The Travel Addict
Morgan Wade talks new obsessions, staying in shape on the road and more
One of Nashville’s rising stars is country music singer and songwriter Morgan Wade. In 2021 the 28-year-old released her debut studio album Reckless that featured the song “Wilder Days,” which earned an RIAA Gold certification. In 2023 she released her second album Psychopath. Her incredible songwriting talent and personal lyrics have found her a growing fanbase that she has become completely dedicated to. Through her music, she shares the deepest feeling about her personal health troubles and relationship complexities.
During March of this year, Wade released a song titled “2AM in London,” the lead single to her newest upcoming album Obsessed. In April she released a second single, “Time to Love, Time to Kill” for her album that came out on Friday. Wade spent the summer on the Triple Moon Tour with Alanis Morissette and Joan Jett for an all-female rock n roll tour for the ages. Wade will also be performing alongside Jesper Lindell, Keith Urban, Cameron Whitcomb, and more for the remainder of the year.
We met with Morgan Wade at FEQ in Quebec where we talked about her new album, what inspires her to write, and her perfect day in Nashville.
Your new album Obsessed is coming out. What can fans expect?
On this whole record, I wrote everything myself, so I was really happy with that. I didn’t set out to make a record. We were on the road, and Clint Wells, my guitarist, and I, we went to make some demos and we went in the studio and ended up making a whole record. It’s a personal record. It’s very singer-songwriter. I think that my writing is at the forefront of the whole record. It’s more of a stripped-down thing. Psychopath was a more polished record and this isn’t, so I’m happy with that and I think a lot of my fans will be too.
What are you obsessed with currently?
I’m obsessed with the little dog sitting over here across from me, Chop. We’ve had him for almost two weeks. He’s a little French bulldog. We got him up in Baltimore. We have him out here on the road and he’s doing great. He’s been so good. He’s my new little snuggle buddy. I think everybody’s obsessed with him and the whole team is absolutely obsessed with him.
Social media has become an essential tool for artists to get music out. Do you ever think it becomes too intrusive?
Oh, yeah. Social media is very intrusive. I actually haven’t logged onto anything in almost 70 days. I turned it over to my team. I approve everything, they send it to me. For my mental health and then even just wasting time. I was just sitting there reading stuff, and not just negative stuff, positive stuff too, too much gratification. It’s just not healthy to sit there and fixate on things.
I have younger siblings and I’m constantly telling them, “You don’t need social media. Quit bugging mom to have social media.” As I’m sitting there scrolling on it myself, I’m like, “You gotta practice what you preach.” So I’ve been reading more and getting a lot more done. It’s great for people that can manage it, but I think it’s really good to take little breaks from that and focus on the real world.
How do you stay in shape on the road?
I’ve got a gym in the trailer there. The whole trailer is a gym. All of our merch and everything is in separate trucks. I have a squat rack and everything built in here. A company called Sorinex teamed up with Monster, and they put that in there.
Our drives have been shorter. They’ve been like 4 or 5 hour drives minus the one here today to Canada. I can stop at gyms at like five in the morning. I have the driver stop and I can get out and work out and we roll on. I work out every day. I stay moving. It gives me clarity and I feel better.
What’s been currently inspiring you to write?
The last year, it was just everything, my career was changing. There was a lot of stuff going on. I’m past all that. Things are great now but I think I went through a time where I was very reclusive and didn’t want to be out and about, didn’t want to be seen, didn’t want to promote my music or anything. Then I was like, “Do I even love music anymore? Do I want to do this?”
I just remembered the 12-year old girl that I was, in her bedroom writing songs for herself. I really removed myself from everything else and focused on that. I’ve been writing a lot more, and I’m like, “Write because you enjoy it. Don’t write because of a deadline. Don’t write because you have to do this for this person or for that, write for yourself.” I’m not pressuring myself. If I don’t feel inspired one day, I don’t write.
Is it easy for you to write on the road, or do you have to be home?
I can definitely write on the road. If I’m going through something, if I have a good day and I’m out walking or whatever, things pop into my head. Some days you don’t come up with anything and that’s totally fine. Other days you write three songs.
What are your must pack travel items?
I’ve got the gym bag, obviously. Sparkling water for sure. Coffee is my thing. I have got to have coffee. I’ve got a cup right now, so that’s definitely on my must pack.
What’s your perfect day in Nashville?
Get up. Workout. I would go over to Five Daughters and have me a nice donut. Then I would go walk around and shop and buy stuff I don’t need. Then I’m going to go eat at The Eastern Peak. It’s some of the best Thai food I’ve ever had. Their curry is amazing. At night I would go eat again because that’s what you do. I would go over to Burger Up and I would get one of their black bean burgers. I’m not a vegetarian, but their black bean burger is super good. Then I would go walk down to Jeni’s Ice Cream and have a Brambleberry Crisp. Then I would go pass out in bed by 7:30.