Catching Up with Morgan Gold
Photography by Michael Salisbury
Morgan Gold always knew she wanted to be an entertainer. Since childhood, the singer explored comedy, theatre, and music as a form of artistic expression, soon discovering that one of her main joys is connecting with an audience from center stage.
Gold, raised in the outskirts of Chicago, has confidently navigated the music scene of the city these past few years. After a steady release of EPs and singles, the musician took the leap and released her first full album, titled MIDAS, in July 2022.
The album, described by Gold as “ethereal R&B,” encourages listeners to discover their true potential through a power that lies greater than what’s on Earth. Through 13 songs, MIDAS centers its focus on artist intention and detailed storytelling.
Gold keeps busy, with her next show this Saturday, October 22, at Subterranean. No Montana and K Simone will join her—two of some of Gold’s closest friends—for an evening of otherworldly sound. Tickets can be purchased here.
How have you been doing?
I’ve been great! Living the dream, learning a lot, trying to balance patience with motivation. I feel like I’m finally finding my rhythm.
We can start with roots—you’re from Chicago! Born and raised?
So actually, I was born in Los Angeles. Of course, I have no memory of life until my folks moved me to Buffalo Grove, IL. A majority of my childhood was spent in Schaumburg, which is where I spent years 6-18. I attended college at Columbia College- Chicago in 2016 and graduated with a degree in Comedy Writing & Performance in 2020. I’ve called Chicago my home ever since, and it’s where the roots of my music career really began.
Did you always know you wanted to do music? What inspired you then, and what inspires you now (musical artists or otherwise)?
I knew since I could walk and talk that I wanted to be an entertainer. There was always this underlying drive to get in front of an audience and make them smile. Genres like R&B, pop, hip-hop, blues, psychedelic rock were the biggest influences on me growing up. However, I listened to all kinds of music if it spoke to me. I’d learn as I got older that our relationship with God, the Universe and the bigger picture would serve as the foundation for my work. I started this journey obsessed with fame, and was driven by desperation, pride and fear of not being seen. I started to understand how this was negatively affecting my relationship with music and the world. And I also saw how that behavior is in lots of those corrupted by power. So I began to conquer my pride through music. I think it’s allowed me to express myself in a way that’s cryptic and applicable to anything, yet super specific to my life experiences. That “larger-than-life” feeling is what I aim to create in every song I do. I sing about the beauty we all search for, but don’t know how to describe.
I took up songwriting and guitar at the age of ten. I was heavily inspired by acts like Elvis, The Beatles, Lauryn Hill, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder - all the classic acts that we read about growing up. I was also a huge SNL fan growing up, which is where my fascination with comedy began (I ferociously studied Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Cheri Oteri, Bill Hader, Lonely Island etc). I took a liking to musical theatre in high school, and further discovered my love for comedic performance.
At that time, I still kept up with singing, but I also fell under improv’s spell, as a theatre kid naturally does. That’s when I decided to pursue a comedy degree through Columbia College & their Second City program. Two years into my time there, I discovered that songwriting never left me. It was how I documented my life. I felt like comedy was hindering my ability to connect with audiences in other ways than laughter. Although, I hugely credit comedy for my comfortability on stage, and building a relationship with my audience. The thrill I got from making people laugh gave me this sense of responsibility for taking care of my audience. There’s an immense amount of trust you need to build with your audience, as sometimes comedy can push boundaries with what makes us comfortable. Learning how to push those boundaries with your audience while also keeping them comfortable and happy is a huge skill that I’m continuing to perfect to this day.
At the time, musically, I was heavily into The Weeknd, along with artists like Grateful Dead, 070 Shake, Kehlani, JMSN etc. These artists made me feel like life could be a bigger movie if we made it to be, and I always had this flair for the dramatic. I felt that through lyrics and singing, I was able to express myself more openly and honestly. So one day in early 2018, almost like fate, I was asked by a friend if she could manage me for a semester through her music business degree. I threw caution to the wind, said yes, and began to produce and write like it was my last year on earth. I had no idea where to begin, but one thing I can compliment Columbia on is their emphasis on networking, and using your inner circles as resources. I quickly met producers, artists, engineers, show curators, A&Rs, you name it. And before I knew it, I was one of them. That kind of energy is what makes Chicago so great. We continuously define the scene for ourselves, and that was what made me want to challenge myself, push to be heard, and push to be a positive influence on myself and this city. Then when I met 730Skylar, of course the narrative changed drastically. She didn’t even make music before meeting me, and now she’s a powerhouse in this city already. She had me not only writing love songs, but she truly taught me the balance of give and take in a relationship, romantically and musically. I became more confident, as well as more aware of how I am affecting those around me. I continually remind myself to lead with love, and it’s been a rewarding journey every step of the way.
Let’s talk about MIDAS, your first album, as it came out in July 2022. Taking the leap from EPs and singles is significant. How did that feel for you?
Surreal. After “ISEIKWID” (2019), I had really big expectations for what my first album would sound like. I wanted that cinematic, ethereal sound to be the focal point of it, but I felt that I had a bit of maturing to do in order to present my lyrics more confidently. I also knew that there would be no album until the theme came to me crystal clear. So we continued to create.
When Skylar and I began our partnership, we already had the studio at the crib. So it was easy to make songs for the sake of it. Thank God she liked my music when she met me, because I could tell she was trying to emulate my sound and familiar territory. But she began to develop these eclectic drum patterns, and her ear for melodies came almost scary-quick. Her clientele for 2 Queen Studios built almost overnight, and I found myself doing features and writing new flows all summer. That gave me the confidence to exercise my versatility and strengths. Once we moved to our current home in Bronzeville, we created the “HEALING” EP in a matter of months.
So we had the sound. And we were very confident and hungry. “Home” was actually the first record we made, which was December of 2021. Tracks like “Back Up” and “BIG BANG!” followed shortly after that. In fact, “BIG BANG!” was where the title came from.
“Not tryna over analyze it. Quietly living like Midas”
It was that lyric where I instantly knew the title, theme, and purpose for the record. If you know the story of King Midas, the biggest lesson that can be learned from it is that even with unlimited riches and gold, one is not fulfilled nor can survive without love and nourishment. My entire career, I’ve been trying to make peace with whatever God complex I have that drives me to want to do this on a global scale. I’ve felt pride, shame, guilt, fear, love, and no pun-intended, “Forgiveness”. And ultimately forgiving myself and my ego led me to remembering what was truly important in life; the love you surround yourself with. And I had been called Midas before, due to my name (Yes, Morgan Gold is my birth name). So it only felt right to have the title reflect me in my most sincere form as well as my highest self.
Storytelling, vocals, the production, it’s all very sleek. I saw you describe it as “ethereal R&B.” Can you talk a bit about what this process looked like for you to create it?
My music had been described as “ethereal” before, and I treasured that word due to its unique meaning - “too delicate and beautiful for this world”. When we started creating “MIDAS” the adjective kept coming up while playing the demos for friends. My favorite description was “different, but familiar”. With that amount of feedback, I knew that I couldn’t just use “R&B” as a descriptor. It was the rooted genre of the project, but I wanted to emulate that delicate, otherworldly intention through calling it “ethereal R&B”. The whole album is about discovering your true potential, and I think tapping into that power allows us to connect with the Universe - far beyond this Earth.
What’s one word you’d use to describe your creative process?
Rewarding.
What’s important for listeners to know about MIDAS?
If we’re created by God, then it’s only natural that we all have a God complex. It’s okay to admit that. We’re way more powerful than we give ourselves credit for. And in all of us lies a “Midas”, having the power to influence the world at any moment. We all have a unique purpose that greatly impacts us. But striving for money and power can easily cause us to lead with our egos. I believe you need a balance of heart and ego to lead life confidently, but with love.
730skylar produced and mixed the album—how did you two connect?
Tinder. We met on the app late 2019, and I took her to an improv show for our first date. She had just bought a DJ deck, and was habitually mixing songs. After the pandemic had hit, we moved in together and became practically inseparable. She got her music engineering degree, and we went to work right away. Our dynamic and rhythm grew stronger and the catalogue just kept growing from it. With her being my producer and engineer, she perfectly captures the sonic atmosphere I’m going for. We challenge each other, encourage each other, and the music always reminds me of how special our connection is. She also co-wrote Comeout, Masterpiece, and Forgiveness which is one of my biggest songs ever. She’s a visionary, and I can’t wait to see her take over this industry.
What are some artists you would love to work with in the future?
How long can my list be? The Weeknd, obviously. I’d love to create a visual album with him one day.
070 Shake, Kehlani, JMSN, Kevin Parker, Brent Faiyaz, James Blake just to name a few.
You have a show coming up on October 22nd at Subterranean — what should the people expect!
You’ll see how powerful the camaraderie of Chicago is. I recruited two of some of my closest friends in the music scene to open - K Simone and No Montana. Their confidence, individuality and dedication to the craft has inspired me these last few years so it only felt right. Heily Beatz, being my primary DJ and close friend, sets a great atmosphere for us and the crowd. I’ll be performing a lot of the album, including a few old and unreleased cuts. You’ll also be seeing a lot of fellow artists and creatives that make Chicago beautiful, and that’s the greatest outcome we could hope for.
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