As historical past repeats itself, so does PJ Morton’s profitable streak. Contemporary off the heels of his 2024 Finest Conventional R&B Efficiency Grammy win for the track “Good Morning,” Morton has no plans to decelerate. In addition to being a solo artist and keyboardist for pop band Maroon 5, Morton is getting ready to embark on a North American and European summer season tour together with his band Afro Orleans. As 2024 anticipates his new album, e-book, and Disney attraction, it’s clear that Morton’s artistic bandwidth is extra of a phenomenon than ability.
As a younger boy, Morton had solely two goals—to work with Stevie Surprise and write songs for Disney. Now that he has checked every thing off his minimal but grandiose bucket checklist, the visionary is just having fun with the trip.
EBONY just lately spoke with PJ Morton on his new album, creating music for Disney, and making historical past.
EBONY: We just lately celebrated Black Music Appreciation Month. Why do you assume it’s vital to have a whole month devoted to highlighting Black music and musicians?
PJ Morton: I feel that for therefore a few years, Black music has been liable for a lot but stolen from, ignored, misused, and abused. It is vital that we always remember to shine a light-weight on what has constructed a lot of the music we all know right now.
Let’s talk about your new album Capetown to Cairo. Speak to us about why you traveled throughout Africa for 30 days to create this album.
I simply wished to be impressed. I’ve made music in so many various methods and collaborated with a few of my favourite [artists]. For my final album, I had Stevie Surprise and Nas on the identical track. So, with Capetown to Cairo, I wished to offer myself actual stakes, much less time, and actually expertise the place my ancestors are from. It was vital for me to precise what I used to be feeling in that second whereas I used to be on the continent. I did not actually need to write [new music] earlier than I received there or after [I left] as a result of I wished to be current.
How would you like individuals to really feel after listening to the album?
[Feeling] pleasure is at all times one thing that’s prime of thoughts. Actually, I would like individuals to really feel what I used to be feeling, which was freedom. I used to be discovering [myself], but in addition [felt] pure pleasure over there. There’s two songs on the album known as ‘Thanks’ and ‘Depend On Me’ as a result of I used to be feeling a number of gratitude.
For me, it was simply realizing how a lot we’re all related and the way a lot all of us want one another. I simply felt so blessed to only be there, having the chance to do that as an impartial musician and are available all the best way to Africa to create one thing new. I used to be simply actually grateful [and] need individuals to really feel that gratitude and [unity]. We make music to convey individuals collectively, and I hope that comes true.
Throughout your 30-day journey throughout the continent, what did you study your self?
[During] the method of making that method and with [the 30-day time frame], the invention was trusting my instincts. I believed that no matter [came out] naturally and organically was okay and wanted to be put out with out overthinking. [The trip] confirmed and affirmed a number of issues for me, like simply seeing a Black individual on the cash. [I saw] Black individuals serving to in all places and doing every thing. I used to be seeing myself in everybody. One large discovery for me, which translated to the album, was the lineage and the connection between the place I am from, New Orleans and Africa. I saved tasting meals and saying, “Oh, that is the place it originates.” Once I was listening to music in Lagos with the horn gamers, all I may hear was New Orleans. We’re related and that was a giant discovery for me.
You created the unique soundtrack and theme track for Disney World’s latest and extremely anticipated attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Are you able to talk about the way you have been approached for this and the general course of?
Somebody I knew reached out to me. It was form of cryptic at first. He [said], there is a secret challenge and it entails New Orleans and Disney. And I [said], “Man, you’ve received to inform me extra,” they usually defined the imaginative and prescient.
The method was simply wonderful. It has been nearly a three-year course of doing this [project]. It began out with simply throwing concepts. The concept was that Tiana’s story would proceed after [The Princess and The Frog]. Now, she’s married, has her personal restaurant in New Orleans and she or he’s thriving. What does a track sound like for Tiana proper now? She’s making an attempt to place a band collectively for this large celebration.
As a songwriter and a artistic, it is simply inspiring to have the ability to determine it out. I wrote three completely different songs initially, and we narrowed them right down to the one which was particular. I’ve wished to jot down for Disney since I used to be a child, since The Little Mermaid. It was actually a dream come true. I used to be tremendous honored and I rode it with my household. My 11-year-old daughter received to [witness] the primary Black composer to jot down an authentic track for the primary Black Disney princess.
Later this yr, your memoir is ready to be launched on Saturday night time and Sunday morning. What can individuals count on to study you after studying this e-book?
[People will learn] primarily how I received right here. I do not speak about issues a lot as a result of I am simply at all times working. It is at all times been vital to me to talk by way of the artwork [and] music. Folks have been asking me questions now for years. I’ve gotten 5 Grammys, and I’m an impartial artist. They see me in Maroon 5. However, they do not know how I received there after 14 years.
I feel it was lastly time to only convey individuals in—to allow them to perceive my story and see how I received right here and all of the issues I went by way of. I am right here, and it’s a fantastic story. It is inspiring even to me as a result of I actually solely had two goals—to work with Stevie Surprise and write songs for Disney.
And I am actually residing inside my dream proper now. There’s not one path to this as a result of I did not take the normal path. I used to be turned down by each main label and I nonetheless discovered my method. I simply wished to inform that story and assist to encourage, whereas I am being impressed myself.
Just lately, Apple Music launched a listing of their 100 Finest Albums. Everybody has their very own soundtrack to their lives, so I wished to know what PJ Morton’s 5 Finest Albums are?
Wow. My prime 5 albums of all time. That is a giant query proper now. Let me begin with Stevie [Wonder]. I will say Inside Visions. [Also] Purple Rain, Off The Wall, D’Angelo’s Voodoo. And I’ll put The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill there.
You proceed to make historical past, actually, each single yr. Is that this one thing that you’ve got ever gotten used to, or are you repeatedly shocked?
I plan to by no means get used to it. I am a child relating to this [and] do not need to develop up. I’ve executed some wonderful issues, however each time one thing occurs, I am nonetheless amazed, as a result of I have been on the opposite aspect. I’ve gained 5 Grammys [and] I have been nominated for 20, so I misplaced 15 occasions. Whenever you’ve been by way of that, whenever you’ve had that rejection and all, you simply keep [grateful]. I am at all times amazed that I get these calls and these alternatives, and I will stay that method.
