We were lucky to catch up with Morgan Dennis-Elam recently and have shared our conversation below.
Morgan, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
I have learned to do what I do by being thrown in fire. There were times where I’ve gotten burnt but it’s all part of the process. Most of my knowledge in regards to my craft comes from my peers and mentors. Without them, I not sure if I would know half the things I know. The most essential skills that they have taught me is trusting my ears, reading the manuals, understanding your equipment in and out, creating a workflow that’s going to help not only me but the event/show itself, and the most important thing which is knowing and understanding power. You can’t have a show without power. I have been very fortunate to not have faced any obstacles that have stood in the way of me learning. As well knowing what I know, I wouldn’t have changed anything to speed up the process. I am a sponge in this game, and those around me pour into me as much as possible.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello to those that are reading this, I am Morgan but some call me NAGROM. I am a 23 year old female audio engineer Atlanta native. My journey of being in this industry started with my high school friend Rheanna, in which make sure yall tap in with her @rhemix.studios . She knew I did music to a certain extent and was tip-toeing in learning how to produce and she kindly brought me on to an internship at TI’s old studio called 3141. From lobby watching, taking out trash, having to clean up cigarette ashes in the booth, and staying till 3 or 4 am the ball just kept rolling. I started in the studio tracking of course but my goal has always been to do live. While slowly climbing the ladder, we got the opportunity to join another studio, which I am currently with called 4u Recording ATL. Being in that space is what set the foundation that has helped me get my feet wet in regards live because we have a an event space as well as a live space and each space has their own console (Midas 32 and A&H SQ6).
Services that I provide to my clients is tracking, mixing, and songwriting from time to time in regards to the studio. In the live world, I provide my services as a patch tech, FOH, and monitoring engineer. When it comes to problem solving for those I work for, being ahead of the curve is what I try to do best. Knowing how to troubleshoot in a timely manner. There are times where softwares crash, boards crash, and/or someone may not know how to work equipment and it’s my job to handle it swiftly. If you don’t know how to troubleshoot, you’ve failed your client.
What sets me apart, is for one being a gay black female. Although I identify as such, I don’t move like such. I’m always told I’m one of the bros. I don’t limit myself to anything, I can do what a man can do and possibly even better. I load and unload trucks. Im lifting and shifting gear. Taking control of the space and leading my peers. What I think also sets me a part is being personable. Work is work of course but I care about connecting with people beyond just us getting our hands dirty for a couple of hours and then dipping. There’s more to people than a dollar sign and I want them to know that when we’re executing a project.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Something I think non-creatives struggle to understand in regards to those they have in their life that are in this industry is time. From the outside looking in, it seems that we move on our own time but we really don’t. It’s not a 9 to 5. Our days can start as early as 8am and it won’t end until the next day. There is always something that needs to be done and because of that it takes up our time which pulls us away from things that in a normal life would be prioritized like family, friends, and life itself. As you grow in rank, it becomes easier to manage because at that point you’re more in control of what gigs you want to take, but when first starting out there is no time for anything other than your craft.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an audio engineer is experiencing the people. I know that may be a little cliche lol, but I love seeing and feeling the energy of the crowd. Being able to give them something sonically that they’ll never forget brings joy to my heart.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @itsnagrom
- Other: email for inquiries is [email protected]