::RECAP:: PJ MORTON May Walk Alone But He Doesnt RAWK Alone!

PJ Morton recently made his way BACK to Baltimore, and everyone agreed that he was better than ever! With this being my first time seeing his live performance, I was more than excited, but I was also just curious to see what the buzz was about. Now, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but the man was introduced as PJ Morton aka ‘the live performance killer.’ Two hours later, I concluded that the intro was well suited. He killed it.

Photo: Courtesy of Diamond Digital Portraits

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But, before we delve deeper, PJ had some AMAZING openers for the show. First up was Maria Freeman aka MFree, a Morgan State University graduate, with a powerful voice and catchy songs for all the independent soulcialistas in the crowd! It was really difficult to hear Mfree on stage due to some minor technical difficulties, but anyone who can get on stage, rock the mic, and get outstanding crowd reaction in spite of that, is someone who should be on the radar.

Photos of Maria Freeman @ Edens Lounge

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After MFree, Marcell & The Truth, also a MSU graduate, graced us with his presence. This band established themselves in Baltimore, and has been playing together for almost 10 years. Within that time, they managed to generate a HUGE international following. Selling out shows all over the world in places like London and Switzerland. Marcell’s music is a matchless blend of soul, r&b, jazz and blues, which instantly grabs you and leaves you hungry for more of his life wisdoms -infused throughout his performance. If you’re still not convinced, check out the clip, then be sure to come out to Ear Candy Presented by Gypsy Soul &Media Minds: Featuring Marcell & The Truth & Maimouna Youssef, on Tuesday June 15, 6:30 pm @ Teavolve! You can purchase tickets HERE!

During the intermission, the Gyspy Soul team got a chance to catch up with PJ before he hit the stage.

PJ Morton & Me

PJ was gracious, calm, and obviously anxious to perform, so we decided to chat after the show. Here’s the dish!

Welcome back! How does it feel to be back to Baltimore?

It feels really good to be back here, I always get great energy and a lot of love from Baltimore, I’m always happy to come back and rock!

The audience was really jamin' with you,

Yeah! They were with me the whole time!

I suppose your music just brings that out in people, it has such a great spirit about it.

Thank you

This is your 5th album, correct?

Yes, well this is my fifth album, and one live album out of those five.

Tell me how your music has evolved since your first album.

Creatively, I take chances and do different things, from the first album to now; creatively I did some things I don’t normally do. I tried to find the middle between live instrumentation, which I always have and also adding some synthetic stuff to it to make it 2010.

PJ Morton with Gypsy Soul Team Member King AB

How would you say this album, 'Walk Alone ' Is different from the rest? For those who haven’t heard the album yet, what can they expect to hear from it?

The process was just different. We usually just go in the studio, I have the songs, and then play them live, we're old school kinda. This time I added some beats with the live strings and the live horns, which is something that I never did before. I guess what you can expect from this record is first of all good songs, good solid stories, well structured songs and good music. There’s great instrumentation horns, and strings all throughout the album.

The band you had on stage tonight, is that the same band you recorded with on the Album?

Yes, that’s most of the guys, I usually play all the keys, but the keyboard player tonight, Claude just travels with me. I did all the keyboard stuff on my album, so yes they definitely were a part of this album.

Tell me-Start to finish, what is your process for creating a song?

Before I know that I'm actually working on a record, I start getting songs or concepts in my head. Then about three songs in is when I really start working on concept, see how I want things to fit in, what type of songs work well with the others.

I know you play the piano, what other instruments do you play?

I play the guitar, a little bass, but I don’t claim to be any of those. I’m a keyboard player, and I’m clear on that. But I do mess around with those instruments.

Are there any instruments that you really would want to learn, to be able to incorporate into your live show?

I used to play guitar a lot on my shows, I would go from piano to guitar, but I actually like just playing piano, it’s where I live.

Which one of your songs do you enjoy performing the most? Which one gets the most crowd reaction?

As far as crowd reactions It’s probable between "How we were" and "Blah Blah Blah" with these new songs, because they're new, it always takes a little while for people to all the way get on 'em. From Walk Alone "The One" gets a lot of participation and "Love You More" and "I need your Love."

I have to say, those are probably my three favorites off the album!

Yeah that’s what people have been feeling the most.

Who are some of your biggest musical influences? Who would you like to see yourself working with in the future? I know you've done some production/ Songwriting.

As far as influences, Stevie Wonder is the largest influence. Then you have artists like James Taylor, The Beetles were big for me. You know, I never really approached this as an artist, PJ the artist came later. I just wanted to be a songwriter and musician initially, so I always was drawn to musicians who were songwriters like Stevie, Donnie [Hathaway], Prince.

I feel like you can definitely hear your influences, you aren’t just sticking with one genre; there’s a fusion with your music.

(Nods head) and that’s not contrived, it’s just really where I come from, I used to listen to everything, and still do, so it just comes out I guess.

Tell me more about your background, and growing up in the church, and how that has shaped who you are now.

Well I started out playing and singing in the church, so that is really the foundation of where I learned to use my gift to reach out to people and touch people. That is my foundation of how I started, of course I am the son of preacher, so I was there to support my father, which really gave me an edge when I got into the music industry, because I had been playing for years in front of people and it gave me experience.

A lot of people think that you started out as a gospel singer, is that true, or where you always a contemporary artist?

Well I think what it is-my sister and I did a song together when we were younger, which was a christian record. But as a solo artist, I never was a gospel artist, I wasn’t gospel, then transitioned into that, this was how I started because I always knew what represented me was not limited to the gospel industry.

Good, I just wanted to clear that up, because a lot people think you are/were because of your gospel influences

Yeah, it’s ALL association.

It is association, I agree, and I do hear a large gospel influence in your music, which is awesome!

Well soul and gospel are one in the same, that’s where soul was birthed, so every soulful artist is bound to have those influences, I just wouldn’t label myself as a 'Gospel' artist only.

To close the show you performed a cover of the theme song from the TV show ‘CHEERS’. Are cover songs usually a part of your repertoire?

Well we recorded the Cheers song on The Live album, and that’s become our traditional way to end the show, we’ve been doing that for over 5 years now, and it’s the way we like to go home!

Yes, it definitely sends the audience home on a high note.

We don’t do too many other covers, because we don’t have a lot of time fit them in, but we do some Stevie [Wonder] covers and we do 'Tell Me Something Good' sometimes too.

You and the band didn’t stop! I was amazed at your endurance! You played for about 2 1/2 hours, most artist don’t even play for 1 hour. How did you guys build that kind of endurance?

We're use to doing it. Conditioning I guess, we're all used to being up there that long, and the music inspires, and I had a huge headache tonight, but the music is healing. When I was playing my head cleared up, so it’s the music that pushes us.

That’s challenging, what have been some of your biggest challenges as an artist in today’s market? How have you been able to overcome some of those challenges?

The biggest challenge is just trying to--this is not considered popular anymore, you know, soulful music, music with melody or instruments is not necessarily the popular thing right now. So, the challenge I guess has been just trying to get this music to the mainstream as a whole, and the way I’ve dealt with it- is to focus on the people who want it initially, and we’ll bring this army to the mainstream. You saw the show tonight, there’s a lot of support. We do this by staying on the road, and building a movement that may not be as immediate as what mainstream does, but is lasting, and the type of thing that build careers. I just focus on who wants it, because that’s who I want to play for anyway, and there’s always growth. I’m not saying I don’t want to be mainstream. It’s just that this is my route.

Where’s the next stop on the PJ Morton tour?

Virginia, then next week we are in Little Rock, Houston, Dallas, Memphis, and St. Louis. We will be out for a while, all the way through august.

So how can everyone keep up with where you are and what you are doing?

On the website pjmortononline.com all the dates are there. On Facebook, the PJ Morton and on twitter @PJMorton.

If you haven't heard the album Walk Alone, you can check out my review on the blog and a brief clip of PJ performing "I Need Your Love" below. Leave a comment, and let me know what you think!