Deamau5’s label mau5trap has once again signed Morgin Madison. This time, working with him to push a full length album that he put together during the darkest, claustrophobic moments of the pandemic/lockdown that we were all forced to join – for better or for worse.
12-track altogether, “Living the Phantasm” is something not to be missed. Songs that hit hard and vibes that get down-right emotional, a silky smooth progressive essence is pronounced throughout, all the works here feeling at-home to what millions of listeners have come to know and love from Morgin Madison.
A personal favorite of mine of the album was “Club Dystopia,” an enchanting work undeniably and it simply oozes with fully consuming progressive vibes that will surely hold up the test of time. Equipped with a hard-hitting draw, but juxtaposes with a bridge the just lifts the spirit into heaven, it was one of many that spoke to me.
Madison shares a quote explaining more on the album.
In many ways, this album wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the struggles of the year 2020. I had wanted to do a proper full-length album for my entire adult life, but it always felt forced. When the pandemic hit, it became clear to me that not only were my aspirations volatile, but so was the music industry at large. I found myself looking inward asking who I truly was artistically and whether I had accomplished what I originally set out to do. With total uncertainty of the future, I found I had one thing left in me, and that was this album. One of the definitions of a phantasm is the illusory likeness of something… and that is what the last year has been for many of us. We’ve lived through something strange and unparalleled, and I created this album right in the middle of that.”
– Morgin Madison
All things considered it was hard to resist reaching out to Morgin Madison and chatting with him about the album, his take/messaging on it, tips for hungry rising artists out there to succeed, and more.
Check out the full interview below
Interview
RR: In ‘Living the Phantasm’, 12 tracks is quite a lot! Was the idea of an album always the goal or perhaps did the idea of how to package the tracks come together during the creation process?
MM: Living the Phantasm was certainly always supposed to be an album. Aside from the instrumental of “Far From Home”, I made all of the songs at once within about a 4 month time frame. I think that’s why they all fit together so well, and some of them were even made sequentially. I hit this point in my life in the late Summer of 2020 where I thought I might be done with music. Once I thought about that as a possibility, Living the Phantasm came out of me in a crazy streak of creativity and care-free productivity.
RR: Is there a personal favorite of the bunch for you within this album?
MM: If I had to pick, I’d say either “Rise” or the closing track “All These Worlds”. I find them both really beautiful, and I’m extremely proud of how they turned out. I don’t think a lot of people will be expecting an EDM album to end with an ambient piece, so I might pick that one as my favorite even though it took the least time to make.
RR: I dig the quote, “In many ways, this album wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for the struggles of the year 2020.” Was there a particular track that was born out of your toughest moment of that year?
MM: Wow, great question! I’d say “Reflect”. It was one of the last songs finished for the album, and it plays such an important role as the album’s climax. I had most of the tracks done, but the album was lacking that last crescendo feeling. I had the first half of “Reflect” done for a while… but getting that trance-inspired second half finished was an absolute struggle. The song is beautiful and simultaneously very dark. You can tell it was made during the depths of the pandemic, in the Fall, when COVID seemed to be spreading with no end in sight.
RR: What do you hope is a key message or theme that is taken away in ‘Living the Phantasm?’
MM: My hope is that people feel equal parts nostalgic, hopeful, and refreshed. To me personally, the album is a testament to perseverance. My most self-critical thoughts had been proven wrong, and my best work came out of me when I thought it was all behind me. The album contains everything from optimism to darkness, and I hope people reach the other side feeling like there is still a lot more to come out of life, even if they can’t see it now.
RR: For rising electronic artists out there, what would you describe as critical tactics to help them get signed to their first substantial label?
MM: Be yourself. Be mindful of what you are creating. Be focused. Be VERY disciplined. But most of all, let your identity bleed through into what you are making. Otherwise, what’s the point? I’ve tried many times to pander to the sound of particular labels, and I’ve been rejected every time. Dozens of songs that will never see the light of day. The labels thought there was nothing special about them, and they were right. I only started to shine when I accepted myself and worked on who I was instead of who I wanted to be.
RR: Looking back, were there particular mentors or musical influences that helped you get on the pathway of becoming a professional artist?
MM: I have been lucky in my journey so far to have had a few mentors who steered me in the right direction. My first big mentor was Ben Harvey – former head of Sirius Xm Chill and now president of Kygo’s label Palm Tree records with Sony. He helped me get my first song on the radio. I have a few long-time artist friends who have given me great advice over the years… OTR, Half An Orange, thomfjord, and Shallou have all been very open and kind to me the last couple years. My biggest professional musical influences are deadmau5, Above & Beyond, Jon Hopkins, Porter Robinson, and Andrew Bayer among others.
RR: Anything in the future you are looking forward to in particular?
MM: Honestly, shows. The music I’ve made for the last year and a half, especially on this album, is geared entirely towards the live setting. I can’t wait for touring and shows to come back so I can continue to release new music and watch people react to it live. There’s nothing like it. I also have some really cool long-term plans pertaining to follow up albums… but that’s a ways off. After 2020, I’m just excited for the future in general.
Connect with Morgin Madison:
https://www.facebook.com/morginmadison/
https://twitter.com/morginmadison
https://soundcloud.com/morginmadison
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1WrO4cGKIG6EgYqyHNReej
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