What is your name?
Mia Morris
What is your genre of music?
I like to experiment. I’m mostly an alt-rock artist but experiment with pop and reggae/ska as well.
Give us a little bio about you.
I grew up in Indianapolis and started to play the drums when I was 9. Come 11, I was picking up the guitar, bass, keys, and really anything I could get my hands on. When I was 13 I wrote and released my first song, and my family and I moved to Nashville shortly after. We’ve been here almost 4 years now. Since then, I’ve played for hundreds of different artists on various instruments as a sideman. More recently, I’ve been focusing a lot on my personal artistry and I write, record, and produce all of my music in my basement.
What made you go into music?
Growing up, my parents would always play the best music around the house, and I’ve always had such a burning passion for it. Whether I was dancing, singing, or drumming, I was drawn to the art of music. For some reason, I always had an obsession with drums and wanted to be a drummer so bad. The day I borrowed my neighbor’s old drum set was the start of where I am now.
Who are your influences?
I love the Beatles. I love great song writing, beautiful melodies with interesting progressions and lyrics. I also love the aggression and dissonance of Grunge and some heavier genres. At the end of the day, however, I’m influenced by anything and everything I see. Pretty much, I think every musician/songwriter is influenced by what came before them, and everyone interprets their influences differently. Even if I listen to something and decide that I’m not much of a fan, it still influences me knowing that I have examples of things I like, don’t like, and want to avoid while writing.
Are you signed?
Nope. However, I play for signed artists all the time which shows me the good and the bad of the traditional music business.
You released your single ‘We Were Never Friends ’, tell us more about the single.
It’s a rock song that combines a bunch of elements that I like. On one -hand, it’s a relationship gone bad anthem, but on the other, it’s got enough fun to make it less tragic.
What is the meaning behind the single?
The song is based on the old question, “can we still be friends?” It’s basically just a fun way of telling someone to fuck off.
What was the writing and recording process like?
Writing and recording are two of my absolute favorite things to do, so it is always such a fun process, no matter what song I’m working on. With everything I release, I record all the instruments and vocals. Songs sometimes take new directions halfway through a recording. I’m fine with that, and I generally just let the song go wherever my ideas take it.
Describe the track in two words.
Oh, oo-woah
Who did you work with on the single?
My co-writers were Jessica Cayne and Mike Fiorentino. The rest is just me and my basement
Will we see a Music Video for the single and if so what can we expect
Yes! This music video was a lot of fun because it was a one-take video. No cuts, edits, or other angles pop up in this video because the whole thing was recorded continuously. I pick up several instruments while I wander around a cool location in East Nashville.
Will we see an EP or Album and if so what can we expect?
Right now, I’m mostly just focused on releasing singles. I have about three albums worth of singles released, and I like doing it that way.
What else can we expect in 2021?
Of course, new music will always be on its way, but I’m really hoping for more live show opportunities! I’m playing as a sideman, touring with some other artists at festivals including Bonnaroo
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
It doesn’t sound very goal-oriented, but I’d love to be doing what I get to do now. I record and put out a ton of music as an artist, and my day job is making noise on other instruments for other artists.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
YOLO.’
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
If you’re talking about gear there are plenty of things, but in general, there is one thing that I hope I always remember that I see artists forget too often when I play as a sideman. Shows are not like records, or at least I don’t think they should be. Shows are a specific moment in time that a group of people share. I don’t want to forget to appreciate whatever is happening right now, right in front of me, and how the music is affecting all of us. We’ve all been to shows where there are really magic moments, but I don’t think they happen if you’re just going through the motions.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yup, Mia Morris on all platforms
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Raymond Haynes
August 11, 2021 at 4:50 pm
Mia Morris is the real deal. You will not find many more individuals more talented or intelligent than her, especially at her age. Not sure how “famous” she’ll end up being with the general public, but she will be very successful and well known in the music universe. That’s a fact you can bank on.