We were lucky to catch up with Morgan Nofsinger recently and have shared our conversation below.
Morgan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I’ve been a part of is without question my first album I’m about to drop this week. I’ve realized recently why they call it that…‘releasing music”. It truly feels like I’m releasing all of the pent up energy and creativity that’s been brewing for so long. Since I was 14 I’ve been writing poetry to express myself and navigate whatever I’m going through. For years this was a personal journey; not meant to share with anyone else. I’d read my work to friends occasionally, but never pictured pursuing a career with my words. Once I turned 25 and figured out how to DJ and produce music, my vision drastically changed. I began to unveil that my passion was quite literally in front of me all along. And while it’s painfully corny, I’m so glad I figured it out. I’ve discovered how to put my poetry into music that feels aligned with my energy. How to ask the right questions and continue to let my brain exist in a creative state. I have an infinite amount of learning left to do, but I’m grateful to have started. I can’t wait to see where this project takes me.
Morgan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
So I’m an electronic music DJ and producer. Those of you that immediately think of loud scary edm, stay with me. I’ve been enjoying underground bass music since I can remember. It’s not the typical main stream hype music you might hear in a dance club. There’s a culture of sound that goes much deeper than that. I started going to shows in venues quite literally underground and abandoned warehouses. I eventually graduated to music festivals, where the real magic happens. The music I gravitated towards was a mixture of experimental bass and funky stuff. Some favorite artists from the scene are Griz, Liquid Stranger, and Charles the First. While the music stole my heart, the culture of people that attend these events was the most incredible part. I finally found people that loved me unconditionally, for no reason whatsoever. I knew this was where I was meant to be. After many years as an attendee, I knew I wanted to career in music somehow. I thought learning the behind the scenes tricks and becoming an artist manager was my path. I became close with some up and coming artists and promotion companies and soaked in as much information as I could. Eventually covid hit and time slowed down for awhile. With no events and little to learn, I asked a friend to teach me how to mix music. It took me awhile to really get the hang of, but eventually I was hooked. Once concerts fired back up again I signed up for a local open decks show. Meaning whoever wants to can come and DJ at riot room (RIP). To my surprise, a ton of people showed up to watch me play. The next day I received a call from Chris Otter at Hytekk productions asking me if I want to play the encore at the uptown theatre. Now it’s been 3 years and I’m finally tackling the beast that is abelton. My general focus is creating experimental bass music and blending with funky upbeat jams. It’s tricky learning how to get my poetry into a beat that sounds just right. I’ve played a couple instruments in my life but never really stuck with anything like this. But I’m determined to keep creating until I’ve said it all. I wouldn’t say I have an end goal, but to play some of the music festivals that changed who I am to my core would be pretty sick. And to influence one person like this music has influenced me would be alright too.
Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
Oh man all of them. I constantly find myself wishing I could start over at a young age and stick with piano and brass instruments, even though I wasn’t good yet. I wish I’d ignored the people that told me I wasn’t good enough. But, in the grand scheme there’s nothing to do but start now. I’ll never get that time back and while it’s frustrating, I’m still a believer that everything happens for a reason. Who knows if I would have spent every day learning how to play an instrument just right if I’d ever find real inspiration? I never wanted to peak early anyway.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I think it would just be connecting with people on an indescribable level. When I played one of my first music festivals last summer, one guy came up to me and told me this was his first event he’d ever been to and I was hit first set. And he was so emotional and happy, and flipped out when I handed him a sticker. His only question was “when’s the next one!!” To meet someone that is just discovering this thing that makes me feel alive; and see the gratitude on his face for me having some small part of that, is something truly special. It reminds me why I’m here. It reminds me that regardless of any evil in the world, we can chose to contribute to the good.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nofslinger?igsh=eWFvaDNncmE1cmo2
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070783976252&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Other: https://on.soundcloud.com/M6zom9EMRvygtDC5A
Image Credits
Devon DuBree, Bridget McCabe, Edward Wong, Alex Kidwell, Matt Thomas.