Born in Waco, Texas, and currently living in NYC, Morgan Mabry is a talented creative artist who has discovered a higher purpose through her fusion of songwriting and artistry. Growing up, Morgan had a passion for singing and writing. However, it wasn’t until she made some radical life changes due to the impact of the pandemic, an abusive relationship, and the collateral damage that came with it that she realized the true power of her music.
Now, with a life firmly aligned on her own terms, Morgan is determined to share her story through music. Working side-by-side with music producer Meg Toohey, Morgan’s autobiographical EP, “Arrows Into Flowers: Part 1” promises to be a unique experience. Sharing with us her journey from rock bottom to a place of hope, the EP is filled with inspiring vulnerability, empowering energy, and a promise to drive her message to others who may need to hear it. She is offering a beacon of solace and promise to those who may be facing similar struggles.
Join us today in this exclusive interview with Morgan where she gives us all the intricate details about “Arrows Into Flowers: Part 1,” the creative process behind it, and maybe a sneak peek at Part 2!
Tell us about yourself and your background. How has it influenced who you are today and your musical career?
First, thank you for your interest in getting to know me, I am honored and really appreciate your time! I was born and raised in Waco, Texas by wonderful parents in a uniquely blended family with a gaggle of 6 awesome siblings. We are all very different and I’m the only artist, which my family has embraced over the years. Where I’m from, especially at the time, the arts weren’t as accessible but I gravitated towards them since childhood; mostly to musical theatre for the first half of my life. I have been a freelance artist since entering the professional world and have built a creative career made from artistry of many forms. I am self-taught in each dimension of my artistry, which has its advantages and challenges alike. My music is a hybrid of many styles and I think it reflects the culmination of ways I’ve been influenced as a multidisciplinary artist, as a female raised in the South and as a creative who has paved her own non-traditional way with grit and commitment.
Who are your musical influences? Does anyone special come to mind?
For the sake of time, I will try to summarize because there are too many influences to name and if I go down the rabbit hole, we might be here all day! When I was little I was all about Disney and musicals like The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, and Wizard of Oz. Plus classic rock and oldies or whatever my dad had playing. I can’t deny what a strong influence Shania Twain had on me in my formative years. The way she wrote powerful, unapologetic lyrics for women and paired them with hooky pop/country lines really stuck with me. She was a trailblazer in that way, showing me and other women that it was possible to be strong and speak your mind. If you looked back, you’d surely find me in my bedroom with my stereo blasting to Shania and singing into my hairbrush like a microphone. In a similar way Shania was a strong female voice for me in my younger years, that’s what Sara Bareilles was into my adulthood. Her music moved me to my core. She wrote from her soul and her personal experiences. It was (and is) vulnerable and beautiful in ways that the world needs and I will always deeply respect how she uses her voice in both her art and the world.
How are your experiences working in the music industry being a woman?
I think most people can agree that being a woman in the world is not without many challenges and complexities. Being embedded in a community with Southern culture rooted around conservative, traditional, and religious ideologies, I absorbed conditioning as a child that later in life I began unraveling. My parents modeled independent thinkers but the cultural voice was loud and overpowering. This conditioning and the unraveling of it has massively influenced my experiences and therefore, my writing. I spent the majority of my life trying to be as “good” as possible in order to be deemed worthy and accepted by others. I use quotes because “good” actually means obedient, polite, appeasing, and accommodating. This setup girls like me to become women whose worth came from external sources, who die of their needs in order to please, and who don’t know how to stand up for themselves. This conditioning led me astray and into situations that caused me a lot of suffering. I built a home with other people and in turn, became homeless. I’m new to the music industry but my intention is to share myself and use my voice in ways that other women might find strength and support. I hope that my music will connect with others who need it and my story helps someone else with their own.
Let’s discuss your debut album “Arrows Into Flowers: Part 1.” How was the creative process behind it?
The creative process was an outlet for me to survive and heal. I experienced some terribly painful trauma and these songs were conceived during and after a very hard part of my life. I think when humans are in pain it can give us a direct line to our spirituality, which I believe is where a lot of art comes from. The ideas came to me organically, usually as hooks or melodies, like gifts dropping into my consciousness. I kept capturing these gifts until I had over 100 ideas and began the process of rounding them out with more form. Most of them didn’t make the cut but the collection that did, I sent to Meg Toohey, who was my soon-to-be Music Producer. That’s when our work sessions began and the songs really started to take off.
Where does the inspiration for the title “Arrows Into Flowers” come from?
At the time I was reading excerpts from Pema Chödrön in the book, Comfortable with Uncertainty, that a dear friend lent me. I read that book many times over but would linger on one specific chapter. Chödrön described a powerful Buddhist parable in which the Buddha is attacked by an army of demons that were shooting weapons at him but before the weapons could strike him, they turned to flowers and gently fell to the ground. The imagery struck me and a melody rushed to my head. I couldn’t stop thinking about this and how much it resonated with how I was trying to heal in my own life. I wanted to use the pain to break open, to expand and soften, to become wiser and more grounded. I was determined that it wouldn’t take me down and that I would get through it by surrendering and allowing myself to grow amidst the discomfort. I wanted the arrows to turn into flowers; beauty that I could then give to other people.
You and Meg Toohey worked together to produce the album. What is it like working with her?
I dreamt about having a female producer for this project and Meg was that dream come true. When I originally sent my songs and references to her, she got what I was going for and heard what the songs had the potential to be. She is more than a producer, she is a true collaborator. She listened to my vision and amplified my voice while also challenging me and growing me into a stronger writer. These are our songs together and she gave them wings to fly. She’s a powerhouse artist and I got to be a part of the process of building the demos and exploring the layers. The whole experience was really collaborative and magical. Her talent as a songwriter, producer, and musician is outstanding but that doesn’t compare to what an incredible person she is. I’m so thankful to have her as a friend who has become like family.
Is there a song on your new album you’re particularly proud of? Can you describe the creative process behind it and what inspired its lyrics and sound?
I love them all for very different reasons and now I have the artist’s version of why parents say they can’t choose a favorite child! Two of my oldest songs, Tables Turned and Willow, both stick out to me because of the huge metamorphosis that they went through in order to get where they are today. They both are completely different songs than they used to be and they remind me of how life is all about divine timing and growth. I have a soft spot for each of them and I think Meg did a remarkable job with the production. Have you ever grieved a relationship while you were in it, knowing that it wouldn’t have longevity as is? That’s where I was when I originally wrote Tables Turned. The lyrics are a desperate plea to be seen, heard, and considered by a partner and how damaging non-reciprocation and neglect can be. I hope this song meets people where they are but also plants a seed that real love won’t put you in a situation like this. Willow is a musical overview of parts of my personal story, which I think will resonate with others, especially women. It is accepting the pain when we have to let go of people we love because they continue to hurt us. Willow is who scorched under the flames but crawled out of the ashes after burning down. I am proud of Willow because I am also proud of myself and anyone else who has forged new paths from awakening to their own worth.
Have you started working on “Arrows Into Flowers: Part 2”? If so, what can fans expect from Part 2? Are there any potential collaborations or surprises in this part?
Yes, sure have! This project was meant to be a full album of 10-12 songs but being the sole financier (Executive Producer) limited me to 6 songs, which I poured all of my resources into. I adjusted the plan accordingly to two EPs, Part 1 and Part 2. As much as I love Part 1 and am proud of the debut record, I think I’m more excited about Part 2. I’ve grown a lot and am looking forward to putting those lessons into practice for the second round and learning more. The creative rhythm that Meg and I have continues and we are currently working on a bunch of new demos. My plan is to continue work sessions until we have a solid group to choose from. So far, I am beyond thrilled about how the songs are taking shape! The title track gives me goosebumps. I think the next EP will have some songs and sounds that are a surprise for listeners, as well as more of the Americana-pop style that I love. It seems that it will be a bit more diverse in terms of genre, depending on the song, which is fitting with me as a multifaceted artist. We are still in the early stages, so we’ll see what all is possible, but I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to finish this collection of songs.
Anything else you would like to add? Maybe something for your fans!
It has been challenging, humbling, and wildly vulnerable to put myself out there in this new way but I’ve received such significant insight in my personal growth. I feel very thankful for those out there who are listening to female stories and empowering us to continue to use our voices. A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed I’d be where I am now, I was a shell of a human who was trying not to drown. I hope that anyone who comes across my story will feel hope that they too have the inner strength to keep going. Change is hard but saving yourself is the greatest act of self-love you will ever experience. For anyone interested in becoming a patron or producer for Part 2 of this project, there are three ways to take action: 1) contribution link via my Spotify page, 2) through PayPal @morganmabrymusic, or 3) reach out to me personally. All donations go directly to artists working on this project. The support, whether monetary or not, means the absolute world to me and I am so grateful. I wish I had better words but I will end with thank you. Thank you for your time, thank you for listening, thank you for sharing, and thank you for your support.