#115 Kylie Morgan
Kylie Morgan is a singer songwriter with a huge heart. She is a passionate performer who has used her love for music to talk with teens about anti bullying and mental health. She shares in this podcast about one of her first songs telling the story of a young girl who killed herself and around how that song then went onto touch and even save other lives once it was shared. That is when Kylie says she "really understood the power of music".
EMI Records Nashville’s Kylie Morgan began writing songs in her hometown of Newcastle, OK when she was only 12 years old. A masterful storyteller, the singer-songwriter released her music independently in her early teens, garnering national attention from music producers and television executives. At the age of 16, she was named “Who New To Watch” by the Country Music Association. This early success led Kylie to begin making regular trips to Nashville, crafting her voice and polishing her songwriting. When she turned 18, she made the decision to call Music City home.
Recognizing Kylie’s unique talent, the SMACKSongs team signed her to their roster under the guidance of GRAMMY Award-winning songwriters, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. An avid yoga enthusiast, Kylie has earned her official Yoga Alliance Certification. She participates in yoga daily and it has become part of her lifestyle. Kylie has previously toured with artists including Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Gavin DeGraw, Brett Eldredge and Billy Currington. Kylie was named as part of CMT’s Listen Up Class of 2019 and will be performing shows across the country this summer, opening for Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Devin Dawson, Lady Antebellum, Carly Pearce, and more. Kylie is currently in the studio working on her debut album with producers Shane McAnally and Ben Johnson.
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Transcript
Rae Leigh: Welcome to a songwriter tryst with Kylie Morgan. How are you?
Kylie Morgan: Hello. I'm so good. The sun is shining here in Nashville, Tennessee, and having a busy day.
Rae Leigh: As cool. I really love to be out. I have chats with other people, but yeah, it does get me when the time difference is super different. I like to start all these podcasts by letting you tell us a little bit about who you are and where you come from and why you became a songwriter.
Kylie Morgan: Sure. Honestly, I feel like I didn't become a songwriter. I felt like I was honestly just born one. Ever since I was little, I couldn't get rhymes or poems or melodies out of my head. I was really big into Shirley temple when I was three. And so that really got me into putting on performances in my living room for my parents.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Okay. Nice. I'm sure they loved it.
Kylie Morgan: Oh, yeah. Until it was like every minute on the minute and they were like, cool, can we get a second to breathe? So I started watching videos and was just so intrigued by how young she was and the abilities that she had at that age. So that really got me thinking, you know, I feel like a lot of people are kids when they were younger are like, oh, I got to grow up first, too.
Start what I want to be. And I was kind of the opposite. I was like, well, if Shirley can do it, then I can do it. And so, I was really heavily just one of those kids that went all in to anything that I did. I was a gymnast for 10 years and was very involved in that as far as just like, it's more of a lifestyle instead of a hobby.
And I was always doing music through that, but once I realized I was around. 10 or 11. And I was like, am I going to the Olympics? No, probably not. And so I really dove in and dug into songwriting and started learning guitar at 12. And it turns out more people go to the Olympics and succeed as a female in country music.
So there's that.
Rae Leigh: Well, that's definitely would have been the older history.
Kylie Morgan: Yes. So as, oh, we are changing it, we're in the middle of changing it for sure. But yeah, so my papel got me my very first little pink guitar for Christmas and I just fell in love. I Well come into my room after school and pretty much just vent to my guitar of whatever I was going through and write about it.
And that became my form of therapy, honestly. And I grew up listening to music as the same thing, looking to other artists, as, you know, one of the things that I can turn to when I didn't know what to say or how to feel. And honestly it was when Taylor swift dropped her first record. That I was like, okay, see that's the kind of music that I want to write as well as when Shanaya dropped up, which was half pop, half country CD.
And so I just spun both of those till they were scratched and I couldn't spend them anymore. And I knew that's the kind of life and artistry I wanted to create. And so I knew that me being the type a personality, I am, I kinda just told my mom, I was like, mom, I was 12 at this time, I was like, I'm going to skip college and I'm going to move to Nashville to be a country music artist.
And after she got her breath back, I think she realized just how it wasn't. Again, it wasn't a hobby for me. It was just a life and I eat, sleep, breathe that I still do. And so her, thankfully, she was a stay at home mom and she became the best mama ger a girl could ask for. And she came to every. Workshop every first show, every bad show, everything I could possibly do, just trying to learn.
And I started coming out to Nashville for the first time at 15. To co-write songs. I'd always written songs for myself, but never with other people. And I really just wanted to dive into that whole thing. And so I met a guy named who really just took me under his wing and he owned a publishing company out here in Nashville and Nashville for me is like Disneyland for everyone else.
I, I came here and I
Rae Leigh: I feel the same way.
It's like that for all song writers.
Kylie Morgan: It is. I walked down Broadway for the first time and I was just like, I want to live here. I want to be here all the time. And so, I switched to online school, my freshman year. And I started traveling back and forth from Nashville to Oklahoma, I signed my first indie record deal at 14 with a really local company in Oklahoma to just kind of help me get my feet wet and tour and just like, you know, figure out what the hell I wanted to say and who I wanted to be.
And, you know, Everything you need as an artist. And so, it didn't end too well. It was kind of some bad blood, but thankfully it led me to Russ which is the guy who really just, again, just like helped me through this all. And so coming back and forth to Nashville finally at 19, I was able to get out of that deal and make the move to Nashville sign was the EMG.
And then I just got to find my people, you know, then I got to find who I love creating with who. I was more open with that. I could just be like, this is what happened today. Let's write about it. Or this is the fight that I was in. Let's write about it or, you know, cause it's a very, and you know, all too well, it's a very personal relationship with your co-writers.
And so, I was able to really just dig into that and I met a guy named Shane McAnally. Who really just adopted me and saw something in me and ended up signing me to smack songs at 20. And then right after that, I had signed the management deal with them. And then I've been building ever since. And two years ago, signed my record deal with universal EMI and finally releasing my first project.
So it's been a long time coming, but those are kind of the highlights.
Rae Leigh: You know, what they say would have a 12 year career or longer. And yeah, I mean, you've summed up a really long career in a very short space of time. Well done.
Kylie Morgan: Thank you
Rae Leigh: And the whole record, good deal, you know, sour gone sour thing. Like that seems to be a really common story, unfortunately, especially for young artists.
And it, I mean, I haven't been out at rec cause I was like A late bloomer. I didn't have it, my manager. But I want to know, like, how did you, because I've heard of so many people doing that and being so burnt by that first experience that they gave up, you know, they did not want to go through that again.
So they just stopped at musical together. And that would shadow me if I couldn't do music. How did you get through that experience?
Kylie Morgan: Man. It was one of those things where, I mean, long story short, you. Sign the steel and you're pretty much signing your life away. I mean, it's just how it is. And I signed it as a minor, so I had to get emancipated beside the steel and yeah,
Rae Leigh: So your parents didn't approve or
Kylie Morgan: They were just like, well, I mean, this guy is offering our 14 year old kid a record deal.
What did we say? No. You know? And so, I worked with him for about four years and honestly it was. I just wrote a song about it too. I compared it to a relationship, but the very first line of this song is like, I have curly hair. And you like it straight. So I spent hours as a mirror, so you could have your way.
And that was the biggest fight we ever had because he wanted to me to straighten my hair, every single show. And I have curly big hair.
Rae Leigh: You have beautiful
Kylie Morgan: thank you. But yeah. Thank you so much. Yeah. So it was just one of those things where he was trying to morph me into something that I wasn't. And you know what though?
I mean, it was one of those things where. I have I learned the most that I learned in my valleys and I take those as I rise and I take those lessons and continue to apply them to my life now. And you don't appreciate the highs until you have the valleys. So I think I realized that I was like, well, I could either put my tail between my legs and, you know, give up.
But thankfully I have this on one hand that I was dealing with, but then I had Russ on the other, who was, oh, sorry. I lived next to a train. So you'll hear that.
Rae Leigh: we can cut that out. That's fine.
Kylie Morgan: Okay, cool. I had rests on one hand, but this awful record deal and the other, and I was like, you know what, the good outweighed the bad for me. And I was really just being able to focus on that. And that's what got me through.
Rae Leigh: I'm just waiting for the
Kylie Morgan: I know it's going to probably be like two minutes. I'm
Rae Leigh: that's. Cool. Best thing about pre editing and pre recording.
Kylie Morgan: Yes it is. I know there's, it's like right by the little trail that we walk, I walk my dogs. And so if I get stuck that I just like, I have to go another mile around,
Rae Leigh: Yeah, that's cool. That's fun. so,
Kylie Morgan: think we're good.
Rae Leigh: All right. So are you an only child or is you've got siblings?
Kylie Morgan: So I have an older half sister. That was the exact opposite of me. She's blonde hair, blue eyes, five too. Succeeded all through school, went to college and now she is a PA and it works at a migraine doctor. She's just the completely other side of the brain than I use. And then I had, I begged my parents for 10 years for a little sister.
I just really wanted, I really wanted a partner in crime and. I finally convinced them. And so they had a baby and I just knew it was going to be a girl and I was 10 years old and she was born. And so we have quite the age difference, but she is my best friend and my pride and joy. And I don't know if we'll ever have children, but I feel that feeling that my mom felt with me, that I feel with her.
And so, she is actually going to be a rising star as well. She just doesn't know it yet. So very proud.
Rae Leigh: She doesn't have a choice. Does she?
Kylie Morgan: She doesn't she's too good.
Rae Leigh: nice cold. I love having SIS. I'm one of six and I have three sisters and they are, they're like, they are beautiful. And like, they teach you a lot and you don't always get on. But,
Kylie Morgan: no, but I mean, even Railey. Yeah, exactly. Regularly. My little sister says it's like having a built-in best friend, so it's pretty nice.
You fight with best friends, but you know,
Rae Leigh: Yeah,
Yeah, exactly. Okay. And so you were doing gymnastics, you didn't think you were going to go to the Olympics. Fair enough. I mean that still would have been a massive achievement, but it's like, okay. I am for the top. If you don't think you're going to get that, then why bother?
I guess
Kylie Morgan: That's how I felt.
Rae Leigh: I'm getting to understand your your thought pattern a little bit. Yep. So you, you were like, no, but I can do some writing. Like, what was It that drew you into songwriting? You said Shania Twain and Taylor swift never ensured. You could do it, but like, and I love that you said therapy when going through high school was high school tough for you or.
Kylie Morgan: It was it. It was one of those things where I grew up very much an old soul. My my mom was 25 years older than me, but she was also my best friend and she raised me very equal rather than how can I put this? I would rather my mom ground me when I was young, then say she was disappointed in me.
Like that was just a knife in the back, you know?
Rae Leigh: Every parent, every child's like that, I reckon.
Kylie Morgan: Exactly. And so, with me being so career focused at such a young age and having her. I mean, just we're touring the country with me and my guitar. And she would be setting everything up and going with me and doing it, all of that, that it truly was just one of those relationships that made me feel older than I was.
And so I couldn't really relate to the kids my age in school. And so I think a lot of it had to do with, I just kind of, I was raised in a super small town and I kinda was just, I mean, I was ready to get out from. The moment that I hit third grade and I think everyone could kind of sense that. And so, I think a lot of it had to do with that, but there was a lot of bullying that I had to deal with growing up and it's just, I knew that I needed to get out of high school as soon as possible.
And so switching to online school and touring full time was like the best thing that could've ever happened to me.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, cool. I think I totally relate to that. Like not fitting in as a kid, which is really sad to like, not fit in without the children your own age, but I just never got it either. I was
Kylie Morgan: Yeah, it is. But, you know, what I, something truly, actually beautiful came out of that. And I came to Nashville for that first trip that I told you about to write songs. And I was in a session with Liz hanger and Rob Crosby. And Rob wrote my favorite song of all time, concrete angel by Martina McBride.
And so I was already fan girling, you know, being able to write with him and then Liz rose. So many amazing Rebbe hits and Brooks and Dunn and all these amazing songs. And so I was just so lucky to be able to be in the room with them. But Liz actually brought up a story that she heard on the news, and it was about a girl named Phoebe who committed suicide because she was being bullied so much.
And it was one of those things where I connected to it so much because I've dealt with bullying. She was also my age at the time when she took her own life. And so we were like, you know what? Let's write about that. So we wrote the song called Phoebe and I put it up online, just like a super simple video.
Just like me and my guitar and it got like 70,000 views in three days and it was just so unexpected. And then I started getting all these messages saying, you know, this song saved my life. I was going to take my life today. And I S I was searching for music to help me in this. This was the thing that brought me back and it was just so empowering.
And that is the moment that I knew the power of songwriting and how just special it is.
Rae Leigh: It's just huge. And it's such a sad thing to, to see someone go through that and it's still happening a lot. And I don't know what it's like over there, but there's like a media ban on talking about suicide here. I don't know why actually, because I think it only worsens the issue, but I am, I have three children.
I'm very lucky. And my eight year old fell over the other last night, literally last night I had to do one of those emergency trips to the hospital. Cause I thought he'd
Kylie Morgan: Oh my gosh.
Rae Leigh: he just he was trying to get Lego off the top shelf. It was dad's leg. He grazed his entire life, but I thought it was broken because of the way I
Kylie Morgan: Oh no.
Rae Leigh: I didn't know how he'd fall in. So I thought, well better go get an x-ray
Kylie Morgan: Yeah. Oh my gosh. And now it's 6:00 AM and you're doing this podcast interview. You probably didn't sleep at all. I'm so
Rae Leigh: No. Don't, if that's not the point, but when we were there, so he's only eight, he's a beautiful boy. And my kids are all like very young. And so wide-eyed and excited about life. But when we went, we were there, there was a mum and her daughter who must couldn't have been more than 15.
And it was very obvious that. she had tried to take her own life
Kylie Morgan: Oh my goodness.
Rae Leigh: oh gosh, you sharing that story. I was like, I didn't know what, you know, like everything I do as well as around mental health, but to see a child like a child, you know, 15 years old as a child to see. A child suffering that much, that they want to take their own life.
Like it, that just it's such a big thing. And like, that's probably like my core reason for like some writing is like the old children deserve to be loved and protected and it just doesn't happen, you know? And we can't protect everyone. That's like, how can we, but we can create music that might get to those kids,
but yet it can be so hard to know what to say and what to do so well done for doing that video.
Kylie Morgan: Oh, thank you. Well that, it was one of those things too, to where, I mean, I'm a very spiritual person and, you know, I knew, I know that God put me on this earth for. For creating and saying things that people don't know how to say or put into words. And I really feel like that was a gift that God gave me and all the songwriters on this earth.
And so coming from that, it like, and seeing those messages and hearing people, you know, say that this song saved my life. That's when I was like, oh my gosh, I want to do more. And so I actually ended up starting my own bullying prevention campaign from 15 to 19. I traveled all around the U S from all the way from kindergarten through university levels and went and spoke about bullying, prevention, my story, and also got to perform for all these kids.
And it was like just the most magical thing that I could have possibly done at it. I feel like it grew me up very fast because I. You see what these kids go through and it just breaks my heart. And even like having a little sister who's 16 and hearing her stories. It's so funny that we're talking about this.
I literally had a dream last night that I just told off all these girls that are here, high school. Right. That just makes me so mad.
Rae Leigh: I have a little sister as well. She's only four years younger than me, and she's just about to have her first baby. I'm so
Kylie Morgan: Oh my goodness. Congratulations.
Rae Leigh: Congratulations.
Rachel. But it is, it's one of those things where it's like you, do you want to wrap them up in bubble wrap and to not let anyone hurt
Kylie Morgan: Aye. I feel that I can't imagine having kids because I it'll be like 20 times amplified. I
Rae Leigh: it is. Yeah,
Kylie Morgan: feeling where you're like wanting to punch these little kids. I'm like, okay, well, this is reversed psychology.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, we want to change the world so that my children can grow up in a world. that. was not the one I grew up in,
Kylie Morgan: I love that.
Rae Leigh: that's all we can do. Oh. So anti-bullying was a huge thing. And you've had such an amazing journey already to now. And now you're releasing music with AMI. What's your now like goal and purpose behind your music and what do you want people to hear when they. They listened to your new stuff,
Kylie Morgan: I love that question. I have had. Gosh, over a decade to think about this first project. I feel like when all these little girls were planning their wedding, I was planning this
Rae Leigh: Kylie.
Kylie Morgan: and I really came down to, I wanted to have a song for every feeling and emotion. And that way people can have a song to turn to whether it's a breakup song and they just want to feel like, you know, they're not alone and they just want to cry in the room.
I want to give them a song that lets them embrace who they are and their imperfections. And that's why I released a song called break things. And I want to give them a song that they can just roll their windows down and get ready to, or, you know, scream at the top of their lungs, which is why I really should My current single.
And then, you know, I just want to have a song that you can always turn to, whether it's bad, good, happy, sad, fun. Not in that way. You just, you never have something where you feel by yourself or where you feel alone. And you can always turn to one of my songs.
Rae Leigh: Because I think there is a real lack of emotional intelligence in the world which is. where a lot of pain and hurt comes from and music does help us in that way.
Kylie Morgan: And, you know what I'm all about. I mean, when it comes down to, you know, country radio, I'm all about the beer drinking songs and the having fun. And I'm all about that. We
need
Rae Leigh: That's
Kylie Morgan: you That's the concerts that we go to and the things that we love, but we also need the, I want to cry in my car to this song too, you know?
And and the, I need to just feel good in my own skin. You know, the songs that you really just turn to for your own good.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. My boyfriend just dumped me and I feel horrible. Someone telling me that I'm not the only one that's. Yeah.
Kylie Morgan: Exactly.
Rae Leigh: All right. So you said you'd done a lot of co-writing. It sounds like you started very young. What's your sort of process in songwriting? What do you do to prepare and you know, what do you like to do in a career?
Kylie Morgan: Sure. Well, sadly my brain never stops. So even when I'm laying in bed or even when I'm, I mean, I'll wake up in the middle of the night with titles and melodies in my head nonstop. So when it comes to like the song writing process, for me, it really never stopped. But when it comes to like getting it into a room with people my favorite time is when there's no idea and I tell them about what I'm going through and an idea falls out because I happened to me the other day.
I got a really not great phone call from from my label, you know, and long story short. Through this whole pandemic, I just did a big radio tour and I was about to launch to radio and it was the thing that, you know, you've always waited for. You know, it's like finally here and then the pandemic hits and, you know, didn't then.
No, one's going to radio and no one's doing this. And so it was one of those where I just felt so defeated and I just cried in the writing room. And I was just like, I don't know what to do. I feel like I, you know, I'm tired of being told I'm not good enough. And my songs aren't good enough. X Y and Z. And then we wrote a song about it.
And then I just, I left that day and I was just like, you know what, no, this is not how the story ends. And I am going to find a way and I'm going to make a way. And so thankfully I have some co-writers that patted me while I cried. And then we got a great song.
Rae Leigh: yeah, I love that. And that sounds like it's going to be geneticists. So many people it's that imposter syndrome feel like they're not good enough. Like that's, I don't know. I feel like that's how advertising gets us, especially as women. Like you're not good enough unless you have this new SCARA, you're not good enough unless you have this new fashion outfit and it's like, I just want shut up.
Kylie Morgan: man. I just wish, you know, what I wish one day is like for one day, Instagram just takes away all filters. And everyone just for one day, everyone just posts what they really look like. And then we will just all feel good.
Rae Leigh: Okay. Yeah. That's never going to happen though. Is it. Yeah, I totally get it now. Like I didn't grow up with makeup. I'm such a tomboy, but I learned, I guess that for some people it's, that's their thing like, like songwriting is for us. Cause I'm totally like a living, walking musical in my head. I sing to myself when I'm doing grocery shopping, but I totally get that other people are like that.
But with visual stuff, you know, like. It's just who they are and they can't see past it. And so I want to be able to reach those people too. And so I started making more effort with like makeup and stuff, but,
Kylie Morgan: That's awesome.
Rae Leigh: there's a reason that I don't do video with these podcasts as well. Cause I
Kylie Morgan: I'm so glad you don't do video because I'm in a robe with my hair wet right now and have no makeup on. Oh,
Rae Leigh: I love wet curly hair cause that's really sexy. Anyway.
Kylie Morgan: you. I actually, it's funny cause I usually let my hair naturally dry and it takes so long to dry. And so last, I think two years ago I started this thing called wet hair sessions and I just started playing my new music with my wet hair while my hair's drying. And I'm like, look at me being productive while I'm waiting for my hair.
Rae Leigh: two birds with one stone. I am a sucker for that all the time. All right. What's the best advice that you've ever been given?
Kylie Morgan: Ooh. My favorite thing that anyone has ever said to me have you ever heard of the the artists Kelly coffee?
Rae Leigh: No, I have
Kylie Morgan: So she was a big country artist in the nineties. And she ran. She wasn't like rising artists at the CMA awards, you know, like, I mean, she was killing it with her single and funny enough, she actually grew up with my mom and she's from Oklahoma
Rae Leigh: Oh,
Kylie Morgan: Her and my mom were saying together a lot.
And then Kelly went on to. Go move to Nashville and do her thing. And then my mom decided to be a mom and married my dad and so two completely different paths. So I think that's another reason why my mom is so supportive. Cause she's like, girl you go do your thing. And so I decided before I moved Kelly started giving voice lessons in Oklahoma.
And so I decided that I wanted to just, you know, brush up on a couple things, make sure all the pipes are working okay. Before I make the big move. And. So we had one lesson and she was like, Kylie, I don't ever do this, but like, I don't have anything to teach you and it's time for you to move on. And I will know that you're scared to move, but someone told me this and I'm going to tell you this, you have to be present to win.
So you have to be there. And I know it's scary, but that's the only way it's going to work. I was like, well, all right, mom, I'm moving.
Rae Leigh: You got to show up. I love
Kylie Morgan: gotta show up and you gotta be there.
Rae Leigh: You got to be there. That's oh, awesome. Okay. This next question. I'm going to change it up a bit because I want to know. What it is that you told all of those kids could usually ask, like, you know, what would you say to the younger kids who want to become a songwriters, but just in general, like, what is it that you were saying to those kids when you were talking about bullying and how you survive that with music and everything?
Like, what would you say to these kids out there.
now that are struggling with bullying or just, you know, maybe they'd love music. Maybe that wouldn't be a songwriter. That's usually who's listening to this podcast, but
Kylie Morgan: Yeah. So I actually, we made a tick talk the other day. Gosh, I started to talk through the quarantine. I'm like, what am I doing? I have like a cold Railey. I'm like, teach me how to use this filter. What is a stitch? I don't know how to do this. Yeah. I don't know how to do it. But I decided that I want to start doing this thing where it's like something you would have told your younger self.
And so I did this on I did this on Tik TOK the other day, and I just said, Something, I would have told my younger self, if I could talk to her now is all the girls that were mean to you in high school are really just unhappy with themselves. So just know that it's a projection onto you from them and how they feel about themselves.
And I feel like that really kind of flips the perspective as to, you know, these people that are being mean to these other people. I mean, they're fighting their own demons, you know, they're dealing with their own things. And instead of just looking at them in a bad light, I mean, for me, like, I'm, like I said, I'm a very spiritual person.
I started just praying for them and praying from a new perspective for them. And it's really hard to pray for the people that you're mad at. I will say that, but I. Yes. And when it comes down to it, I mean, just know that whatever you're going through right now and whatever's happening right now will not matter in five years.
It just won't, you will be a different human, you'll be a different person and you will conquer it. And it'll be one of those valleys that you will look down at and be like, man, I did it
Rae Leigh: Yeah. I mean, and that could be so hard to hear when you're struggling,
Kylie Morgan: oh my gosh. Yes. Easier said than done
Rae Leigh: Oh, absolutely. Yeah, It's more hindsight. And it is something that comes with experience. you grow up, you learn you realize that the things in, you know, a particular time in your life. With nothing. I think I always felt like I just needed someone to say, it's going to be okay.
Kylie Morgan: Yeah,
Rae Leigh: this, you'll survive. And
Kylie Morgan: need a hug.
Rae Leigh: yeah. And we all need that someone there don't we and sometimes you can feel really alone that you never really alone. There's always this know 7 billion plus people on the planet. There's other people out there that have been through Exactly. what you're going through and yet it can be really rough.
That's beautiful. Gosh, I think it's amazing that you've been had the opportunity to speak up, but that you have as well, cause it can be quite controversial. And not everyone wants you to, but actually I actually learnt only through like I did a lot of modeling and acting and you know, you do lots of auditions and things all the time
and it's, it can be really hard to not take it personally when someone says no to you,
Kylie Morgan: 1000000%.
Rae Leigh: but the reality is it's just more of a personal, is it. Because really how could it be? No one ever really takes the time to get to know you.
That, well, unless you're in like a full blown relationship then it's always harder because you can take it personally. Right.
Kylie Morgan: truly. It's so accurate though. And it literally comes down to even like, I mean, yeah. I D I did a little bit of modeling for a little bit, and then I just realized it wasn't good for me. I just, I was comparing myself so much. And then it just became one of those things too, where if someone was chosen over me, that I was just like, well, I'm w are they thinner than me?
Or they prettier than me, or they, you know, you just can't help, but do that. And so I think that it's so great that you're able to speak up about that because it's so easy to see a model, you know, on. On any magazine and you're like, oh my God, they're so perfect. And yet they go home and they didn't book a job and someone else got it.
And they're like, oh, are they prettier than me? Or the, you know, like everyone deals with it, no matter what you look like on a magazine cover or not.
Rae Leigh: Oh, I think every young woman should go and do like a photo shoot, like a glamour sheet, just so that they know they too can look like every other supermodel that's on those magazines because
Kylie Morgan: I love
Rae Leigh: to shop and stuff and all of a sudden you go, oh, okay, cool. Cause like I have shoots like that and it doesn't even look like me at all,
Kylie Morgan: Yeah, I love that. How cool would it'd be to like, even like one day when I'm on tour and I have all the, you know, accessibility is to just bring around a camera crew and, you know, like have all these girls come to the show and be like, we're going to do a meet and greet, and then you're going to do a photo shoot and you're gonna feel it.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Am I going to send you, I'm going to do like a fashion shoot and we're going to make you look like a supermodel so that you know, that it's all
Kylie Morgan: love that.
Rae Leigh: I would love that. too. That
Kylie Morgan: Okay, well, everyone that's listening to this. If that happens in three years, then you know where it came from.
Rae Leigh: Yes, I was so big that I will like I'll help people with the angles of the body. Now. I
Kylie Morgan: Yes,
Rae Leigh: I
Kylie Morgan: You got a job on your hands. You can record podcasts from the bus. It'll be fine.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. Cool. Like, I mean, literally you could do this from anywhere. I mean my bedroom right now, that's where I do most of my writing. And so it's kind of feels natural that
this is where I talk to people about songwriting.
Kylie Morgan: I
Rae Leigh: All right. Last official question. And then I want to hear what you're up to. If you could, co-write a song with anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
Kylie Morgan: it would be a three three-way between me Taylor, swift and Elvis Presley. For
Rae Leigh: Oh, Ooh. So Elvis Presley is not known for writing songs.
Kylie Morgan: I'm what I, cause I feel like one of those people that can make that big of a bet of an impact on the world, probably just didn't. I feel like people don't, they focus on the things that are there that make them strong. They focus on their strengths and they don't ever tend to go back and try and, you know, get better at something else because they're so good at this.
Well, I would love to like pick his brain and just truly, especially with this systems of Taylor swift and like, no, you can do this. You're Elvis Presley. Like I want to get here perspective on life, but I want to help you write this.
Rae Leigh: absolutely. That's so cool. I love that. You said no one's actually ever seen him before, but I got to be in a film that they're making a documentary they're making about him with Tom Hanks and Bezlo. And so it's coming
Kylie Morgan: Oh, wow. That's incredible.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. I got to kiss Elvis and now what I
Kylie Morgan: No, you did it. Oh my God.
Rae Leigh: like, I got to kiss Elvis and everyone's like, wait, what?
And I'm like, well, the actor who plays Elvis, but it's the
Kylie Morgan: Same
Rae Leigh: Like
Kylie Morgan: Same
Rae Leigh: like Elvis at the time. So that counts.
Kylie Morgan: Oh my God, this is so cool. I can't wait to see it.
Rae Leigh: I'm really looking forward to seeing it too. Like I've learned so much about his life just by being a part of the movie and everything they made. Like they base a lot of it off real life footage that no one's ever seen,
Kylie Morgan: Wow. Oh, I'm going to be so intrigued by that. The first song I ever sang on a microphone was an Elvis Presley song. So I've
Rae Leigh: Oh yeah. Which one?
Kylie Morgan: fan of his that's. All right. Now, mama. That's how I call you.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, I love that. I, yeah, I love blue moon. I don't even know why. I just love singing that one anyway.
Kylie Morgan: Yeah, so good.
Rae Leigh: I probably should find out who the songwriter was. Cause it wasn't him. But
Kylie Morgan: He sure. Sold it though.
Rae Leigh: yeah,
Kylie Morgan: So I am like, come on. I know there's some writing abilities in there. You can't sing that song that well and not feel it.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. And that's it right? Like he had some deep feelings and it.
came through now.
Kylie Morgan: Yeah. That's why I would love to just be like, okay, well, yeah, these amazing song writers can write you these songs, but like, I want to hear from you. Yeah.
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
So what are you doing now? COVID has happened. That was a big hush thing that hit every artist. What's made you get through.
Kylie Morgan: was very hard for me. I'll be honest. It was one of those valleys that I will hopefully be in a stadium one day and think back on and be way more thankful because I went through it. But I know that it was hard for everyone and it's so easy during this whole year to feel like it's just you know, you're just the one getting effected and then it's almost, you kind of just wake up and you're like, everyone is dealing with this.
It's not just me, you know, everyone's life got put on pause. And I think it was the hardest for me because everything was set up perfectly as far as just like everything was revving up to finally. Do this big push that I've been waiting my whole career to do and my whole life. And then it was just like, boom, pause.
And I went from being on radio tour, having every 15 minutes, you know, on my calendar, ready to be somewhere doing an interview to doing absolutely nothing. And so it was really hard for me to I'm diagnosed ADHD and so to go from doing all these things and make me so happy and being like, oh, I'm so busy.
I'm so busy. Look at me, I'm doing this. To being like, okay, well, everyone just chill out for a year. You know, it was just a completely different mindset that I had to put myself in. And I actually I realized after about seven, eight months in what the real celebration was, and that was, I realized what really was important.
Like when it's all taken away, when the lights, camera and action are taken away. What really matters. And that was my family. That was my boyfriend. That was my music. And I was able to really just focus on the things that made me happy without putting things out and, you know, showing on Instagram, how busy I was and things like that, because then it became about everyone else and it didn't become about me.
And so I was able to go back to that and go back to what I really wanted to write about and what I really wanted to focus on and make music that people can really turn to. Especially after this year.
Rae Leigh: It's like, It actually was, really good for you to just grand you a little bit in, in who you are and what's yeah. What's important. Like that's beautiful.
Kylie Morgan: It was, and it was two and my boyfriend and I we've been together for I'm coming up on six years and it was, yeah. Yeah, we were,
Rae Leigh: I had
like three kids by then.
Kylie Morgan: we've been around the block. a few times. Yeah, no, it was awesome too, is he's an artist as well. And so we have been, I mean, in the year before COVID we would, you know, high-five and airports, but we would never get time together.
So we actually got to be like a normal couple for like a year and a half. So it's been nice to just get to Reno each other again. And co-exist together again. It's been it's been really enlightening and good for our relationship.
Rae Leigh: Good. Cause I've heard some reports from people where that was kind of the opposite. It was like, you know, they both worked. And so the amount of time they did spend together wasn't that much. And then they had to spend full time together and then they drove each other.
Kylie Morgan: honestly, I think this world just was like, you know what? I think everyone needs a reset
Rae Leigh: Yeah.
Kylie Morgan: people need to realize if they really love each other as they just love the life that they're comfortable in. And if people need to really realize what matters. So at the end of the day, Sucked, but it taught me a lot.
I think it taught everyone a lot. And by the time we get all out of this, we're going to be so thankful for the things that we took for granted
Rae Leigh: I think there were a lot of people living their lives on autopilot
Kylie Morgan: hundred percent.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, this definitely was like one of those slap in the face. Do you like what you're doing? Because your life will continue to you know, go, you can't stop time just to an it career and end money. And nothing's ever really secure.
Is it? It's like, it's such
an illusion. Yeah.
Kylie Morgan: it's such an illusion. I think about this all the time. Even through songwriting through artistry, it's like, you know, like, oh, well, if I could just get to that person's level, then. Then I'll be happy or, you know, I'll be it or whatever. And it's just, it's never the case. It's just never the case
Rae Leigh: Yeah. so true. You can't, you've got to enjoy the journey. I think someone taught me that it was like, if you don't love what you're doing now, you're not going to enjoy the destination. You know? Like you gotta, just gotta love each moment. And. If you build your life on moments that you enjoy, you'll have a life that you enjoy.
And if it ends at any point, because we don't know when the end is at least in, you know, you've had fun.
Like that really is
Kylie Morgan: My my goal in life, since I was younger, seeing my dad work so much, and that is where I got my work at my work ethic was definitely from him. He you being one of six, he was one of 12. And yeah, he's he was the youngest in his whole family and honestly just pretty much built and became like the, kind of the.
People that everyone could turn to in his family, even though he was the youngest and he started his own collision repair shop at 18 and just never stopped since then. And so he has been continuing to just like, you know, act. I swear sometimes I'm like, dad, We're not poor. Like you can take a break,
Rae Leigh: Have a holiday dead.
Kylie Morgan: exactly right.
And so I'm so excited cause he's actually coming to see me here in Nashville for the first time in two years in a couple of weeks. So I'm excited about that. But I think I realized too through all that is I want a life that I don't need a vacation from. I feel like everyone is always saying, you know, oh, I just, I need, you know, I need to, I needed holiday.
I need to go here. I need to do that. Like I'm working all the time. Well, I feel like that's my whole goal in life is to live a life that I don't need a break from.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, I literally like, I lived that life and I must have a bit of ADHD because I couldn't sit still during COVID. Hence why I have this podcast. It was a COVID baby.
Kylie Morgan: I mean, Hey, I least something good came from it.
Rae Leigh: But like music is my therapy and it.
was the one thing that relaxed me and the one thing that I enjoy. Right. So that's why I've made it my entire life. And yet like, just. Was it yesterday, I was having a bad day and I'm like, do you know what? I just want to go to an open mic. And like, I haven't been to an open mic in ages, but I'm like, I just want to play and I didn't have a gig.
So I'm like, Hey, who does that? Who has like, the job is playing music. And then like on their night off, they're like, oh, but I really want to go play some music.
Kylie Morgan: People that love music.
Rae Leigh: Right. I was like, this is kind of silly, but at the same time, it's what I it's like. I need this right now. And it doesn't matter. And like,
Kylie Morgan: I love
Rae Leigh: me there.
And I love that
Kylie Morgan: so, oh, incredible. To be able to still do that and be like, be one of those people that can just pop up and not need, you know, don't need a whole set or a whole like show or a whole whatever. It's like, no, you just, why are we all started this? Because we love playing music. So I love that you did that.
Rae Leigh: I mean, I know where to go to the good open mics that have good sound and lighting, but it's just, I mean, that is pretty important, but at the same time yeah, sometimes you just need to be out and amongst your people and that I loved open mics when I was first starting out. I think the most important thing that people need And it's such a beautiful community, so yeah.
So what's, COVID like over there at the moment. Are you still unable to go and do your tour or what are you doing now? You prepping to ramp things up again.
Kylie Morgan: so thankfully Jay and I have been. Able to book a lot of private shows in the meantime. So we've had a lot of people do small gatherings and bring us out to play, whether it's a party or, you know, something like that. And it's been like a lot of outdoor events and things like that. So we've been able to thankfully still play music and him being an artist as well at a songwriter.
So nice because when I'm like, Hey, I want to write this. I'm like, will you write it with me? You know? And so, thankfully I've been able to still create, but what did give me this time is to really hone in on the first EAP that I'm releasing and really decide what I wanted to push out what I marketing wise, even down to visual.
And so I was really had time to just focus on that and that way I can. Get back out on the road and now I'll have a record out, you know, that's done. And so I'll finally have the project and I'm so excited. And I think that, and that was the biggest thing for me. Work-wise was able to finally have time to hone in on what I wanted to release and what I wanted it to look like and when I wanted to do it.
And so it's all fine.
Rae Leigh: That's amazing. I've only just released my first AP last month and
Kylie Morgan: my God. It's so exciting. I
need to
Rae Leigh: is exciting. Ah, well, it's great. Thank you. And like the shows have been postponed and all that sort of stuff. I think we've been pretty lucky in Australia. We haven't had as big of anywhere near as big of COVID issue. As you guys have.
Yeah. Yeah, but I mean, it's impacted us of course, but nowhere near as much as it had the rest of the world. And it reminds me that we are very blessed here. The, yeah, it's such a big goal thing. Like, I don't know, but you, did you have goal boards where you'd like cut out things and put them up on the wall and
Kylie Morgan: Yes, a hundred percent. I have a thousand Pinterest boards. I have all of these notes in my phone of like the things I want to do, places I want to go things I want to accomplish. Yeah. It's it's, I'm one of those people.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, I, well, I had a like album on there, like my entire life said, even just have like an AP and a CDI and to be selling much and like traveling for music and all that. So stuff, it's kind of like a dream come true, which is absolutely amazing. I mean, I still want to do a full album and all that sort of stuff, but yeah, it's just like, It feels good.
I'm really happy for you. And I'm excited to sort of see how it all unfolds and you know, where should it takes you? And your next song takes you in your EAP get takes you. It's gonna be awesome. And I, you know, I can hear in you. You do have an incredible work ethic. And that is probably the most important thing next to talent, God given talent and such a beautiful heart as well, that you focus on all emotions and that all emotions are essential.
And that is not something that everyone is aware of. I love that about you. That's so cool.
Kylie Morgan: that's so kind of you thank you so much. Sometimes it drives me insane to be so connected to my emotions
Rae Leigh: Okay. But it
is a good thing.
Kylie Morgan: And sometimes I need a break from my own head.
Rae Leigh: Yeah. And that's when we sing. Right.
Kylie Morgan: Exactly. Exactly.
Rae Leigh: I feel you, I feel like you're a bit of a soul sister and I absolutely have loved hearing about your journey to the today. And hopefully, you know, come three years time. If I'm not on the bus with you, I hope that we can catch up at least and hear
Kylie Morgan: Please definitely come to Nashville. I would love to buy you a glass of wine and talk all the things
Rae Leigh: Oh, that'd be amazing. I was literally there in like 2019 the end of 2019. And. Yeah, that was actually my first open mic. So I was a bedroom warrior and I know one, I was like a closet songwriter
Kylie Morgan: I love that bedroom warrior. That's awesome.
Rae Leigh: So I was writing songs since I was six, but I didn't do like, my first open mic until like Nashville, 2019, and then literally went from first open mic to first single being released within a few months.
And it's been nonstop since and yeah.
Kylie Morgan: that's so incredible. I can't wait to hear your stuff. And I'm so glad that you're doing this because I feel like there's so many songwriters that don't even know where to begin and to really just get other people's stories is a great start. So I love that you started this.
Rae Leigh: Oh, I'm just learning. And I feel like as I'm learning and meeting amazing people, that yourself, Kylie that other people, if they want to can also jump in, you know, it's like reading the textbook and rotting the textbook at the same time. It's brilliant. I love podcasting. It's
Kylie Morgan: on the job training.
Rae Leigh: Yeah, exactly. Right. And that's kind of what you have to do. I mean, I've done a few courses, but it's what you have to do. So what's coming up next. Is there anything else you would like to say before we finish up, I'm going to
Kylie Morgan: I will
Rae Leigh: in the blog by the way. And so people can follow you in stream you and find you.
Kylie Morgan: Amazing, incredible. I just want to reiterate that I love. Every single person that has supported me thus far. And I've been so thankful to truly just have a fan base that has stood by me even through this whole year. And I'm so excited to say that this first project is coming out second weekend of June.
So please stream it, share it, screaming at the top of your lungs, do all the things. And please just let me know if you like it, because that's all I want to do is write music for everyone.
Rae Leigh: Absolutely. If you're listening to music and you like it, tell the artists because it doesn't happen as often as you would think it is worth. Good to get feedback. Yeah. No brilliant. Well, Yes.
like I said, I'll put everything in the description so people can follow you.
We can stream your music, check out your music videos, and Get a few more people listening to you and supporting you And I'm really looking forward to seeing you explode after this COVID stuff starts to settle down and world to her. Please come to Australia and I'll take you out for a one.
Kylie Morgan: Have to twist my arm. I'll be there in a heartbeat.
Rae Leigh: no, I think it's going to be a lot of fun and just keep doing what you're doing and have fun. That's you're going to be amazing.
Kylie Morgan: You back
Rae Leigh: all right. Thank you so much.
Kylie Morgan: All right. Thank you so much. I'll talk to you soon.
