Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Morrow.
Hi Mackenzie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved music, and I was good at creative writing in school early on. Eventually, I learned to put them together. My grandparents have an upright piano that I learned to play on. I started piano lessons in first or second grade, joined orchestra and began learning cello in sixth grade, and started writing songs (badly) in maybe eighth grade or so.
I continued writing songs and have continued to refine my craft until this day. My mom and brother definitely have had a big influence on my creativity. My mom briefly took piano lessons when she was little, and she’s gifted in drawing, photography, writing stories, etc. My brother was in drama and advanced chorus, he played in bands, wrote songs, and more. My brother and his best friend were recording when I was in college, and that’s how I was introduced to my producer back in 2015. Since then, I’ve recorded various singles, an EP, my debut album, and a two-song wedding project. My latest music video for “Self,” was directed by my brother, which is really special.
I originally went to college for music composition, but was only there for a semester before fracturing my pelvis, etc. on winter break. I ended up having to take a semester off, and I transferred colleges and switched my major to Sport and Entertainment Management. I’m not really that into sports, so just ignore that part haha. I learned about the music industry through several of my classes, as well as my internships at two different artist management companies. I first interned at Blue Mountain Artists in Charlotte, NC, and later at Q Prime South in Nashville, TN. It’s kind of like a staircase that you’re building one step at a time. It seems each twist and turn on this journey has led me to have realizations, meet different people, and get to the next point on my path. That last internship was a whopping nine years ago, which is crazy to me. Since then, I have learned a lot just by doing. By actually researching and booking gigs, getting the reps in with performances, going through technological frustration and finally learning how to record vocals from home, joining a metal band, doing collaborations with some amazing songwriters, artists, and producers. Having music videos featured in film festivals and a few of my songs on TV. Each step has brought me a little more joy and hope as an artist.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not. A big struggle that I had was thinking I was going to automatically do well in life because I made straight A’s in school. I was smart. I graduated valedictorian from my high school and magna cum laude from college. Everyone said I was going to be successful. I realized that choosing music was not so cut and dry like going to school to be a nurse or an engineer. Obviously those things are difficult to do and I applaud the people in those industries, but there is more of a step-by-step plan when you choose something conventional. I’ve never been interested in doing anything normal, and that’s been really hard sometimes. I’m the person with my head in the clouds.
I actually have been in the fitness industry for over a decade, and even started my own fitness and nutrition business back in 2020. I do have a passion for that, as well, and thought I would fund music with my fitness passion. I realized I didn’t have the bandwidth to commit the amount of time needed to my music because fitness was taking up all of my energy. I think turning 30 last year did something to me. I realized that my life was always going to be mostly fitness with some music if I didn’t change anything. I’m really grateful that my life has now flipped to mostly music with a little fitness sprinkled in. I still keep in touch with and care about clients I’ve worked with. They understand that this is something that’s important to me and that I’ve wanted for a long time, so they are happy for me.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a musical artist, songwriter, vocalist, pianist, and rusty cellist (I need to brush up on my cello haha). I specialize in what I call therapy pop for my solo stuff. I am also lead vocalist and a songwriter for the metal band, Devouress. I don’t just write for fun or because I think a beat sounds cool. There’s nothing wrong with that, but that’s just not me. I write because my soul needs it. When I don’t write, I feel like I’m empty – I’m not myself. I’m very lyrics-driven and would consider myself a lyricist first and foremost. I don’t think writing about things I’ve been through makes me especially unique as an artist, because that’s such a huge part of what art is – writing about life and relating to the human experience. I do think my story and my sound are unique to me, though. Like my own artistic fingerprint. And speaking of the human experience, it is SO important to support REAL artists, not artificial ones. AI cannot relate to what a painful and joyful adventure it is to live in this cruel, yet beautiful world. Instead of focusing on how we as artists can be set apart from one another, I think it would be beneficial now more than ever to focus on standing together for real art and lifting each other up.
I’m most proud of never saying that I don’t do music anymore. I don’t really think it’s a phase for anyone, but a lot of people let it become something of the past. It makes me so sad, because that means art as a whole is suffering, and so are the people who have given up their individual art. No matter how things work out for my music career, I know that I’ll always have the burning desire to create. Side note – artists should get paid for their work. ExP0sUrE doesn’t pay the bills.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
This might not be the advice one would expect, but I honestly wish I’d prioritized life experience over classroom experience. Don’t get me wrong – I did learn some important things about the music industry in the classroom and those led to internships. I believe God has a plan and that this was and is my path, but sometimes I wonder if I’d have been better off just skipping college and doing music full time from the start. There was a lot of time, money, and energy wasted on subjects that aren’t really applicable to my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mackenziemorrow.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenzie.morrow.music
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mackenziemorrowmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mackenziemorrowmusic
- Other: https://youtu.be/vNeaWBEOePQ?si=fO1lpuy2oNKQc95S
