Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alexander Morgan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Alexander thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I am currently in the process of transitioning into the field of Sound Design, specifically for video games. I’ve always been a passionate enthusiast, particularly within the realms of gaming and music, and it’s fascinating to see how these interests intersect. Many people may be surprised to learn just how much effort goes into crafting a soundscape for a game. It goes beyond simply composing music; it’s about creating a living, breathing auditory world. It involves the meticulous attention to detail, such as how the environment sounds, the way characters move through it, the rustle of cloth against skin, or the distinction between footsteps on grass and snow.
Moreover, there’s the intricate process of implementing these sounds through sophisticated software, which adds another layer of complexity to the craft. However, despite the challenges, the satisfaction that comes from telling a story through sound is immensely gratifying. This concept isn’t new to me as a songwriter; I’ve always approached songwriting with an emphasis on melody and instrumentation before lyrics. The power of sound choice to convey emotions and narratives, often subconsciously, has always excited me.
This very philosophy is what has driven my deep interest in Game Audio Design. I’ve found that all I’ve learned as a songwriter and producer has provided a solid foundation for this new artistic endeavor. It’s both exhilarating and daunting; I’m 32 years old, taking a significant leap into uncharted territory. While it’s closely related to my music background, I feel like I’m back in college, constructing a customized curriculum for myself.
Perhaps that’s the core message of this story is that my passions have continued to be embolden by my desire to self-teach. You don’t need to spend a fortune or doubt your capabilities. If you take a leap, and get a little organized, you can really learn anything. Don’t expect it to be easy, I’ve learned it’s not. But it is extraordinarily rewarding.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
For those who don’t know me, my name is Alexander Morgan, but my friends call me Schmorgle. I’ve said that so many times, and many people ask me if it’s true. It is true that a few select friends actually call me that. It’s also my accidental moniker for all my music.
I suprisingly went to Acting School, Boston University School of Acting. I thought I wanted to be an actor. I was constantly on stage as a kid and really loved the attention. What I learned in school, though, is that the attention and affirmation of being “good” was what really fueled my artistic endeavors. On the flip side, I was constantly writing music in every ounce of spare time I had. I should have gotten the memo when I was working on my third song of the day when I should have been reading “The Seagull.” I remember being in a recording studio with my good friend and mega-talented songwriter in his own right, John Zdrokjeski. We were in a college band, and I just remember saying, “Man, I want to do this for the rest of my life.” Long story short, I ended up doing that.
I moved to New York and played as much music as I could. I took side-man gigs (that’s where you play instruments for other people), I learned how to score films, and most passionately, I played my own music out at clubs. I ended up touring with a pop act around the US. I started a band, made three songs, and let the band kind of fall away. I got connected in the Podcast scene and edited and produced some shows with a company. Finally, I got interested in music production and wanted to start producing my own music. I ended up taking an online course through Learn Monthly from Music Producer and YouTuber Andrew Huang. This is really where my story turns toward gathering a fan base.
I hit the class super hard. Most importantly, I took inspiration from Andrew and started putting all my work in the class up on YouTube. I needed a username, so I just went with “Schmorgle,” kind of as a joke. Little did I know that would be my entire thing soon. Once I finished the class, I actually felt like a better producer and felt like I had this little time capsule online. One of the last assignments was to put our third and final produced song up online. So, I made a very DIY video of my song “Bet It All” and threw it up there. Then, a few weeks later, I woke up with a staggering amount of notifications. It was all from YouTube Studio, YouTube’s content creator dashboard. I had received upwards of 1,000 subscribers overnight. From 32 to 1,000 in one 8-hour sleep. Apparently, Andrew had featured a few artists in his latest video (it should be noted, Andrew has over one million subscribers). His shoutout turned me from a silly name my friends called me to a moderately considered music maker in a niche corner of the internet. That was pretty cool.
This moment kind of shaped the next few years of my life. I made videos weekly (for a while). I made a ton of music very fast. I had a lot of time, seeing as it was the middle of the pandemic. Most importantly, I gathered an amazing crew of artists in my Discord server that I interact with weekly to this day. We do a weekly challenge called “The Creativity Gym” where we take a silly idea or parameter for making art and show off what we made that following Saturday. This has maybe become the most rewarding part of the Schmorgle thing.
Now I sit with a humble but prideful 6,000 subscribers. I don’t make a ton of videos anymore, but I post when I can. I’ve been mostly busy writing with other artists, producing music, making podcasts, teaching, and venturing into Game Audio. That is probably where my main focus will be for the near future. I won’t ever stop making music, though. That will be the core of me forever.
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
This is a super tough question. I think the issue is that the companies who control how consumers listen to music are not on the side of music makers. This isn’t a revolutionary thought, but I think sometimes as artists we hope there is a suited individual looking out for us somewhere. I don’t know if there is. They make a lot of money off of us, and mainly support the mega stars so they can continue to bulk up that already incomparable source of capital. Just like in the economy, there really isn’t a middle class of musicians anymore. It’s extraordinarily hard to get bands or artists off the ground. It’s totally possible, but it seems to be from so many factors outside the control of the artists themselves.
How do we solve that? The only solution I have, that isn’t abolish mega corporations, is to ask those who like and support music makers to be loud about it. Re-post your friend’s song. More than once. If you like something on Tik Tok, find out who they are and follow them everywhere. Then post on whatever social media platform and tell your buddies to listen to them. Word of mouth is the most powerful tool we have outside of algorithms. It’s also a tool for artists to support their peers and make meaningful connections. I hate the word “networking”, but I have found the true connections are made with genuine interest and being a decent human. Stop trying to follow label execs or playlist curators, get involved with artists you really mess with. And share their shit! Sorry I cursed.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I can share a time indeed, that time is now. I mention in another section about how I am transitioning into Game Audio. I’m doing this for a few reasons. The main one is that I’m genuinely interested in the industry. I play a lot of games and love the sound design in them. I want to make that cool stuff I love. The second reason is that I just need a little more structure in my life. The artist life isn’t for everyone, especially someone who seeks structure. I used to love the freedom and not knowing what I was doing any given week. Now that I’m in my 30s, I just simply have new goals and desires for my daily life. Honestly, I also just want to make more money than I am currently. I’ve had some great moments in the music industry. I’ve been given some awesome opportunities and payed pretty well for them. But for my new lifestyle, one of sobriety and mental health taking priority, it’s just not sustainable for me. Those decisions are hard to make but absolutely crucial. I’m not giving up any part of me that is a music maker. I’m just focusing my interests into a career that provides stability. I often feel that my generation is in this space of “if you stop grinding, you give up”. I really hate that mentality. It may be true for some, but not for me. I will always make music and I don’t need it to be my sole source of income anymore. There is nothing wrong with changing your life into something that better suits who you are now. We change. Things change. The more I personally embrace change, the happier I become. So this pivot is now, and it’s weird, and it’s scary, and it’s wonderful. I genuinely can’t wait to (hopefully) do one of these again in a few years and report back on my new life. I’m so excited for what’s to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.schmorgle.la/ *(site not functional yet, will be soon)
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_schmorgle/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandermorganmusic/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/_schmorgle
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Schmorgle
Image Credits
Two instrument photos and Headshot – Deceptive Perspective Neon chair photo – Jake Hays B/W Photo – Graeme Wilson