JN: You performed at your first Lollapalooza, tell me how that felt…

morgxn: Being on stage was emotional because [my fans] were singing all the words to [the songs]. I wrote these records in rooms no bigger than this bench we’re sitting on and I wrote them out of necessity. To be able to share it with people and have them sing the words, it means so much to me.

JN: When did you decide to pursue a music career?

morgxn: That’s a great question. I’ve recently thought about it because I’ve had some people ask me, “How did you get started in music?” and I think you have to put in work for anything. For me, music was an outlet that I went to so that I could express myself. I didn’t think I was going to share it at-first because it was really something that I was just doing to process my life.

JN: Why do you think people connect with you so much?

morgxn: I think what people connect to is the same struggle with identity and loving yourself and loving each other when you’re programmed not to love each other. I think that message is from parts of the world that I’ve never been to and that is the most beautiful thing ever.

JN: vital is your first album, so I know it’s special for that reason alone, but what else makes it so special to you?

morgxn: I’ve written thousands of songs, but this record came together at a time in my life when I was growing into being and losing my father. In a way, the record wrote itself; I just kept showing up to it – I never sat down and went “I’m going to make a record” – that’s not how I create. I create out of necessity.

JN: You grew up in the capital of country music, what were some of the challenges you faced early in your music career?

morgxn: I think there was a combination of people looking at me and not knowing what they were going to do with me that wasn’t in a country [music] space. It was never in my soul to write county music, but it was also a combination of me not knowing who I was. I didn’t know what my voice was, what I wanted to say, and how I wanted to say it. Nashville was so closed off to me and it hurt, but in a way, that closed door led me to LA which was such a new beginning! That was everything I needed because I needed that space to find myself and the music.

JN: Being a part of the LGBT community yet growing up in the conservative south presented challenges outside of your music. How have those experiences shaped you?

morgxn: This [career] has been such a personal journey to me. Growing up in Nashville, I always felt like I was never going to fit in, and as a child, it hurt me that I was never going to fit in. My life right now is so much about, “I don’t fit in and I’m so happy that I don’t fit in,” because I can create my home, my niche. I celebrate that I’m not what I am expected to be as a man…as a southern man…as a queer man. There are all these expectations that I grew up with in the south like, “What it means to be a man,” and I am none of that.

JN: You’re touring with DREAMERS this fall; what are you most looking forward to during your tour?

morgxn: Creating this record has been such a journey for me and it feels like heaven when people are connecting with the music. I’ve played to rooms of nobody…I know what that’s like, so to be in a room with a bunch of people who are singing along and dancing – I feel like I’ve been singing to them this entire time, and we just haven’t met yet. I am really looking forward to singing these songs in front of my fans.

All images are courtesy of the artist

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One of the best things about Lollapalooza is that many performers gain new fans and festival attendees stumble upon talent unaware. While the most recognized names perform on the main stages and draw the larger crowds [and deservingly so], there are bona fide gems giving stunning performances on the smaller stages. We’ll focus on the best of those.

Durand Jones & the Indications: Playing an early set during the hottest time of the day is no easy feat, yet the band made it look and sound effortless. Their soulful and lively set was a welcome alternative to the EDM pulsing through Grant Park. The band performed music from their debut, self-titled album, including “Smile” and “Is It Any Wonder,” while the crowd danced, swayed, and sang along, temporarily forgetting about the discomfort of extreme heat. Any band that can do that, deserves to be on everyone’s “Best of Lollapalooza” list.

Anderson East: The sound of this Alabama native’s impeccable vocals floated through the air like a much-needed cool breeze. Anderson East fuses multiple genres of music to create a musical style that compliments his raw, yet refined vocal ability. Backed by a band, the singer performed music from both of his albums, Delilah and Encore, with conviction and emotion that could be felt through every note. Anderson East is a future festival headliner

R.LUM.R: Singer and guitarist, R.LUM.R, performed a mid-day set on the BMI stage tucked away in the shade, overlooking Lake Michigan. The alt-R&B artist impressed with his vocals – performing with a two-piece band before winding down his set with acoustic renditions of “Be Honest” and “Thinkin’ ‘Bout You.” The acoustic renditions allowed him to showcase his truly remarkable voice, which at times was eclipsed by the band. Hopefully, R.LUM.R will grace the stages of Lollapalooza again in the future.

Gucci Mane: Beginning his set on the Bud Light stage with the customary DJ warm-up, Gucci Mane walked onto the stage and was greeted with boisterous cheers, before performing “Make the Trap Say Aye” and “Both.” Every beat drop that transitioned into another song caused the crowd to grow louder. The energy from the audience and the stage was infectious as Gucci blazed through some of his most popular songs: “Wasted,” “Lemonade,” and “I Might Be,” to name a few. Although he wasn’t a headliner, Gucci Mane drew a crowd that was comparable to one. Considering that the rapper doesn’t tour often, the massive crowd was to be expected and he did not disappoint the fans.

LL Cool J: By no means is LL Cool J small-time; he is the exact opposite, but he makes this “Best of Lollapalooza” list for simply being LL Cool J and bringing the heat on an already sweltering day.

Lollapalooza is known for booking hip-hop acts, but it’s not known for its appreciation of classic hip-hop. It appears that festival organizers figured out that there is an audience that longs for the MCs of hip hop’s Golden Era. LL Cool J is a legend and his Saturday evening performance at the Bud Light stage reminded attendees why he is everyone’s favorite uncle. Complete with breakdancing backup dancers, clad in the colorful threads that everyone loved in the 80s, and backed by the incredible DJ Z-Trip, Uncle LL brought true hip-hop culture to Lollapalooza 2018.

With a music catalog as impressive as his, it’s not easy fitting it all into an hour-long set, but he did it, flawlessly. You name it, Uncle LL performed it: “I’m Bad,” “Jack the Ripper,” “Hey Love,” “Boomin’ System,” “Rock the Bells,” and the list goes on. At 50 years old, and having been in this industry for over three decades, LL Cool J has nothing to prove; yet his performance was better than most artists [who do have something to prove] do on their best day. His interaction with the crowd was organic, and he looked like he was genuinely enjoying performing for the people. LL Cool J hasn’t released new music in five years but still gave one of the best performances in Lollapalooza’s history.

Bud Light Dive Bar Sessions: For the duration of Lollapalooza, the Bud Light Dive Bar Sessions provided an opportunity for festival attendees to experience up-and-coming artists in a more intimate (and shaded) setting. Throughout the weekend, fans were able to experience and engage with Tank & the Bangas, SUR, The Aces, and morgxn, to name a few, during their 30-minute performances. At the conclusion of each Dive Bar Session, fans had the opportunity to meet the artists and listen to the DJ spin classic hip hop and R&B. Designed to look like a dive bar [a very clean and well-lit dive bar], the open-air space, complete with patio-style seating, a bar, and a roof deck, was a satisfying retreat from the Lollapalooza chaos.

Photo credits: LL Cool J by Candice Lawlar; Anderson East by Roger Ho; Gucci Mane by Scott Witt; Lollapalooza crowds by Greg Noire; Bud Light Dive Bar Sessions by Draftline.

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