola, where she paid tribute to Nina Simone with a set of songs that were closely associated with the legendary artist. The incendiary show was recorded and released as the critically acclaimed Morgan James Live on Epic Records. It also proved to be the perfect segue for her first studio album, which was released in June of 2014.
The first single "I Want You" tempers electronic elements with her overpoweringly soulful delivery. The title track and album opener "Hunter" boasts a seductive hook with cinematic noir flair. Flaunting the singer's immense delivery and dynamic presence, it's an undeniable and classy come-on that proves as animalistic as it does magnetic. Morgan assumed co-writing duties on eight of the collection's eleven tracks and even performed all of her own background vocals and harmonies. From the empowering farewell of "Fed Up On You" to the mournful rumination of "You Never Lied", she continually
Since “Hunter’s” release, Morgan’s music videos have accumulated more than 15 millions views (and climbing) and her viral cover of Ariana Grande’s “Break Free” appeared on America’s #1 morning show, Good Morning America. Morgan just returned from a 34-show tour through Europe with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox and is currently with them on a 19-show US tour before heading out for solo dates in the summer. bares it all—both emotionally and musically.
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