Jamie Morgan

Story

Profile

• Musician
• Guitarist
• Percussionist

Instruments

• Guitar
• Vocals
• Percussionist

Genres

• Blues
• Blues Guitar
• Folk
• Folklore
• Folk Music
• African Music
• African Blues

Influences

• Ali Farka Toure
• Howlin Wolf
• Stevie Ray Vaughan

Equipment

• Martin Acoustic
• Fender Stratocaster
• Blackstar Amp
• Aer
• Fender Telecaster
• Djembe
• Congas

What is music to you? What does it give you?

I mean, wow! Music is life, it gives me everything, aligns to every aspect of my life and without it I would not be alive.

What is your music dream?

It's something to do with expressing, closer and closer, some essential creative spark that I feel, which of course is always changing and evolving. Sales and audience reach will always be finite but the essential aspects of creativity seem to be the true riches.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

To paraphrase Babatundi Olatunji, the renowned Nigerian percussionist who launched a musical, drumming movement worldwide - To have a drum/musical instrument in every household.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

Has to be Thriller, Michael Jackson

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Howlin' Wolf, Ali Farka Toure and Stevie Ray Vaughan have probably had the most impact upon me, each opening up whole worlds of music.

What inspires you to make music?

It's a need, I get unhealthy and unhappy if I don't so.. I'm inspired by health and well being! Also a sense of community felt mostly through the community/events drumming work I do.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

I don't tend to think about this that much, beyond being more and more aware that the more relaxed and effortless I can be in my musicality, the better I feel about what i'm doing, I'm sure this translates to the listener. I'm inspired by a multitude of African artists who can play so virtuosically yet so effortlessly too, there's such joy in that combination.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I love it! The music can take on an infinite number of new directions with even just one other person present. Whole other aspects come to life and there's a lot of fun to be had..

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

I don't know, it seems that the possibilities are endless nowadays, but that doesn't mean that anything is easier, I think it's necessary to work damn hard at a lot of things apart from 'simply' the music. The public facing/marketting/promo aspect of being a musician nowadays is not for everyone.. Including me, sometimes!

What do you think of Drooble?

I'm new here, too soon ;-)

What frustrates you most as a musician?

My own limitations and the fact that gigs pay less than they did in the 80's!

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Not as much as I'd like, it's hard to do everything as I have several strands of musical activity that I'm involved in.. In the future I'd like to run a venue.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Be a manager, producer, mixer, engineer, promoter, socialite, tour agent, booking agent.. and something to do with music, too. Oh yeah, be lucky :-)

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Bombino. Veiux Farka Toure. Lettuce.. I'll update as I remember.

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